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#CruisingPeachy @IndyCar Kucharczyk Tops INDY NXT Regulars at Griffis Test NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champ Palou Quickest with Helping Hand for CGR

Alex Palou didn’t expect to be the quickest driver in Friday’s Chris Griffis Memorial Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion had never driven INDY NXT by Firestone machinery before climbing into the No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing entry on an overcast, chilly day in Central Indiana. He arrived with minimal expectations. His lap time, however, told a different story.

Palou topped the 22-car test, named in memory of Chris Griffis, the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team manager who died suddenly in September 2011. Palou turned a lap of 1 minute, 14.5050 seconds on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course.

SEE: Overall Test Results

“Feels strange, but it feels good,” Palou said. “Feels kind of strange to be a rookie, but I'm a rookie. I've never been in this car before, so I'm a rookie in this series. I think a lot of people think that it's like other sports where you go down and it's like you're so much higher level. Here it's tough. I didn’t expect to be first.”

Tymek Kucharczyk finished second on the day with a lap of 1:14.8209 in the No. 71 HMD Motorsports entry. The Polish driver finished third as a rookie in the standings this past season with two victories. The last time he was on this road course, he won on May 9. The last time he was in this car, he won the Sept. 6 season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Max Taylor was third Friday at 1:14.8453 in the No. 28 Andretti Global entry. Kucharczyk and Taylor were the highest-finishing drivers from the 2026 championship standings to participate in Friday's test. Taylor finished fourth last season in the same ride.

Max Garcia, who became the second-youngest winner in INDY NXT by Firestone history with his Aug. 30 victory at Milwaukee Mile, finished fourth at 1:14.9443 while testing for HMD Motorsports. The Miami high school senior competed for Abel Motorsports during his rookie season.

Jack Beeton rounded out the top five with a lap of 1:14.9577. He competed for HMD Motorsports this past season but tested the No. 29 Andretti Global entry.

Friday’s test offered an opportunity to experience a different car for Palou and learn from the next generation of open-wheel drivers. The opportunity first arose during the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, when Chip Ganassi Racing asked him to participate. His answer was an easy yes.

“I love driving cars, any kind of car,” Palou said. “Obviously, it's a bit different to what I'm used to. But you learn so much. These kids are really, really fast in these cars, but any track day is good. Obviously, I wouldn't do a race, but test day, 100 percent.”

One of Palou’s key points of reference was teammate Alessandro de Tullio, whose progress he had followed throughout the 2026 season. De Tullio recorded two wins and eight poles during his rookie season with AJ Foyt Racing. Friday marked his first day testing with Chip Ganassi Racing, and he finished sixth quickest with a lap of 1:15.0009.

“I think we have an incredible reference in our team with de Tullio,” Palou said. “He's been so fast all year, and I've been following him a lot.”

The 22 cars combined to complete 1,573 laps during the test.

The 2027 INDY NXT by Firestone season begins the first weekend of March on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

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#MovietimeInManhattan @TheAcademy #OSCARS STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS CEREMONY HELD IN TORONTO WITH THE SUPPORT OF LONGTIME ACADEMY PARTNER ROLEX ALL WINNING FILMS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR 99TH OSCARS®

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored its student winners from colleges and universities around the world at the 53rd Student Academy Awards® ceremony. Gold, Silver and Bronze placements were announced and trophies presented during a ceremony held at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) inside TIFF Lightbox at Reitman Square, in partnership with Rolex. This year, the Student Academy Awards competition received 2,972 entries from 894 colleges and universities worldwide. With remarks by Academy CEO Bill Kramer, Academy Directors Branch Governor and Academy Museum Trustee Jason Reitman and Academy Foundation Board President and Casting Directors Branch Governor Kim Taylor-Coleman, the night’s category presenters included Actors Branch member Gemma Chan, Oscar® nominee and Documentary Branch member Liz Garbus and Actors Branch member Gael García Bernal.

