TCM Classic Film Fest: ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and George Lucas Set to Open 16th Edition

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On Thursday, April 24, the 16th TCM Classic Film Festival will begin with a unique screening of “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” to celebrate its 45th anniversary. This event takes place in Hollywood, and the creator of the Star Wars cinematic universe, George Lucas, is expected to attend. This information was shared by Turner Classic Movies on Wednesday.

Ben Mankiewicz, TCM’s evening host and the mastermind behind the TCM Classic Film Festival, compared The Empire Strikes Back to The Godfather Part II. While both are sequels in their respective series, they transcend that simple categorization. Empire captivated and thrilled Star Wars fans, while also pushing the envelope of filmmaking, delving deeper into its characters and broadening the most famous cinematic universe ever created. The original Star Wars movie in 1977 sparked a new age in Hollywood and made countless young people devoted movie enthusiasts for life. Remarkably, three years later, Empire appeared, which might even surpass its predecessor in quality. It’s an impressive feat and undoubtedly ranks among the greatest achievements in film history.

As a cinema enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that at this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival, running until April 27th, I’ll be honored with the Robert Osborne Award – an accolade given to those who preserve the legacy of classic films for future generations. Being the filmmaker and founder of the American Film Institute, it’s a great privilege to accept this honor. Additionally, I’ll have the pleasure of introducing the Hollywood premiere of the 4K restoration of my work, “George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey” – a film I wrote and directed about my award-winning father. It’s an incredible opportunity to share his story and the artistry of classic cinema with fellow fans!

The event will honor director and producer Michael Schultz, whose films have made an indelible mark in the cinematic world.

This year’s festival, themed “Grand Illusions: Fantastic Worlds on Film,” will feature film screenings such as:

The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) – with Michelle Pfeiffer  

The Ritz (1976) – with Rita Moreno 

Babe (1995) – with James Cromwell  

The Lady Eve (1941) – with Bill Hader 

Cinderella (1950) – with Mario Cantone and Leonard Maltin  

Apocalypse Now (1978) – in 70mm 

Daisy Kenyon (1947) – nitrate print 

Spirited Away (2001) 

Mothra (1961) 

Earth vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) 

Pat and Mike (1952) 

Carefree (1938) 

Fantastic Voyage (1966) 

The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

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2025-03-19 20:54