HFPA President Theo Kingma introduces the Grants luncheon

The HFPA gave away a record $1.6 million in charitable grants during a light-hearted, star-studded luncheon of laughter and goodwill.  The annual Grants and Installation lunch was a huge hit with everyone—–the audience in the Beverly Hilton Ballroom, the organizations on the receiving end of the donations and those who watched the live streaming of the event on the HFPA website. The audience applauded a four-minute video which opened the proceedings showing the work of some of the organizations benefiting from the HFPA’s grants and a “thank you” from Martin Scorsese. A host of stars were on hand to present the donations, led by Nicole Kidman who presented a check for $350,000 to the Film Foundation for the restoration of classic films. She said that over the past 17 years the HFPA had contributed almost four million dollars to save more than 80 feature films from disappearing forever. This year’s donation will go towards restoring Salvatore Giuliano, Francesco Rosi’s masterpiece based on the story of the Sicilian bandit, and Stanton Kaye’s work of cinema verite, Brandy in the Wilderness.

Eva Longoria, the host of he luncheon.

“The HFPA has been a true friend and champion of the Foundation’s efforts to save our cinematic heritage,” she said. Said HFPA president Theo Kingma: “While scholarships support future filmmakers, some of the best lessons can be learned from our past. The HFPA cares deeply about preserving our history.” Eva Longoria, who acted as host for the event,  introduced the many stars who helped hand out the checks. They included Colin Farrell, Diane Kruger, Demian Bechir, David O. Russell, Amber Heard, Liam Hemsworth, Vin Diesel, Tab Hunter, Marsha Hunt, Julie Delpy, Blair Underwood, Dermot Mulroney, Piper Perabo, Jonah Hill, Olivia Wilde and Jason Bateman New father Vince Vaughn, whose wife gave birth to a baby boy three days earlier, was on the receiving end of a surprise gift when Olivia Wilde    presented him with a video camera and Kingma telling him: “Once you come home you can start documenting the most important film of your life……..without Owen Wilson.” Vin Diesel, pointing out that today was his son’s birthday,  gave the audience an impromptu story of his beginnings in showbusiness and how his first feature fijm, Strays, which he wrote and directed, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997. He accepted a check for $100,000 for Sundance. Jonah Hill drew laughs when, referring to difficulties some of the presenters had with the teleprompter, commented: “It makes me realize that some of Hollywood can’t read.” Kingma thanked the studio representatives, publicists and agents in the room for their support, adding: “Though the Golden Globe awards are known as the ultimate party of the year our daily focus is on journalistic work. “It is because of you we are able to cover Hollywood for millions of readers around the globe and it is because of you we view exceptional television or leave a movie theater in awe.” Then he added, to laughter: “Or we look at our watch thinking, ‘How much longer?’ On a more serious note, he pointed out: “While today is not about the Golden Globes, in a way we are here because of them. Because of the success of the Golden Globes we are able today to donate a record $1.6 million in grants and scholarships, bringing the total to over $18 million, including 925 scholarships and 82 restored classic films.

Vin Diesel

“Today we proudly continue that tradition.” The Film Foundation will receive the largest amount—$350,000—for the preservation of historically important films while the Sundance Institute will receive $100,000. Other recipients include FilmAid International, which is to receive $50,000 for screenings and filmmaker training in Kenyan refugee camps; American Cinematheque ($40,000), L.A.C.M.A  ( $75,000) and UCLA ($90,000). Kingma introduced the HFPA’s new officers and board members: Vice President, Lorenzo Soria; Treasurer, Meher Tatna; Executive Secretary, Lily Lui; Board: Yoram Kahana,  Vera Anderson, Luca, Celada, Helen Hoehne, Aida Takla-O’Reilly and Jack Tewksbury. The afternoon ended with a surprise as Kingma announced that instead of the usual gift bag, a donation was being made to Jeff Bridges’s No Kid Hungry charity. Click here for the photo gallery