John C. Reilly, Kevin Pollack to Host Oscar Week Events

Programs devoted to nominees in the animation, shorts, documentary, foreign-language and makeup categories will be joined by a new event showcasing nominated music

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Actors John C. Reilly and Kevin Pollack, documentary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Barbara Kopple, producer Mark Johnson and makeup artist Leonard Engleman will host special events during the Academy’s annual Oscar Week celebration, AMPAS said Friday.

Each of the six programs, which begin on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and run through Saturday of Oscar week, March 1, will be devoted to the nominees in specific categories at the 86th Academy Awards on March 2.

Pollack, whose films include “The Usual Suspects” and “Casino,” will host a Tuesday program devoted to screenings of the 10 nominated shorts in the animated and live-action categories, with an onstage discussion with the filmmakers.

Also read: Oscar’s Animated Shorts: It’s Mickey Mouse vs. Toaster Dog

Epstein and Kopple (who won Oscars for “The Times of Harvey Milk” and “Harlan County, U.S.A.,” respectively) will host the Wednesday documentary night, which will include clips from the nominated feature and short docs and panel discussions.

Reilly, who provided the voice of the title character in “Wreck-It Ralph,” will host the Friday night animation event, again with film clips and discussions.

Johnson, the Oscar-winning producer of “Rain Man” and the chairman of the Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, will host Saturday morning’s foreign-language symposium, which will be introduced by “The Lives of Others” director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.

Also read: Oscar’s Foreign Language Chair Promises Big Changes After This Year’s Awards

Engleman will preside over the Saturday-afternoon makeup artists and hairstylists symposium.

Those events are always held on Oscar week – but this year the Academy has added a separate event, a concert, on Thursday night at UCLA’s Royce Hall. That concert will present suites from the five nominated scores, as well as performances of the four nominated songs. Details about the concert will be announced at a later date.

Except for the concert, all programs will be held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in the Academy’s Beverly Hills headquarters.

Tickets for the shorts, documentaries and animated feature programs will go on sale on Monday, Feb. 3 and will cost $5 to the general public and $3 to Academy members and students. The foreign-language and makeup symposiums will be free but will require tickets.

More information is available at the Academy website.

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