Photo credit: Janet Donovan & Creative Commons
On a winter evening in Washington — where policy, power and prestige often share the same cocktail napkin — the Motion Picture Association hosted a screening that felt decidedly more Elizabethan than Beltway. The film was Hamnet, and the mood was reverent, literary and as Shakespeare himself might say, “Wondrous Strange.”
Welcoming the guests, the evening’s host Gail MacKinnon set the tone with gratitude, warmth and a knowing nod to the audience’s cultural fluency.
“Thanks for joining us tonight. All of MPA’s film screenings are special, but this as William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet is ‘Wondrous Strange.’ And so for those of you who are Shakespeare authorities, you’ll get that.” The room — an intersection of studio power, advocacy leadership and Washington insiders — leaned in as the host revealed her own Shakespearean credentials. “So as a longtime board member of the Shakespeare Theater Company and the co-chair of this year’s Annual Gala, to those of you are Shakespeare fans, I’ll give you my email address because I welcome any and all contributions.”
Then came the heart of the evening: A meditation on grief, art and the human story behind the Bard.
From Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, Hamnet tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.
“So this screening is truly special to me and I’m delighted to be here with all of you to enjoy this fabulous film which allows us to experience the private grief and emotional soil from which Shakespeare’s play has grown. Hamnet transforms biography into art and explores themes of love and loss and language that deepen the legend of Shakespeare by telling the human story behind his ageless words and stories. It’s a modern but timeless story, and it is a masterpiece that we at MPA are very proud to support.”
Rachel Pearson who founded Engage, a nonprofit organization focused on women’s economic security and common-sense bipartisan solutions, co-hosted the event along with Linda Shim from Comcast.
“We’re so excited to partner with MPA and with Engage tonight to bring you Hamnet,” said Linda. “For centuries, there were few details about William Shakespeare’s family life, particularly the passing of his only son Hamnet, at the age of 11. This film gives voice to the boy who inspired Hamlet and his mother who anchors family while William follows his theater dreams. Hamnet’s journey to the screen is a powerful reminder of how creative works evolve when they are protected, supported and invested in. Hamnet began as a novel by Maggie O’Farrell and was brought to life by Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zau. We are thrilled that Hamnet recently claimed the top honors at the Golden Globes recently for best drama motion picture with Jesse Buckley recognized as best actress.
“The success of projects like this requires strong intellectual property protections not just for studios, but also for the thousands of artists, from screenwriters to musicians whose livelihoods depend on a healthy creative economy. I feel like I was writing for all this when I was on The Hill. Comcast NBCUniversal is constantly working with domestic and international governments and industry partners. Together, we’re promoting legitimate platforms where consumers can stay safe online and support their favorite artists. We’re also boosting consumer choice. Films are available across various streaming and on- demand platforms. Our films create thousands of jobs and inject millions of dollars into local businesses like caterers, dry cleaners, carpenters and hotels. Creative industries, including filmmaking, drive local communities and are vital to the American economy. As we move into award season, the film represents what sustained investment and original storytelling can achieve. Film incentives help the stage for raw and relatable stories like Hamnet. And with that I’d like to say your educational portion is over and we’d love for you to enjoy this film.”
