Secure your tickets or table now for the 2024 New Orleans Film Society Gala on Saturday, April 13!

Like a timeless movie  star, New Orleans has been irresistible to filmmakers and audiences for decades. From revered classics to edgy independents, the atmosphere and allure of the Big Easy has made it not merely a setting, but a supporting character in the story.

Join us as we celebrate our city, the movie star, alongside our movie-star honoree Bryan Batt, who has brought that indelible New Orleans presence to films like 12 Years a Slave, Jeffrey, and the acclaimed series Mad Men, and to the Broadway stage in nine productions including Sunset Boulevard, La Cage aux Folles, and Beauty and the Beast. It will be an unforgettable evening, and a great way to support independent cinema and filmmaker development here in New Orleans.


Date: Saturday, April 13, 2024

Location: The Kevin Kelly Townhouse (728 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130) + Grounds

Patron Party: 7:00 PM

Gala + Live Auction: 8:00 PM

Attire: Creative Cocktail

Celluloid Hero Honoree: Bryan Batt

Gala Chairs: Elston and Deven Howard, Kevin Kelly

Gala Committee: Valerie Lamb, Dodd Loomis, Virginia McCollam, and W. Howard Thompson,


About the New Orleans Film Society Gala

The Gala serves as the New Orleans Film Society’s main fundraising event, directly supporting our efforts to cultivate a vibrant film culture in New Orleans and the South. Your ongoing support means the world to us, and we cannot wait to welcome you to another incredible Gala!

Tables

VIP Gala Table for 8 with Patron Party – $4000

Gala Table for 8 – $3000

Tickets

Gala Ticket with Patron Party – $400 (NOFS Members save $50!)

Gala Ticket – $300 (NOFS Members save $50!)

See the full details and purchase your table or tickets below. If you are a NOFS member, please make sure to login to your account first using the white Login button below to the right.

Now is the perfect time to become a New Orleans Film Society member and SAVE! Learn about and sign up for NOFS membership here.


Need assistance or have questions, please contact us at at info@neworleansfilmsociety.org or 504-309-6633 to confirm your patronage!

If you’re viewing on your phone, please click Launch Full Schedule to select tickets or tables to purchase.

View 2024 Gala pass sales.

Each year, the New Orleans Film Society honors noted figures in the film industry, especially the Louisiana film industry. Past galas have honored film professionals and local film supporters including John Goodman (2011), the Beasts of the Southern Wild director, Benh Zeitlin (2012), Matthew McConaughey (2015) – who delivered his famous love letter to New Orleans, the cast of NCIS New Orleans (2016), Susan Brennan (2019), Alexa Georges (2022), and Elston Howard (2023) and Edward Buckles Jr (2023).


New Orleans Film Society 2024 Gala Celluloid Hero — Bryan Batt!

Bryan Batt is a native New Orleanian, and a prolific performer, leaving his mark as an actor, singer, designer, and civic activist. 

He has won 2 Screen Actor’s Guild awards for the role of Salvatore Romano on the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Peabody award-winning drama series Mad Men.

Bryan created the role of Darius in both the N.Y. and L.A (Drama Logue Award) productions as well as the film adaptation of Paul Rudnick’s ground-breaking comedy Jeffery.

Bryan’s films include the Oscar winning Best Picture 12 Years a Slave, Garden District (Best Actor in a short film, London International Film Festival), Parkland, Funny People, The Book of Love, and Spike Lee’s Tales From the Hood 2. 

Other Television appearances include Mayor Quin Maddox on the MTV cult hit series Scream, The Blacklist, NCIS New Orleans, Law & Order SVU, and Ugly Betty.

Broadway leading and principal roles include: La Cage aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast, Sunset Boulevard, Saturday Night Fever, Starlight Express, and Cats. Bryan has also been in many off-Broadway productions, earning a Drama Desk nomination along the way.

As an author, Bryan has penned She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother, a décor monogram called Big Easy Style, and a nostalgic ode to Pontchartrain Beach.

He has also hosted and lent his talents for numerous fund raising efforts in New Orleans, New York, and Los Angeles for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, The Actor’s Fund, and local charitable organizations including Second Harvest Food Bank, LA-SPCA and NO-AIDS Task Force. 

In 2003 Bryan and his spouse, Tom Cianfichi, opened Hazelnut, a fine gift and home accessories shop featured in the NY Times, Town & Country, House Beautiful, InStyle, Elle Decor and more. 