The 2026 Student Academy Award placements are:

Alternative/Experimental

Gold: Lei He, “Drifting,” Duke University, United States

Silver: Viktorie Štěpánová, “Volklore,” Filmová a Televizní Fakulta Akademie Múzických Umění v Praze (FAMU), Czech Republic

Bronze: Nina Broers, “Where Is My Sex Drive?” St. Joost School of Art & Design, Netherlands

Animation

Gold: Jonathan Lally, Elio Molinaro & Nicolás Acevedo Ferraté, “COWS,” École Supérieure de Métiers Artistiques (ESMA), France

Silver: Matthias Strasser, “The Panic Inside,” Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Bronze: Noran Fikri Alezabi, Xinyue Ma & Yulin Yue, “Gauze,” Gobelins, France

Documentary

Gold: Lara Dihmis, “The Last People of Petra,” New York University, United States

Silver: Jason Elliott, “I Want to Live,” National Film and Television School, United Kingdom

Bronze: Arjun Fischer, “Artificial Love,” University of Southern California, United States

Narrative

Gold: Stanzin Jigmet, “The Dragon Letter,” Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya (ESCAC), Spain

Silver: Antoine Boulanger, “The Pichenotte,” Concordia University, Canada

Bronze: Leon Korzyński, “Kamathipura Express,” Warsaw Film School, Poland

First-time honors go to students from Concordia University, Duke University, École Supérieure de Métiers Artistiques (ESMA), Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya (ESCAC), St. Joost School of Art and Design and Warsaw Film School.

Academy members from all 19 branches are invited to opt in to view and vote for the Student Academy Awards. Voting is done by secret online ballot and tabulated by the independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Following the ceremony, winners are paired with Academy members and receive robust educational programming, networking opportunities, and exclusive access to Academy members to support their career advancement through the Academy Gold Mentorship Program and Alumni Network.

All Student Academy Award-winning films will be eligible to compete for the 99th Oscars® in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film category. The 2026 winners join the ranks of such past Student Academy Award winners as Patricia Cardoso, Pete Docter, Spike Lee, Patricia Riggen and Robert Zemeckis. Past Student Academy Award winners have gone on to receive 70 Oscar nominations and have won or shared 15 awards.

Rolex is supporting the Student Academy Awards through its partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, reflecting its ongoing commitment to fostering excellence, achievement and the transfer of cinematic knowledge to the next generation.

The Student Academy Awards were established in 1972 to provide a platform for emerging global talent by creating opportunities within the film industry to showcase their work.

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ABOUT ROLEX AND CINEMA

Rolex celebrates human achievement as a journey marked by milestones, emotions and defining moments. For more than half a century, the brand has partnered some of the world’s most talented artists and leading cultural institutions to promote excellence and the transmission of artistic heritage, creating a link between the past, present and future.

Through the Perpetual Arts Initiative, a broad portfolio of arts that extends through architecture, cinema, dance, music, literature, theatre and visual arts, the brand confirms its long-term commitment to global culture.

The company has had close ties with the film industry for decades, its watches playing a role in numerous films, including Oscar®-winning masterpieces. Since 2017, Rolex has supported the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, serving as Proud Sponsor of the Oscars®, hosting the event’s Greenroom, as well as supporting the Governors Awards, which recognize lifetime achievement and humanitarian efforts in the film industry. Rolex also sponsors Film at Lincoln Center as Official Partner and Exclusive Timepiece.

The company promotes achievement through Testimonees such as James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Zendaya, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Martin Scorsese, Ava DuVernay and Jia Zhang-Ke. It also assists in the preservation of film history for future generations as a Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, as a partner of The Film Foundation and through its support to the National Film and Television School in the UK.

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#ChaChaPeachy #HistoryPeachy #CulturedPeachy @NYHistory The New York Historical Explores the Contradictions of New York in the 70s and the Rise of Punk, Disco, and Hip Hop in New Exhibition, You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond On view October 2, 2026 – April 4, 2027

Taking visitors back to a decade when the new music genres of punk, disco, and hip hop sprang up in New York City and then exploded across the world, The New York Historical presents its new exhibition, You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond. On view October 2, 2026 – April 4, 2027, the exhibition explores how, in a time of financial crisis, New York City cultivated a new generation of creativity and celebration. Featuring musical instruments, performance gear, fashion items, period photographs, albums, flyers, and posters presented within spaces reminiscent of the clubs, bars, and gathering places of the time, You Should Be Dancing illustrates the lasting impact this era has had on American culture at large.

