Special Guests

Actors Jeff Bridges (L) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (R) treated the JBFC audience to a Q&A following a 2009 screening of CRAZY HEART.

Filmmaker Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson joined us Nov. 30, 2021 for a discussion of his Oscar-winning documentary SUMMER OF SOUL, which screened as part of JBFC series REMIX: The Black Experience in Film, Media, and Art. Photo by Ed Cody.

Back in 2015, long before the success of breakout hit PARASITE, Bong Joon-ho was an International Artist-in-Residence at the JBFC. During his time here, Bong lived and worked on the JBFC campus as he worked on pre-production—including finalizing the script—for 2017’s OKJA. Meanwhile at the theater, the JBFC presented a retrospective series, “The Films of Bong Joon-ho,” from Mar. 19-Apr. 2, 2015. The series included screenings of MEMORIES OF A MURDER, THE HOST, MOTHER, and SNOWPIERCER, each of which was followed by a Q&A with Director Bong himself. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.

Filmmaker Greta Gerwig signed a poster for us following her November 2017 Q&A on LADY BIRD; Gerwig later joined us in December 2019 for another Q&A to celebrate the release of LITTLE WOMEN. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.

Actress Meryl Streep and filmmaker Mike Nichols were all smiles following a November 2003 screening of ANGELS IN AMERICA at the JBFC.

The JBFC honored Actor Alan Cumming with the inaugural Life on the Stage Spotlight Award in 2019. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg discussed his film THE POST following a screening at the JBFC on Dec. 10, 2017. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.

Legendary actor Michael Douglas joined us Nov. 13, 2019 for the annual Silver Screen Circle Dinner. Following an evening of clips and conversation with JBFC Board President Janet Maslin, Michael Douglas joined Silver Screen Circle members in the JBFC's Jane Peck Gallery for a dinner. Photo by Russell Peborde.

Filmmaker Astra Taylor joined us Jan. 17, 2019, at the JBFC for a Global Watch screening of her film WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?, followed by a Q&A. Photo by Thomas Edward Olszewski.

Actress Angela Basset joined us for a discussion of AKEELAH AND THE BEE in December 2013.

Filmmaker Pablo Larraín joined us Nov. 6, 2021, at the JBFC for a screening of his film SPENCER, followed by a live Q&A with JBFC Board President Janet Maslin. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.

The iconic Robert Redford joined us at the JBFC in January 2011 for the annual Silver Screen Circle Dinner. Photo by Ed Cody.

Filmmaker Barry Jenkins participated in a scintillating Q&A following the October 2016 preview screening of his film MOONLIGHT. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.

Filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino joined us in February 2014 for a discussion of his Oscar-winning film, THE GREAT BEAUTY. Sorrentino returned to the JBFC as recently as 2022, for a discussion of his film HAND OF GOD. Photo by Kate Koenig.

Lawyer/Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson joined filmmaker Jonathan Demme at the JBFC in 2016 for the launch of JBFC series REMIX: The Black Experience in Film, Media, and Art.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Asghar Farhadi joined us on Nov. 9, 2021 for a preview screening of his Grand Prix winner A HERO, followed by a Q&A with JBFC Board President Janet Maslin.

Filmmaker Jonathan Demme's myriad contributions to the Burns were too many to catalogue, but here’s a sliver: he was a mentor to students and staff, served on the Board of Directors, hosted Rarely Seen Cinema for 12 years—amongst many other series, brought international filmmakers and artists to our residency, hosted innumerable public screenings with filmmakers, writers, actors, activists; he was a teacher, a friend, a champion, a critic, and a supporter all with the infectious love that was pure Jonathan. If there was one thing that he believed in, it was the transcendent power of sharing. And whether you were in the audience, or on the staff, or on the board, he was always the same: Jonathan.

Filmmaker Boots Riley was gracious enough to sign a poster for us following a discussion of his debut feature, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, at the JBFC on July 27, 2018. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.

Filmmaker Jason Reitman stopped by the JBFC in November 2011 for a discussion of his film YOUNG ADULT; he'd previously joined us for a 2009 Q&A on UP IN THE AIR, and returned in 2014 for a discussion of MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN.

Filmmaker Werner Herzog joined us in June 2008 for a screening of ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE EARTH, followed by a Q&A. Photo by Ed Cody.

Filmmaker Kelly Reichardt joined us March 5, 2020, for a preview screening of FIRST COW, followed by a JBFC Live Q&A.

Actor George Clooney joined us at the JBFC back in 2003 for a discussion of the film O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?