The Gotham Academy of Film and Media announced Monday that “Air,” the game-changing story of Michael Jordan’s collaboration with Nike directed by Ben Affleck, will be honored by Gotham Visionary Icon and Creator at the 33rd Annual Gotham Awards. Tribute Award. The live event will be held on November 27, 2023 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Gotham Awards nominees will be announced on Tuesday, October 24th.
The Icon and Creator Tribute event was designed for the 2023 Gotham Awards to “honor a cultural icon and the filmmakers responsible for bringing that icon’s story to life,” according to the Gotham Academy of Film and Media. In this case, both Jordan and Affleck got the nod.Gotham Academy of Film & Media previously announced that George C. Wolfe’s upcoming film Rustin will receive the “Social Justice Icon and Creator Tribute” award at this year’s ceremony.
“It’s both gripping and hilarious,” Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of the Gotham Academy of Film and Media, said in a statement. Air The film provides the film industry with a profound and refreshing reminder that audiences respond to smart, original narratives. By capturing the dramatic story behind one of the most important partnerships in sports marketing history, the film highlights the power of knowing your own value and using that knowledge to take the right risks.We are honored to honor the stories behind the legend and Air The team brought this story to life with the Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute. “
“Air” tells the story of how, in 1984, a new kid named Michael Jordan struck a deal with Nike that forever changed the sportswear industry. With the birth of the Air Jordan brand, Jordan set a precedent for athletes to earn points for every product sold. The brand’s first basketball sneaker, the Air Jordan 1, sold 1.5 million pairs in its first six weeks. The deal comes as Nike is working to grow its basketball division. When Jordan retired in 1998, Nike accounted for 40% of U.S. sneaker sales, according to the Gotham Institute.
In the film, Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who commissions the company’s talent scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) to find a new spokesperson for the brand’s basketball shoes. The cast also includes Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, Julius Tennon and Viola Davis. (Damian Young briefly played Jordan.) Air was released last April and is now streaming on Prime Video.
