AceShowbiz - The 17th annual TCM Classic Film Festival will commence with a special screening of Barefoot in the Park, the beloved 1967 romantic comedy. Jane Fonda, a two-time Oscar winner, will attend the event to introduce the film and pay tribute to her late friend and co-star, Robert Redford.

The festival is scheduled to return to Hollywood from April 30 to May 3, embracing the theme "The World Comes to Hollywood." This theme highlights the unique blend of global artistry and entrepreneurial vision that has made the West Coast the filmmaking capital of the world.

In addition to Fonda's appearance, the festival will honor notable figures in film and music. Actress Barbara Hershey and composer and Oscar-winning songwriter Paul Williams will receive career tributes. Hershey is expected to attend screenings of Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and A World Apart (1988). Meanwhile, Williams will be present for showings of The Muppet Movie (1979), which features his Oscar-nominated song "Rainbow Connection," and Ishtar (1987), directed by Elaine May.

Another highlight will be the presentation of the seventh annual Robert Osborne Award to Bruce Goldstein, the founding repertory artistic director of the Film Forum in New York and founder of Rialto Pictures, a distributor of classic films. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to preserving the cultural heritage of classic cinema.

The opening night screening of Barefoot in the Park, directed by Gene Saks and adapted from Neil Simon’s Broadway hit, honors the lasting appeal of the Paramount film and the enduring legacy of Robert Redford. Redford, who passed away on September 16 at the age of 89, also starred in the Broadway original production directed by Mike Nichols.

Ben Mankiewicz, TCM host, remarked on the significance of the opening night, stating that having Jane Fonda present to honor her friend Redford makes the event particularly meaningful. He emphasized that Barefoot in the Park marks a pivotal moment in Hollywood history and serves as a fitting start to the festival’s celebration.

Goldstein will receive his award in a ceremony preceding a screening of Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria (1957), which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Over his career, Goldstein has curated more than 500 film series and retrospectives, advocated for film restoration, and revitalized international cinematic masterpieces for American audiences, ensuring these important works continue to inspire new generations.

The Robert Osborne Award has previously been bestowed upon renowned film preservationists and historians such as Martin Scorsese, Kevin Brownlow, Leonard Maltin, Donald Bogle, Jeanine Basinger, and George Stevens Jr.

The festival’s lineup also features several classic films marking milestone anniversaries. Celebrations include the 75th anniversary screenings of Alice in Wonderland, A Place in the Sun, and The Day the Earth Stood Still, all originally released in 1951. Other notable films scheduled for screening are Modern Times (1936), Stranger on the Third Floor (1940), Phantom Lady (1944), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Gaslight (1944), Out of the Past (1947), Anastasia (1956), The Magnificent Seven (1960), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Vanishing Point (1971), and The Towering Inferno (1974).

Additional programming details, guest appearances, and special events will be revealed as the festival approaches. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, will once again serve as the official hotel and a central hub for festival activities.

Passes for the TCM Classic Film Festival are currently available for purchase, offering film enthusiasts the opportunity to experience these treasured classics alongside engaging discussions and tributes to the legends of cinema.