BY ALICE YORK
To kick off their annual spring benefit, Screen Gems, Facets Multimedia teamed up with Neiman Marcus earlier this month for an evening of fashion and support of film education and preservation.
Hosted by Lisa Bailey, Marjorie Benton, Suzette Bulley, Judy Gaynor, Kelly Kaiser, and Armeen Siddiqui-Mirza, guests previewed Céline’s spring/summer 2017 collection, while sipping on Veuve Clicquot and enjoying hors d’oevures provided by the Neiman Marcus Mariposa restaurant. Models strolling the iconic department store’s second floor gave life to the designer Phoebe Philo’s covetable creations.
Facets Founder and Artistic Director, Milos Stehlk, provided some brief remarks to the stylish crowd in attendance, including Jenny Brown, Karen Krehbiel, Colette May, Christina and Ron Gidwitz, and Meredith Wood-Prince, on the organization and its upcoming fundraiser, scheduled for May 3.
Screen Gems, this year honoring Doris Conant, a relentless fighter for civil rights and social justice, will be chaired by Marjorie Craig Benton and Judy Gaynor, along with a benefit committee 30-strong. Proceeds for the evening support the year-round educational programs of Facets and the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
“Film is powerful.” And accordingly, Facets has been dedicating its work to harnessing this power to change the lives of this and future generations of Chicagoans. Through educational programs; the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, which the organization has been producing for 33 years and is now the most celebrated children’s film festival in North America; and Facets Kids, their new video streaming site; Facets has connected children across the world to film and its ability to teach, inspire, motivate, and promote new ways of thinking.
What a pleasure to toast this organization—and start shopping for what to wear to Screen Gems in May!
Photo credit: John Reilly Photography