The Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in conjunction with the Palo Alto International Film Festival (PAIFF), presents a 30th anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” on Friday, September 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the Outdoor Festival Village Stage in Palo Alto, CA. Hosted by Variety tech columnist David S. Cohen, the evening features an onstage discussion with members of the film’s crew. Admission is free.

Described by Spielberg as his “most personal film” and considered by many to be a benchmark in the science fiction genre, “E.T.” continues to delight audiences with its emotional story of the intense relationship between the young Elliott (Henry Thomas) and the loveable alien who is trying to return to his home planet.

A great deal of ingenuity and technical expertise were needed to make E.T. a believable character. From the intricate sound design of E.T.’s voice to the complicated animatronic work that made him move, the film combined new technologies with established techniques to create movie magic.

The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards® and won four: Music – Original Score (John Williams), Sound (Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don Digirolamo, Gene Cantamessa), Sound Effects Editing (Charles L. Campbell, Ben Burtt) and Visual Effects (Carlo Rambaldi, Dennis Muren, Kenneth F. Smith). It also received nominations for Best Picture (Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, producers), Cinematography (Allen Daviau), Directing (Spielberg), Film Editing (Carol Littleton) and Writing – Screenplay written directly for the screen (Melissa Mathison).

The new digital remastering on HDCAM of the 1982 release is courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

The event is presented as part of the Science and Technology Council’s “Prime Tech” screening series, which showcases Oscar®-nominated and winning films that have been recognized in at least one technical category. The series features panel discussions that illuminate the art of filmmaking from a science and technology perspective, examining how technical elements can augment a film’s narrative capabilities and enrich the overall viewing experience.