Slideshow: Renaissance Awardee Matt Damon & Robert Downey Jr. at Gene Siskel Film Center

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Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon talk about Damon’s career

CHICAGO – In an expected fun and wild back-&-forth between two movie icons, Matt Damon accepted the Gene Siskel Film Center Renaissance Award at the 50th Anniversary fundraiser for the Center … which raised $200,000. Damon did a live virtual interview moderated by Robert Downey Jr., screened at the fundraiser event on June 25th, 2022.

“We are so grateful to Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. for joining us for this very special evening,” said Jean de St. Aubin, Executive Director of the Gene Siskel Film Center. “Their on-screen conversation was funny, captivating and insightful. Damon’s remarkably diverse and bold choices throughout his career make him a quintessential choice for the Renaissance Award. He was the perfect person to honor on a night when we celebrated the type of groundbreaking, innovative programming the Film Center presents every day.”

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the Gene Siskel Film Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago – it honored the notable Chicago film critic by renaming the Center in his memory in 2000 – has presented cutting edge cinema to downtown State Street audiences since 1972. The Film Center’s programming includes annual film festivals that celebrate diverse voices and international cultures, premieres of trailblazing work by today’s independent filmmakers, restorations and revivals of essential films from cinema history, and insightful, provocative discussions with filmmakers and media artists. Current series include 50/50 (50th Anniversary Films), In Concert (Music Films) and the Judy Garland Centennial Retrospective.

Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the Gene Siskel Film Center fundraiser slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos © 2022 Sean Su for Carol Fox & Associates Public Relations

1. DAMON1 [17]: Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon talk about Damon’s career.
2. DAMON2 [18]: Ed Siskel (left) and friends represent the Gene Siskel family.
3. DAMON3 [19]: President Elissa Tenny for the School of the Art Institute in the audience.
4. DAMON4 [20]: Executive Director Jean de St. Aubin (right) and Jim Mayhercy.
5. DAMON5 [21]: Gene Siskel Film Center Staff on the Red Carpet.
6. DAMON6 [22]: Advisory Board President Ellen Sandor (center), Event Co-Chairs Eda Davidson (left) & Natalie Crawford pose w/ Robert & Matt.

[24]	By PATRICK McDONALD [25] Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [24]