LOS ANGELES — Film is one of the most impressionable art forms.

That's why, when you enter the upcoming Academy Museum’s Grand Lobby, you’ll be greeted with a Spielberg family gallery.

It's one of many scenes that senior director of curatorial affairs Doris Berger, along with her team, shaped into an inspirational experience for movie lovers. Her focus is to include representation from all around the world.


What You Need To Know

  • The Academy Museum is set to open on September 30, 2021

  • The opening exhibition, "Stories of Cinema," will highlight both the celebratory and troubling moments of film

  • Some scenes will reflect the racism seen in both filmmaking and the Hollywood industry as a whole

  • The goal of the exhibition is to provide a diverse and international experience for film lovers, to see themselves reflected in the movies they love

"We all want to see ourselves on the big screen in a way, or want to see people who look like ourselves on the big screen," said Berger. "The exhibition we have created, called ‘Stories of Cinema,’ really tries to reflect diverse and international stories of cinema."

The exhibition will showcase artifacts from new and old films alike and will not shy away from some of Hollywood’s past, where racism influenced both filmmaking and the industry as a whole.

"Yes, as we recognize so much to celebrate and to honor, but as we also know, there are moments that are less proud," Berger said. "We will address the celebratory as well as the more difficult moments."

And of course, what’s an Academy Museum without an Academy Award? A gallery of Oscar statuettes will be featured in the "Stories of Cinema" exhibition. Not to mention, there will be a whole room dedicated to the Wizard of Oz. With all this history, one might ask where this museum has been all this time.

“It took us about 100 years to make it, but I’m really glad we are there right now, and we can open it for the public to enjoy," said Berger.

After several delays due to the coronavirus, the Academy Museum is set to open on September 30, 2021.