The American Film Institute (AFI) announced the official selections of AFI Awards 2017, celebrating the year’s most outstanding achievements in the art of the moving image–with 10 films and 10 television programs deemed culturally and artistically significant.
In addition to the 20 honorees, AFI also recognizes The Vietnam War with an AFI Special Award.
AFI Awards is a coveted honor for its noncompetitive celebration of collaboration. Honorees are selected based on works that advance the art of the moving image, enhance the rich cultural heritage of America’s art form, inspire audiences and artists alike, and make a mark on American society.
“At a time when the world seems defined by division, storytellers bring us together as one,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “AFI Awards is honored to celebrate this community of artists who challenge and inspire us, entertain and enlighten us–ultimately reminding us of our common heartbeat.”
AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR
THE BIG SICK
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
DUNKIRK
THE FLORIDA PROJECT
GET OUT
LADY BIRD
THE POST
THE SHAPE OF WATER
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
WONDER WOMAN
AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR
BIG LITTLE LIES
THE CROWN
FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
GAME OF THRONES
THE GOOD PLACE
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
INSECURE
MASTER OF NONE
STRANGER THINGS 2
THIS IS US
AFI SPECIAL AWARD
THE VIETNAM WAR
Marking the 18th chapter in the American Film Institute’s ongoing almanac of the moving image, the 2017 entries join a notable pantheon of previous AFI honorees–works of significance that contribute to the rich cultural legacy and define the state of the art form. View the complete almanac here.
AFI Award selections are made through a jury process where AFI Trustees, scholars, artists and critics determine the year’s most outstanding achievements and provide contextual rationales for each selection.
This year’s juries–one for film and one for television–were chaired by AFI Board of Trustees vice chairs Tom Pollock (former vice chairman of MCA, chairman of Universal Pictures) for film and Richard Frank (former chairman of Walt Disney Television, president of Walt Disney Studios, president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) for television. The juries featured acclaimed artists such as Judd Apatow (who recused himself from voting for The Big Sick, for which he was a producer), Paris Barclay, Halle Berry, Jay Cassidy (AFI Class of 1976), Jamie Lee Curtis and Jennifer Getzinger (AFI Directing Workshop for Women, Class of 2005); renowned authors and scholars representing prestigious universities with recognized motion picture arts and television programs; film historian Leonard Maltin; the AFI Board of Trustees; and film and television critics from media outlets such as NPR, Rolling Stone, TV Guide, Variety and The Washington Post.
In a noncompetitive atmosphere, honorees will gather on January 5, 2018, for recognition at the annual AFI Awards private luncheon in Los Angeles–an event favored by the entertainment community for its informal intimacy and its inclusive acknowledgement of excellence. At the luncheon, AFI will present jury rationales providing artistic and cultural context for the selection of each honoree.
