Jon Stewart: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

August 1909 •English

Documentary footage of the author and his two daughters at home.

Mark Twain's America in 3D

July 1998 •English

Mark Twain's America interweaves the life and times of Mark Twain with the lives of current day enthusiasts who revel in the inventions and way of life of the 19th century. Utilizing archival stereo-optic photos, powerful images from the past seemingly come alive in a larger-than-life presentation. Archival photos representative of Twain and what he saw and experienced in his time are juxtaposed against scenes of actual present day recreations of that era.

Tom Sawyer

March 1973 •English

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, two friends in a Mississippi River town, have one adventure after another - including attending their own funeral and being pursued by a murderer.

The Main Stream

December 2002 •English

Humorist Roy Blount Jr. takes viewers on a journey down the Mississippi River, showcasing everything from areas with spectacularly beautiful scenery to ugly and dangerously polluted stretches bordered by industrial development.

David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize

October 2017 •English

Emmy Award-winning comic and talk show host David Letterman accepts the 2017 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. An outstanding lineup of entertainers gathers in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall to salute David Letterman, recipient of the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Eddie Murphy: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize

November 2015 •English

Celebrate the work of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy at the Kennedy Center, as the recipient of the 18th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. From the stage of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, a lineup of the biggest names in comedy salutes the 18th recipient of the humor prize, Eddie Murphy. Dave Chappelle, Kathy Griffin, Arsenio Hall, Sam Moore, Kevin Nealon, Trevor Noah, Jay Pharoah, Joe Piscopo, Chris Rock, and others salute Eddie Murphy at the 18th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize.

Bill Murray: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize

October 2016 •English

Celebrate the work of actor and comedian Bill Murray at the Kennedy Center, as the recipient of the 19th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

July 1981 •English

The escapades of Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, and the runaway slave, Jim, drifting down the Mississippi on a homemade raft, and their encounter with the Duke and his cohort, Dauphin.

Huckleberry Finn: A Close Place

October 2020 •English

Transposing Mark Twain's immortal anti-racist novel to 2017, "Huckleberry Finn: A Close Place" depicts the friendship that develops between a poor Missouri boy and an undocumented African immigrant as they drift down the Mississippi River on a makeshift raft in pursuit of freedom.

The War Prayer

November 2005 •English

"In 1904, disgusted by the aftermath of the Spanish-American War and the subsequent Philippine-American War, Mark Twain wrote a short anti-war prose poem called "The War Prayer." His family begged him not to publish it, his friends advised him to bury it, and his publisher rejected it, thinking it too inflammatory for the times. Twain agreed, but instructed that it be published after his death, saying famously: None but the dead are permitted to tell the truth."

The Dead the Damned and the Darkness

October 2014 •English

In a savage land where zombies roam freely - Lieutenant Colonel Sawyer is armed with machine guns, body armor and courage. He is on a mission to give his family a burial at sea. To reach the coast, he must enter a quarantined infected zone and fight through hordes of bloodthirsty zombies. There he encounters a group of survivors including a young woman who is a target of both the male survivors and the ravenous zombies. To protect the last non-infected humans and complete his mission, Colonel Sawyer must face the Dead, the Damned and the Darkness.

La redención

October 2015 •Spanish

Portrays the importance of the use of art in the formation of adolescents; the use of art, in all its manifestations, as a tool to help them meet themselves, to resurface their emotional, spiritual, and psychological life.

La promesa

November 2014 •Spanish

A journey through customs and traditions such as the promise of the Kings, Virgen del Carmen festival, the rosaries, Christmas' parrandas, and the voices of people retelling their memories of history.

Scared Topless

October 2015 •English

A group of unsuspecting college students explore a haunted house and get more than they bargained for when the sexual frenzy of the paranormal world reveals itself.

Man in Red Bandana

September 2017 •English

"Man in Red Bandana" is about Welles Remy Crowther, an extraordinary 9/11 hero. However, how his heroics became known is even more remarkable. Eight months after the disaster, his parents learned about how their son spent his last hour due to an ordinary object ... a red bandana. This revelation dramatically shifts their perspective on their loss. After hearing his remarkable story and how it unfolds, viewers will see how the actions of one man have touched 1,000s. This inspirational segment of the film depicts the unique, diverse and folklore ways that Welles is honored throughout the United States including in art, sports and song. Even President Barack Obama pays homage to this young man in the film. Our uplifting ending culminates in the revelation of a secret about Welles that can only be described as "perfect".

La esperanza

November 2016 •Spanish

The Right Age to Marry

October 1935 •English

A Yorkshire mill owner retires and leaves control to his nephew, who promptly gets married.

Uang Panai' Maha(r)l

July 2016 •Indonesian

Anca, a Bugis-Makassar guy, just back from overseas. Accidentally he is reunited with her former lover Risna. The seeds of love resurfaced. Hoping not to lose Risna for the second time, Anca intends to marry Risna. But his intention is blocked by the marriage customary terms: Uang Panai or dowry in fantastic quantities. Anca’s struggle begins. He is assisted by his friends Tumming and Abu, who often gave hilarious and absurd ideas. In the midst of Anca’s struggle to collect the dowry, comes Farhan, Risna’s old friend who has just returned from abroad. Farhan's father who is also Risna’s father best friend, is intending to match Farhan and Risna. Anca depressed. He takes more longer time to gather the dowry. Risna worries whether Anca will leave her as before. Risna’s family does not want to stall off any longer.

The Romantic President

December 2002 •Korean

A gum-popping student wearing a very short uniform and a weird hair-do is looking for 'zzang', the school boss. She turns out to be the new teacher, Choi Eun-Soo, who was trying to get a grasp of situation in the classroom. Eun-Soo has been sacked from numerous schools due to her eccentricity and too-strong dedication to teaching. She finally meets her match in Young-Hee, the troublemaker in her class. Unable to deal with Young-Hee who lives to rebel, Eun-Soo finally decides to call her parents. Yes, Young-hee turns out to be the First Daughter, who is being raised by Han Min-Wook, the popular president with his good looks and integrity. But Eun-Soo is not deterred by the title. She summons the President to school, scolds him, and makes him copy down 'Hwangjoga' 100 times in stead of his daughter. This is the beginning of the battle between Eun-Soo and Min-Wook, the president and also a parent.

Hay hombres para todas

January 2008 •Spanish

A few women arrive at an escort agency to choose the men who will accompany them at their events. They aren’t all there for the same reason. One of them mistakes the office for that of a gynaecologist, while two prostitutes seeking a change in profession want to learn how to be more refined and respectable. Others are indeed looking for an escort for events, where they must portray an image of personal success despite being single.