To kick off its highly anticipated Oscar Night® America celebration this March, the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is thrilled to present a free Oscar Award Nominations Panel featuring Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune film critic and co-host of “At the Movies”), A.O. Scott (The New York Times film critic and co-host of “At the Movies”), Janet Davies (ABC-7 Chicago entertainment reporter and host of “190 North”) and Hank Sartin (Time Out Chicago film editor).  The panelists will discuss the newly announced Academy Award nominees* at this exclusive event Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 12 p.m. at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.

The first 25 attendees will receive a free Chipotle burrito, and all attendees will be eligible for raffled door prizes including a pair of tickets to the Oscar Night America party on March 7 and individual memberships to the Gene Siskel Film Center.

The Gene Siskel Film Center will host Chicago’s only official Academy-sanctioned Oscar Night America party on March 7, 2010 at 6 p.m.  Guests at the Oscar Night America—Chicago celebration will experience Hollywood glamour first-hand, with a red-carpet and Moët Champagne welcome by Amanda Puck as Klieg lights illuminate State St.  Once inside, guests will enjoy a scrumptious dinner buffet generously donated by MJ Catering and the live High-Definition telecast of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards on ABC-7.

Oscar Night America—Chicago is supported this year by sponsors ABC-7 Chicago, Chicago Social, MJ Catering, Moët Champagne, Ellen and Richard Sandor Family Foundation, and Time Out Chicago.  Tickets to the March 7 event are $100 and can be purchased by calling 312-846-2072. Tickets must be purchased in advance – reservation deadline is February 26.

About the Gene Siskel Film Center

The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago celebrates 38 years of presenting independent and international cinema, film festivals, cutting edge programs, premieres, retrospectives and classic films. Recognized internationally for its original film programming, the Film Center annually attracts a diverse audience of more than 70,000. For more information, please visit www.siskelfilmcenter.org.