Rolex and the film industry share a potent convergence of inventiveness and artistic excellence. Symbolically, the Rolex watch enhances the identity of the on-screen characters who wear it. When an actor chooses to wear a Rolex watch, the watch’s presence on their wrist encodes narrative information. The personal effect provides the character with a potential past, history, and destiny. Rolex goes beyond cameos and appearances on the silver screen; the Swiss watchmaker also supports the preservation and transmission of cinematic arts.
Rolex: Proud Sponsor of the Academy Awards
Rolex and cinema share a similar characteristic: both are aspirational and inspire aspiration. The cinematic landscape is ever-changing and perpetually in motion, much like Rolex. In an endeavor to support the world of arts and culture, Rolex continues to cultivate close ties with the film industry. From being worn by both dynamic and mythical characters in numerous films (including multiple Oscar-winning works) to supporting artistic and technical excellence in filmmaking, as seen on cinematic luminaries Martin Scorsese and James Cameron. Through its partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Rolex promotes excellence and honors advancement by partnering with both living titans and rising stars.
Rolex’s association with Hollywood dates back to 1926, but two significant events in 2017 will cement Rolex’s longstanding relationship with the film industry. Martin Scorsese first joined James Cameron as a Rolex Testimonee. In the same year, the brand partnered with the highest authority in the film industry, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Rolex subsequently became the Exclusive Watch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which will open in September 2021 in Los Angeles. Rolex is also the Proud Sponsor of the Academy Awards and the Exclusive Sponsor of the Governors Awards, which kick off the Academy Awards season. They are presented in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary achievements and honor the famous names of cinema.
The Rolex Encounter
Rolex is the official sponsor of the Oscars’ pre-ceremony Greenroom. Before and after the Oscars ceremony, nominees and presenters congregate in this lounge, with some returning with the coveted golden statuette. Each year, Rolex creates a one-of-a-kind immersive experience and a new aesthetic for the Oscars’ Greenroom.
Two revolutionary filmmakers are Rolex Testimonees.
In the Rolex universe, two Academy Award-winning directors are in a league of their own for their contribution to their chosen medium and their ability to captivate any audience through their passion for innovation. James Cameron’s work is both accomplished and ambitious. Cameron descended alone to the bottom of the Mariana Trench inside a submersible of his own design nicknamed “Deepsea Challenger” for the 1997 film Titanic, one of the most audacious. With his extraordinary dives, he was able to create 3D reconstructions of a decaying luxury ship on the floor of the North Atlantic Ocean, bringing it to the attention of global audiences. Cameron once again pushed the limits of human, technical, and aesthetic accomplishment with Avatar: The Way of Water, the sequel to the technically groundbreaking 2009 film Avatar.
Martin Scorsese’s ability to establish an atmosphere on-set that encourages actors to improvise, combined with his accomplishments as a director of 26 feature-length films, has earned him numerous awards and acclaim. Having investigated virtually every film genre, including period pieces, thrillers, Noir, musicals, and psychological dramas, among others. Both Rolex and Scorsese are rooted in the legacy of the greatest and driven by a never-ending quest for innovation. A Scorsese film explores the human condition with a distinctive perspective and sensitivity. Through artistic collaborations and his involvement with the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, he maintains a creative dialogue with younger generations while paying homage to film’s acclaimed auteurs.
The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative was established in 2002 to facilitate an exchange between generations of talented artists in order to preserve the cultural heritage of the globe. Since then, nine of the 63 mentor-protégé pairs have entered the film industry. Each protégé is a young artist whose work has been extensively scouted, including at festivals and Oscars shortlists. Stephen Frears, Martin Scorsese, Alejandro G. Iárritu, Mira Nair, Walter Murch, Zhang Yimou, Alfonso Cuarón, Spike Lee, and Jia Zhang-Ke are among the mentors. The program addressed film, theater, the visual arts, and an open category between 2020 and 2022, while mentorships in architecture, film, literature, music, and the visual arts will take place between 2023 and 2024.
A Foundation Donor to the Academy Museum
As a Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Rolex affirms its dedication to showcasing talent and cultivating excellence by ensuring the transmission of knowledge and skills to future generations. The museum illuminates the past, present, and future of film by immersing visitors in the cinematic world through original exhibitions, screenings, publications, educational programs, and exceptional collections. The museum exhibits a vast assortment of objects relating to film production and film technology, highlighting the diverse, global, and intricate histories of filmmakers. This includes the only surviving shark from the filming of Jaws, which was cast from the original mold, as well as objects associated with Alfred Hitchcock to Bruce Lee.
What a Watch Reveals About a Character
When a character wears a Rolex watch, the actors and directors have made a creative decision. Rolex is inseparable from the film industry because of these timepieces and their on-screen presence.
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