Richard Press and Philip Gefter in attendance. “We all get dressed for Bill,” says longtime Vogue editor Anna Wintour about Bill Cunningham, the 80-year-old New York Times photographer and unlikely man about town. Bill Cunningham New York chronicles a man who is obsessively interested in one thing—taking pictures to document the way people dress. Cunningham has lived in the same small studio above Carnegie Hall for 50 years, never eats in restaurants, and rides a rickety bicycle. In addition to Wintour, the film features New York fixtures such as Tom Wolfe, David Rockefeller, Brooke Astor, and Annette de la Renta. With the singular goal of capturing the beauty that crosses his path, Cunningham has created a poignant and ongoing chronicle of the intersection of fashion and society in New York over 50 years—in effect, a portrait of New York City itself. The film opened the 2010 New Directors/New Films series at the Museum of Modern Art to great acclaim.

Richard Press has written and directed several award-winning short films. He is at work on The Farnsworth House, a narrative film about the scandalous romance between architect Mies van der Rohe and his client Edith Farnsworth. Bill Cunningham New York is Richard Press’ feature film debut.

Richard Press has written and directed several award-winning short films. He is at work on The Farnsworth House, a narrative film about the scandalous romance between architect Mies van der Rohe and his client Edith Farnsworth. Bill Cunningham New York is Richard Press’ feature film debut.