“New York City in the 1970s was an era of contradictions as economic conditions worsened while creativity soared,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO, The New York Historical. “You Should Be Dancing is a nostalgic and thoughtful look at the pivotal pop culture moments of the 1970s with an exploration of the cultural revolution that ignited through punk, hip hop, and disco and changed America forever.”

You Should Be Dancing begins in 1970s New York City. Celebrations were underway for the nation’s Bicentennial with the “Grand Parade of Sailing Ships” in New York Harbor and the Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden (Jimmy Carter's reading copy of his speech to the Democratic Convention is on view), while the city was still reeling from the legendary New York Daily News headline: “Ford to City: Drop Dead.” Juxtaposed with photographs of a gritty and X-rated Times Square and the formal petition declaring the city’s bankruptcy that was drawn up and prepared for submission to the State Supreme Court but later withdrawn are objects that showcase the city’s creative side: the taxi driver license and flannel shirt worn by Robert De Niro in the 1976 film Taxi Driver, publicity stills of the cast of Saturday Night Live, and a Welcome Back, Kotter lunchbox, alongside clip of contemporary news broadcasts and popular films and TV shows like Shaft, All in the Family, and The Jeffersons.

At the same time, bands such as the Ramones and Blondie led a punk renaissance at CBGB in downtown Manhattan, new disco clubs popped up around the boroughs, especially in Queens and Brooklyn, and the expansive street culture of hip hop materialized in the Bronx and upper Manhattan, led by DJs discovering brilliant ways of re-hearing music. The early years of punk are explored with a re-creation of the stage of CBGB and videos projected onto the walls of some of the club’s most famous performers. A Fender signed by Dee Dee Ramone of the Ramones from Forest Hills, Queens—on loan from the Hard Rock Cafe—is on display, along with a dress shirt once worn by Patti Smith and a backstage pass to one of her concerts. Also on view are the original cover art for issue #1 of Punk Magazine and the handwritten lyrics to “The Blank Generation” by Richard Hell and the Voidoids. Visitors can watch footage of the Ramones at Max's Kansas City and Talking Heads and listen to music clips from the Velvet Underground and the New York Dolls.

By the time of the Bicentennial, disco had exploded in popularity. The music borrowed from many sources, including soul, funk, and Latin rhythms. (A 1975 hit, “The Hustle,” traced its origins to a popular dance in the Bronx’s Puerto Rican community). Night clubs popped up in all five boroughs including the Enchanted Garden in Queens, where Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager first experimented with light, sound, and dance floor technology, before opening of Studio 54 in 1977. Platform disco shoes, a mirror from Studio 54 as well as an invitation to opening night, records, photographs, and watercolors by James McMullan that accompanied the New York magazine article that inspired the film Saturday Night Fever, along with the original screenplay for the film, are on view.

The origins of hip hop—a vibrant new sound found in block parties in the Bronx—is explored through personal items from DJs like Grandmaster Flash and DJ Kool Herc who transformed and mixed songs live on the dance floor. Organized around a crucial moment in hip hop history—the first public performance outside of the Bronx—the exhibition features a never-before-displayed childhood beat machine and turntable owned by Grandmaster Flash, whose “Quik Mix Theory” used mathematical formulas to stretch out beats indefinitely, going back and forth between songs on different turntables. Other highlights include a disco ball from 1520 Sedgwick Avenue and the earliest known hip hop party flyer by Kool Herc, who drew upon technological innovations from Jamaican Dub music. Also on view are boomboxes, early examples of hip hop fashion, a bass guitar played on “Rapper’s Delight” on loan from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the handwritten lyrics to “The Breaks” by Kurtis Blow as well as album covers and photographs. Visitors can also try their hand mixing a tune with a DJ turntable.

You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond concludes with a glimpse into the future as the musical revolution set off in New York City in the 1970s continues to echo generations later.

The exhibition is curated by Ted Widmer and is coordinated by Allison Robinson, associate curator of exhibitions, with Cristian Petru Panaite as consulting curator.

