"Crafting Genre: Kathryn Bigelow," an exhibition focused on Columbia University School of the Arts Film Program alumna Kathryn Bigelow ('81SOA), opens at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on May 18. An accompanying eponymous film retrospective—which includes a screening of Set-Up, Bigelow's thesis film when she was a student at the School of the Arts—opens at the museum June 1.
Known for such viscerally evocative films as Near Dark (1987) and Point Break (1991), Bigelow received widespread acclaim for her most recent film, The Hurt Locker (2008), including two historic Oscars: first woman to ever receive best director and best picture awards. The exhibition at MoMA examines a filmmaker’s intuition and process, and includes paintings, concept art, film posters, drawings, storyboards, scripts, short films, and props that reveal Bigelow's singular methods and motifs.
Bigelow received the ninth annual Andrew Sarris Award at the 2009 Columbia University Film Festival. The award, named for School of the Arts Film Program professor and critic Andrew Sarris, honors outstanding service and artistic achievement of distinguished Film Program alumni.
“It is a true honor to receive the Andrew Sarris Award,” said Bigelow when she received the award. “My time at Columbia, and in Andrew Sarris’ class in particular, was a time of great inspiration and creative expansion.”
“We look with great pride on Kathryn, a representative of our Film Program and the very best in screenwriting, directing and producing,” said Jamal Joseph, Chair of the Film Program. “She is a groundbreaker as a female filmmaker, like so many of our graduates, in Hollywood, television, and independent film. As a School, we are extremely proud of her and incredible achievements this year.”
The exhibition will be on view at MoMA through October 3. The 2011 Columbia University Film Festival ran April 25 to May 12 in New York, and will open in Los Angeles June 8.
