‘The Three Burials Of Melquiades Estrada' Premiere with Tommy Lee Jones

Museum of the Moving Image will present the New York premiere of ‘The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada’ followed by a conversation with director and star Tommy Lee Jones on Monday, December 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Paris Theatre in Manhattan. The film will be released by Sony Pictures Classics on December 14th.

Jones' directorial debut was one of the most acclaimed films at this year's Cannes Film Festival, winning the Best Actor award for Tommy Lee Jones, and the Best Screenplay award for Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams). After the premiere screening, Jones will participate in a Pinewood Dialogue moderated by Chief Curator David Schwartz.

“The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” stars Jones as Pete Perkins, a grizzled ranch foreman investigating the killing of one of his hired hands, a young illegal immigrant named Melquiades Estrada (Julio Cesar Cedillo.) When Pete discovers the killer, a young border patrolman named Mike (Barry Pepper), he forces him to dig up Melquiades' body and journey with him on horseback into Mexico to bury Estrada near his family in his native land. Featuring stunning widescreen cinematography by Chris Menges, “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” is an atmospheric, intriguing tale of life, death and justice that was described by Variety as "the best Sam Peckinpah movie since the late maverick himself ventured south of the border."

Tickets are $18 for the general public and $12 for Museum members, and are available by calling 718-784-4520. The Paris Theatre is located at 4 West 58th Street in Manhattan.

MUSEUM INFORMATION

Hours: Wednesdays & Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Tuesday, school groups only by appointment.)

Film Screenings: Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Museum Admission: $10.00 for adults; $7.50 for persons over 65 and for students with ID; $5.00 for children ages 5-18. Children under 5 and Museum members are admitted free. Admission to the galleries is free on Fridays, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Location: 35 Avenue at 36 Street in Astoria.

Subway: R or V trains (R or G on weekends) to Steinway Street. N or W trains to 36 Avenue.

Program Information: Telephone: (718) 784-0077; Web site: www.movingimage.us

Museum of the Moving Image receives support from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals, and vital funding from the City of New York through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Additional government support is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Natural Heritage Trust (administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation) .