Programs

On October 1, to celebrate the opening of the exhibition, musicians Lenny Kaye of the Patti Smith Group, Marky Ramone of the Ramones, and MC Sha-Rock of The Funky 4 +1, along with curator Ted Widmer and Peter-Christian Aigner, explore how New York’s crisis became a catalyst for cultural reinvention—and the city’s remarkable comeback. Tickets will be available to the general public at nyhistory.org and will include admission to a special viewing reception of You Should Be Dancing with refreshments and music. Additional programs related to You Should Be Dancing will be added to the calendar.

Young visitors can explore the exhibition with a special family guide, providing activities and themes to consider. Story times in October and the Halloween family party will be tied to the exhibition. Private group tours can also be arranged throughout the exhibition.

Support

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional Support is provided by the Estate of Terry Siegel.

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#MovietimeInManhattan @TheAcademy #OSCARS THE ACADEMY INVESTIGATES SIX SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AREAS FOR 2026 AWARDS CONSIDERATION

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that six distinct scientific and technical investigations have been launched for 2026 in preparation for the Scientific and Technical Awards on Tuesday, April 20, 2027.

These investigations are made public to invite individuals and companies with devices or claims of innovation within these areas to submit achievements for review. The Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards Committee has begun investigations into the following areas:Artist-friendly tools for the construction of large-scale water simulations

Audio spectrum segmentation and editing software

Color-accurate LED lighting suitable for on-set photography

Digitally-controlled performer flying systems

Rigging systems for direct manipulation of CG characters

Solvers for markerless facial capture

“We are excited to explore this year’s six selected areas for consideration, which reflect the ingenuity of our filmmaking community across production, visual effects, animation and sound. From tools that give artists greater creative control to technologies that enhance on-set precision, safety and performance, our committee looks forward to investigating the innovation, impact and industry adoption of these achievements,” said Scientific and Technical Awards Committee co-chairs Darin Grant and Rachel Rose.

After thorough investigations in each technology category, the committee will meet to vote on recommendations to the Academy’s Board of Governors, which will make the final awards decisions.

The Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2027.

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#MovietimeInManhattan @TheAcademy #OSCARS THE ACADEMY ANNOUNCES CHAIRS AND VICE CHAIRS FOR 2026-2027 COMMITTEES AND AFFINITY GROUPS

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the newly appointed chairs and vice chairs for its 2026-2027 committees and affinity groups, including appointments to the new Academy Marquee Theater Committee. The Academy’s committees and affinity groups bring together members to advance key initiatives, inform Academy policy and programs and serve the interests of its membership. All chairs and vice chairs serve one-year terms.

“As a member-led organization, we are deeply grateful to all our chairs and vice chairs for their leadership and engagement across the Academy’s work,” said Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor and Academy CEO Bill Kramer. “Their dedication helps advance our mission while ensuring that the Academy is well-positioned for the future.”

The Academy Marquee Theater Committee reviews submissions and recommends theaters for inclusion on the Academy Marquee Theater List.

Sean Baker (Directors Branch), co-chair, Academy Marquee Theater Committee

Samantha Quan (Producers Branch), co-chair, Academy Marquee Theater Committee

AWARDS COMMITTEES

The International Feature Film Executive Committee oversees the awards rules, submission requirements and eligibility of the Oscars® International Feature Film category.

Michèle Ohayon (Documentary Branch), co-chair, International Feature Film Executive Committee

James Wilson (Producers Branch), co-chair, International Feature Film Executive Committee

The Short Films Qualifying Festivals Selection Committee determines festival eligibility criteria and reviews global applications to select which festivals and awards should be deemed Oscar®-qualifying in the animated, documentary and live action short film categories.

Summer Joy Main-Muñoz (Short Films Branch), chair, Short Films Qualifying Festivals Selection Committee

The Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee reviews submissions and makes recommendations for individuals and companies to receive Scientific and Technical Awards.

Darin Grant (Visual Effects Branch), co-chair, Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee

Rachel Rose (Visual Effects Branch), co-chair, Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEES

Branch and Category Executive Committees oversee branch- and category-related business, including awards rules, eligibility and the review of candidates considered for Academy membership.

