Kevin Feige honoured as Pioneer of the Year at Beverly Hilton charity night
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige accepted the Pioneer of the Year award from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation at the Beverly Hilton on 30 September 2026, Variety reported.
The prize is the top honour given by the industry charity, which announced Feige as its 2026 recipient in July, Deadline reported. The dinner was held at the Beverly Hilton, the date set in advance for 30 September, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Disney Entertainment chairman Alan Bergman led the tributes in the room. He said Feige had produced 38 films in 17 years that earned more than $35 billion at the box office, Variety reported. Twelve of those films passed $1 billion each. Three passed $2 billion each.
The night raised $1.9 million for the Will Rogers Pioneers Assistance Fund, Variety reported. The fund supports people in exhibition, the cinema business, who need help with bills, health costs and other hardship.
Chris Pratt and Jon Favreau spoke in person. Composer Michael Giacchino sent a video tribute because he was ill. Pre-recorded messages came from Louis D'Esposito, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Bettany, Hailee Steinfeld, Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby.
The room was full of cinema power. Guests included Disney chief Josh D'Amaro, AMC Theatres leader Adam Aron, Regal Cinemas executive Eduardo Acuna and producer Scott Stuber.
Feige closed the night with cinemas on his mind. He named the Rialto Theater in Westfield, New Jersey, as his childhood theatre. He said the shared emotion when a crowd cheers, laughs and cries together is the real movie magic. Without that shared audience experience, he added, you might say it is not a real movie.
What makes this stand out is the host. Will Rogers is a charity rooted in cinema workers, not studios. For fans, this means the night was less about one franchise and more about the rooms where those films play.
