Girard-Perregaux and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures unlocked the magic inside the “Mechanics of Dreams”

The event unveiled some unique and never-before-seen images and video footage from the Academy’s archives, introducing the museum project to China for the first time.

Attending guests mingled in the multimedia galleries, surrounded by pictures and video footage of the most iconic Hollywood stars, portrayed in their daily lives, at home with their families and at work, on the set of their movies. In addition, the latest Academy Museum sketches were also on display, as teaser of the final project scheduled to open in 2017.

Among the guests were Li Shaohong (chairman of the Chinese Directors Association), director Wang Xiaoshuai and Suzanne Lloyd Hayes, granddaughter of the Harold Lloyd (iconic Hollywood personality and one of the founders of the Academy), who joined the event to celebrate the partnership.

“Celebrating the partnership between Girard-Perregaux and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Shanghai underlines our commitment to support and spread the Museum’s message internationally” says Michele Sofisti, CEO of Girard-Perregaux and Sowind Group. “Preserving heritage for the future generations is a mission that both our brand and the Museum share and we are honored to support it together”.

“We are delighted to present the Academy Museum project to China” says Matt Severson, Photographic Curator at the Academy of Montion Picture Arts and Sciences.” These images and footage reveal the most human and intimate side of great Hollywood icons with a beauty is timeless and universal”.

Director Li Shaohong, chairman of the Chinese Directors Association, added: “Both Girard-Perregaux and films require creativity and the pursuit of perfection, which is achieved through the power of art. This power can speak to us regardless of time and space. Girard-Perregaux and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures have used this power to build a foundation for their achievement.”

The event space featured also some Girard-Perregaux iconic time such as the multi-Award winner Constant Escapement L.M., the ultimate Tri-Axial and the Chrono Hawk Hollywoodland, the watch the brand created to honor and celebrate the art of cinema. Since 2012, Girard-Perregaux has been the Exclusive Timekeeper and a Founding Supporter of the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, scheduled to open in 2017 in Los Angeles. It will be the world’s premier museum devoted to exploring and curating the history and future of the moving image.

Girard-Perregaux is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer that traces its origins to 1791. The history of the Brand is marked by legendary watches that combine sharp design with innovative artisanship such as the renowned Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, presented by Constant Girard-Perregaux in 1889 at the Paris Universal exhibition, where it was awarded a gold medal.

With more than 80 registered patents, Girard-Perregaux is devoted to the creation of state-of-the-art Haute Horlogerie and is one of the few watchmakers to unite all the skills of design and manufacture under the same roof — including the forging of the “heart” of the watch, the movement. In 2013, Girard-Perregaux received numerous prizes for its groundbreaking Constant Escapement L.M. timepiece, including the most prestigious one: the Aiguille d’Or of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

Girard-Perregaux is part of the Kering Group, a world leader in apparel and accessories, which develops an ensemble of powerful Luxury and Sport & Lifestyle brands.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards—in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners—the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Designed by architects Renzo Piano and Zoltan Pali, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will be located next to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in the historic Wilshire May Co. building. Slated to open in 2017, the Academy Museum will contain nearly 300,000 square feet of state-of-the-art galleries, exhibition spaces, theaters, screening rooms, education centers and special event spaces.