The American Film Institute (AFI) is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act. The organization describes itself as "a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media." The AFI preserves film and video through its National Center for Film and Video Preservation. The AFI Conservatory focuses on training through hands-on experience with established figures. AFI also produces film education and appreciation materials for middle and high school students. The AFI re-opened the AFI Silver theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., in April 2003. Often confused, AFI DALLAS International Film Festival is not an AFI program. AFI DALLAS is a separate non-profit organization with a licensing agreement with the American Film Institute.

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History

The first CEO and director was George Stevens, Jr.

In 1969, Czechoslovakian-born Frank Daniel was appointed the first school's first dean.

In 1980, Jean Picker Firstenberg became Director and CEO.

In 1998—the 100th anniversary of American film—AFI began its 100 Years... series, celebrating and promoting interest in film history; they also preserve old films, which are subject to degradation of film stock.

In 2007, Bob Gazzale, a fifteen-year veteran of AFI, was named president and CEO.

Awards

The AFI established a Life Achievement Award in 1973. Their own film festival, AFI Fest , was launched in 1987 and has been held every year. AFI Fest is the first film festival in the United States to carry FIAPF accreditation.

Ceremonies

• 2005 was the only year when all the nominees of the Academy Award for Best Picture were also listed as one of the best 10 films of the year: Brokeback Mountain , Capote , Crash , Good Night, and Good Luck. and Munich .
• 2004, 2006 and 2008 only listed 3 Best Picture Oscar nominees – 2004: The Aviator , Million Dollar Baby and Sideways – 2006: Babel , Letters from Iwo Jima and Little Miss Sunshine and 2008: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , Frost/Nixon and Milk .
• Up to 2008, 6 animated features made the list of 10 best films of the year. Shrek (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Happy Feet (2006), Ratatouille (2007) and WALL-E (2008); all of them went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
• 2006 and 2008 were the only years where the eventual Best Picture winner at the Oscars, The Departed and Slumdog Millionaire , were not selected as one of the year's Ten Best. The latter was not eligilble due to being produced in Britain.

See also

• AFI 100 Years... series
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (1998)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars (1999)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs (2000)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills (2001)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions (2002)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains (2003)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs (2004)
• AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores (2005)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes (2005)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers (2006)
• AFI's 100 Years of Musicals (2006)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) (2007)
• AFI's 10 Top 10 (2008)
• AFI Life Achievement Award
• Australian Film Institute
• British Film Institute
• Finnish Film Foundation
• Swedish Film Institute

References