‘Air’ To Receive Tribute At Gotham Awards Recognizing Both The Ben Affleck-Directed Film And The Team Behind Michael Jordan Shoe Phenomenon

Air has been set for a special honor at next month’s Gotham Awards.

The film, which tells the story of the creation of the Air Jordan brand, will receive the Gotham Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute. The newly created award recognizes director Ben Affleck’s film as well as the real-life collaborators on the Michael Jordan shoe phenomenon.

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The Gotham Film & Media Institute’s ceremony, this year set for November 27 at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street, represents the unofficial kickoff of awards season. Nominees for competitive categories in film and TV will be announced October 24.

“Both gripping and hilarious, Air is a deeply refreshing reminder to the film industry that audiences respond to smart, original narratives,” said Jeffrey Sharp, the institute’s executive director. “By capturing the dramatic story behind the most monumental partnership in the history of sports marketing, the film highlights the power of knowing your worth and using that knowledge to take the right risks.”

Air was released theatrically by Amazon last spring and it began streaming on Prime Video in May.

The film is set in 1984, as Jordan is making the transition from the national college basketball championship team at North Carolina to the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. It depicts the then-unfathomable choice by Jordan and his family to align with Nike rather than rivals Converse or Adidas, who were dominating the marketplace at the time. The decision would alter the future of sports and celebrity.

Affleck plays Nike founder Phil Knight and the cast also features Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, Julius Tennon and Viola Davis. Air is the first film produced by Affleck and Damon’s production company, Artists Equity, and was also backed by Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures.

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