Branch and Category Executive Committee chairs (alphabetically by branch and category):

Rita Wilson (chair, Actors Branch Executive Committee)

Marlon West (chair, Animation Branch Executive Committee)

Kim Taylor-Coleman (chair, Casting Directors Branch Executive Committee)

Paul Cameron (chair, Cinematographers Branch Executive Committee)

Daniel Orlandi (chair, Costume Designers Branch Executive Committee)

Patricia Cardoso (chair, Directors Branch Executive Committee)

Jean Tsien (chair, Documentary Branch Executive Committee)

Pam Abdy (chair, Executives Branch Executive Committee)

Terilyn A. Shropshire (chair, Film Editors Branch Executive Committee)

Gerald Quist (chair, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Executive Committee)

Laura C. Kim (chair, Marketing and Public Relations Branch Executive Committee)

Lesley Barber (chair, Music Branch Executive Committee)

Effie T. Brown (chair, Producers Branch Executive Committee)

Annie Chang (chair, Production and Technology Branch Executive Committee)

Kalina Ivanov (chair, Production Design Branch Executive Committee)

Chris Tashima (chair, Short Films Branch Executive Committee)

Andy Nelson (chair, Sound Branch Executive Committee)

Brooke Breton (chair, Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee)

Howard A. Rodman (chair, Writers Branch Executive Committee)

Keya Khayatian (chair, Artist Representatives Category Executive Committee)

The International Engagement Committee helps guide global Academy membership initiatives, promoting connectivity among members worldwide.

Peter Devlin (Sound Branch), chair, International Engagement Committee

Khadija Alami (Producers Branch), vice chair, International Engagement Committee

The London Committee provides advice and guidance on UK member screenings and special events.

Maggie Todd (Marketing and Public Relations Branch), chair, London Committee

May Leung (Visual Effects Branch), vice chair, London Committee

The New York Committee provides advice and guidance on New York member screenings and special events.

Mia Neal (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch), chair, New York Committee

Dana O'Keefe (Executives Branch), vice chair, New York Committee

MEMBERSHIP AFFINITY GROUPS

Academy Affinity Groups bring together members from shared backgrounds and affinities, with a focus on underrepresented and marginalized communities. They offer guidance on membership, awards and programming while fostering community and promoting networking and educational opportunities.

Academy Affinity Group chairs and vice chairs (alphabetically by affinity group):

Stephanie Lowry (Music Branch), chair, Asian Affinity Group

Guneet Monga (Producers Branch), vice chair, Asian Affinity Group

Taura Stinson (Music Branch), chair, Black Caucus

Renard T. Jenkins (Production and Technology Branch), vice chair, Black Caucus

Àlex Lora (Short Films Branch), chair, Disability & Accessibility

Chelsea Winstanley (Producers Branch), chair, Indigenous Alliance

Howard Berger (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch), co-chair, Jewish Heritage Affinity Group

Steven Raphael (Marketing and Public Relations Branch), co-chair, Jewish Heritage Affinity Group

Carlos López Estrada (Directors Branch), chair, La Agenda

Carla Gutiérrez (Documentary Branch), vice chair, La Agenda

Andrew Ahn (Directors Branch), co-chair, LGBTQ+ Coalition

Kimberly Reed (Documentary Branch), co-chair, LGBTQ+ Coalition

Haifaa al-Mansour (Directors Branch), chair, MENA & WANA Alliance

Edie Ichioka (Film Editors Branch), chair, Women's Affinity Group

Gennie Rim (Animation Branch), vice chair, Women's Affinity Group

ACADEMY FOUNDATION COMMITTEES

The Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee helps to ensure the Academy Museum experience is inclusive for all visitors by bringing diverse perspectives to programmatic discussions.

Bird Runningwater (Production and Technology Branch), chair, Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee

The Student Academy Awards Executive Committee guides the direction of the Academy’s international college student filmmaking competition, including approving rules and setting standards for judging the films.

Brooke Breton (Visual Effects Branch), chair, Student Academy Awards Executive Committee

The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Executive Committee reads finalist screenplays for the Academy’s international program that supports emerging screenwriters and selects the recipients of the annual fellowships.

Kim Taylor-Coleman (Casting Directors Branch), chair, Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Executive Committee

The Science and Technology Council helps to guide Academy initiatives connected to scientific and technological standards and developments in filmmaking.

Annie Chang (Production and Technology Branch), chair, Science and Technology Council

Nick Cannon (Production and Technology Branch), vice chair, Science and Technology Council

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