Photo Coverage: The National Arts Club's Medal of Honor for Film Ceremony

Ang Lee and James Schamus received The National Arts Club's Medal of Honor for Film at a dinner held in their honor on Wednesday, November 18th at The National Arts Club 15 Gramercy Park South (at 20th Street).

The NAC's Film Committee had chosen to honor the duo for their achievement in groundbreaking films such as Brokeback Mountain (2005), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Sense and Sensibility (1995) and many more.

Ang Lee and James Schamus received the award from O. Aldon James Jr., President of The National Arts Club. Speakers included, Academy Award-Nominated Actress Sigourney Weaver (Avatar, Alien, Working Girl); Golden Globe-Nominated Actress Christina Ricci (The Opposite of Sex, Monster); Professor Annette Insdorf, Columbia University's Graduate Film Program; Leonard Lopate, host of WNYC's The Leonard Lopate Show.

Special guests Actress Carroll Baker and Playwright Christopher Durang also joined the evening.

Lee and Schamus have received much praise from critics and their peers for their work as an internationally- recognized creative team. Their films Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Ice Storm, Eat Drink Man Woman, Sense and Sensibility and Taking Woodstock has enabled them to work with a group of outstanding actors including Anne Hathaway, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Heath Ledger, Michelle Yeaoh, Ziyi Zhang, Yun-Fat Chow, Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams and Christina Ricci among others.

The National Arts Club: Run by volunteers, the Arts Club was founded by Charles de Kay, New
York Times literary and art critic, in 1898 with the mission to stimulate, foster and promote public interest in the arts and educate the American people in the fine arts. A historic staple in Gramercy Park, the Arts Club is located in the Tilden Mansion which was built in the 1840's. Today, The National Arts Club hosts art unveilings, award dinners, film screenings, lectures, dances and many more various types of art performances. In order to help recognize untapped talents, the Arts Club's committees frequently award scholarships to young artists, writers and singers to help them develop their talent and work towards their dreams.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Tammy Grimes

Carroll Baker

Carroll Baker and guest

Christopher Durang

James Schamus

Ang Lee and Jane Lin

Ang Lee

Ang Lee and Jane Lin

Ang Lee

Ang Lee and Jane Lin

James Schamus and Ang Lee

Carroll Baker and Ang Lee

Sigourney Weaver

Christina Ricci

James Schamus, Sigourney Weaver, Ang Lee, O. Aldon James Jr. and Christina Ricci

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After his life as an ingenue in Brooklyn & Queens, Walter spent the next 25 Years in a leading role as a Photographer / Photo Researcher in Manhattan. He is currently headlining in New Jersey with his partner Richard and children Dali & Gala. As a 14 year old youth, Walter was transfixed by his first Broadway Show, the original production of "GREASE". His journey on the path to celebrity photojournalism began that fateful night. Meeting, photographing and getting to know the cast inspired him to spend his professional life doing what he loved. His photography is syndicated worldwide through Retna Ltd. and Corbis.

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