Honors include 2007 HRC Equality award, OUT Magazine’s Artist of the Year 2007, N.O. AIDS Task Force Humanities award, Big Easy 2008 “Entertainer of the Year”, Backstage Magazine’s Bistro award for best vocalist 2008, Isidore Newman School Distinguished Alumnus Award 2008-2009. Arts Council of N.O. Community Arts Award. Young Leadership Council’s Role Model award 2014.

 

 

VIP Gala Table Hosts

Alexa Georges and Jerry Armatis
Laura Ashley
Associated Building Services, LLC
Bryan Batt
Charles Urstadt and David Bernard
Chris Colbert
Michael Collins
Monique Gougisha-Doucette
Deb and Cary Grant
James Douglas Hislop
Elston and Deven Howard
Javier Law Firm
Jones Walker LLP
Alissa and Ted Kantrow
Kevin Kelly
Valerie Lamb
Dan Lucas Memorial Fund
Milk Punch Media
Lori Ochsner
Pelican Events
Quixote Studios
The Ranch
Reel Security
Karon Reese
Virginia McCollam and Andy Ryan
Fritz Westenberger and TQ Sims
Southern Style Construction
W. Howard Thompson
Jason Waguespack

 

Gala Patrons

Andy Armstrong
Donna Dees
Gene Fredericks
Joseph Helm
George Lancaster
Candace Chase and Richard Levich
Terrence Meck
Adam Marcus and Linda Novack
Iddo Patt
Donna Santiago
Oley Sassone
Doug Spearman
The Times-Picayune
Justin Tolliver
Janet and W. Scott Wilson Jr.
WWNO

 

Interested in partnering with the NOFS Gala 2024? Email Sarah Escalante at sarah@neworleansfilmsociety.org.


THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 SPONSORS!

 

The gala is NOFS’s largest fundraiser and directly supports the work of independent filmmakers. Each year, the New Orleans Film Society honors noted figures in the film industry, especially the Louisiana film industry. Past galas have honored film professionals and local film supporters including John Goodman (2011), the Beasts of the Southern Wild director, Benh Zeitlin (2012), Matthew McConaughey (2015) – who delivered his famous love letter to New Orleans, the cast of NCIS New Orleans (2016), Susan Brennan (2019), Alexa Georges (2022), and Elston Howard (2023) and Edward Buckles Jr (2023).

Thank you to all who joined, supported, and honored the New Orleans Film Society at our previous galas.

See photos from our beautiful Gala 2023 honoring Elston Howard as our Celluloid Hero and Edward Buckles Jr as our first Rising Star held on April 22 at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport here and here

See photos from the magnificent 2022 Gala honoring Alexa Georges held on April 2 at the Four Seasons New Orleans on our Instagram page and Facebook album.

See photos from the 2019 30th Anniversary Gala honoring Susan Brennan at the enchanting Farrell Estate on St. Charles Avenue here.

See photos from the 2018 Midnight in the Garden Gala here and step & repeat here.

See photos from the 2017 Gala at the Magnolia Mansion here.

See photos from the 2016 Gala honoring the cast of NCIS New Orleans here.

See photos from the 2015 Gala honoring Matthew McConaughey here.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Please join us in embracing our community guidelines at all NOFS events by:

  • Acknowledging with gratitude the land we occupy as the colonized Indigenous space known first as Bulbancha
  • Sustaining authentic relationships with our neighbors, especially the Afro-descendent communities that continually shape New Orleans
  • Including people equitably of every race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, ability, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, age, physical appearance, language, citizenship, and socioeconomic status
  • Protecting each other’s health amidst an ongoing global pandemic
  • Treating others with dignity and respect, especially NOFS volunteers and staff implementing NOFS policies and procedures
  • Enjoying alcohol and other refreshments responsibly and mindfully

We will not permit:

  • Disruptive behavior of any kind that interferes with NOFS events
  • Non-compliance with the direction of NOFS staff and volunteers regarding NOFS policies and procedures
  • Verbal or physical harassment, including abusive language and gestures, threats, cursing, or sexual language directed at others
  • Any form of discrimination or harassment, including, but not limited to, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, sexism, or body shaming
  • Using firearms or other dangerous weapons in NOFS spaces to intimidate or harm volunteers, staff, or attendees

By purchasing a ticket and entering NOFS event spaces, you agree to join us in this Code of Conduct. If you are found to be in violation of these agreements, you may be removed from events by a designated staff member. If you witness or experience a violation of these agreements, we encourage you to report the incident anonymously via this form or by email at info@neworleansfilmsociety.org.

By entering NOFS event spaces, you consent to photography and recording (audio and video) and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, webcasts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by NOFS and its affiliates and representatives.