The American Film Institute (AFI) just announced the year’s most outstanding achievements in film and television.
For those who are not familiar with the AFI Awards, each year a select jury consisting of respected professionals in the creative field, single out film and television ensembles to be honored as a whole.
In essence, the tribute acknowledges the collaborative nature of film and television, and hands out kudos to artists both in front of and behind the camera.
The AFI AWARDS were selected this year by virtue of a unique 13-person jury process which included scholars, film artists, critics and AFI trustees.
During closed-door sessions, the discriminating team discussed, debated and determined the most outstanding achievements of the year.
In addition, the committee - rightly so - provided a detailed rationale for each selection.
Two AFI juries (one for motion pictures and another for television) convened in Los Angeles for two days of deliberations at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.
The identity of the jurors remained confidential until yesterday, the day I received the news release from the office of publicist, John Wildman.
The creative ensembles for each of the selections will be honored at a luncheon sponsored by Hewlett-Packard on Friday, January 9 (2009) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles (CA).
Start sweet-talking whoever you know at the AFI if you'd like to attend the prestigious affair; after all, the luncheon is by invitation only.
Hewlett-Packard, an AFI sponor, created scholarships for the AFI Conservatory in conjunction with their support of the AFI AWARDS.
The AFI Conservatory is world-renowned for its advanced training of the next generation of storytellers.
"AFI AWARDS honors the community of artists who come together each year to create films and television programs of excellence. They are not competitors at an event, but colleagues, in a world that needs art and entertainment more than ever," commented Bob Gazzale, AFI’s President and CEO.
The honorees listed in alphabetical order are:
AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR / OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Frozen River, Gran Torino, Iron Man, Milk, Wall-E, Wendy and Lucy, and The Wrestler.
AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR / OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Breaking Bad, In Treatment, John Adams, Life, Lost, Mad Men, The Office, Recount, The Shield, and The Wire.
In the Motion Picture category, the jurors were Leonard Maltin (Entertainment Tonight), Jeanine Basinger (Wesleyan University), Mary Corey (USC), Mark Harris (author), Jim Hosney (AFI), Rick Jewell (USC), Elvis Mitchell (The Treatment), Danie Petrie, Jr. (writer/producer/director), Tom Pollock (producer/AFI Board of Trustees), Richard Schickel (Time), Vivian Sobchack (USC/AFI Trustee Emeritus, Anne Thompson (Variety), and Robert Towne (writer/director/producer).
The AFI Jury for Television included Richard Frank (AFI Trustee Emeritus), Neal Baer (writer/producer), John Caldwell (USC), and Jean Picker Firstenberg (AFI President Emerita).
Just a few short weeks ago, I attended the annual AFI Film Fest which was set amid the old world charm of the Roosevelt Hotel.
For press reports and reviews of films check archives: http://www.julianayrs.com/
AFI came into existence primarily due to the efforts of President Lyndon Johnson.
The politician signed legislation in the Rose Garden at the White House in 1965 - and with that mighty stroke of the pen - created the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts.
On that auspicious occasion, he noted for the record:
"We will create an American Film Institute that will bring together leading artists of the film industry, outstanding educators, and young men and women who wish to pursue this 20th century art form as their life's work."
AFI's original 22-member Board of Trustees included Chair Gregory Peck, Vice Chair Sidney Poitier, Francis Ford Coppola, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Jack Valenti and other representatives from the arts and academia.
Under the leadership of AFI's founding director George Stevens, Jr., the institute established a training program for filmmakers known as the Center for Advanced Film Studies, where the first class included Terrence Malick, David Lynch and Paul Schrader.
A repertory film exhibition program at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films - the definitive source for American film history - were also created in the first five years.
Today, AFI is not only a National Institute that provides leadership in screen education, but a respected one that celebrates excellence in the art of film, television and digital media.
Under the leadership of Jean Picker Firstenberg (2nd AFI Director) the institute's eight-acre Hollywood campus was purchased and the film training program grew into the renowned AFI Conservatory and accredited graduate school.
In essence, AFI trains the next generation of filmmakers, maintains America's film heritage through the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, and explores new digital technologies in entertainment and education through the AFI Digital Content Lab and K-12 Screen Education Center.
The AFI AWARDS honor outstanding motion pictures and television programs annually.
In addition, the AFI's 100 Years series, brought extraordinary renewed public interest in classic American movies.
Today, AFI's Life Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed on an artist in film.
Honorees over the past 35 years have included John Ford, James Cagney, Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Billy Wilder, Sidney Poitier, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, George Lucas and Al Pacino.
In November 2007, the AFI Board named Bob Gazzale (a film historian and television producer) the institute's President and CEO.
The AFI has been major cultural force in this country for the past forty years.
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