The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced its selections for the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of 2024, celebrating the collaborative nature of these art forms. The AFI AWARDS does not focus on competition but instead emphasizes a sense of community among creators.
In the Motion Pictures of the Year category, the selected films include:
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Nickel Boys
A Real Pain
Sing Sing
Wicked
For Television Programs of the Year, the honorees are:
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
A Man on the Inside
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Nobody Wants This
The Penguin
Shōgun
Shrinking
True Detective: Night Country
Additionally, the AFI Special Award has been given to Baby Reindeer.
Bob Gazzale, President and CEO of AFI, emphasized the ethos of the awards, stating, “AFI AWARDS is never about competition, but community. We look forward to bringing these artists together as one and celebrating their collective power to drive culture forward.”
The honorees will convene for a private luncheon on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills. Known for its casual and inclusive atmosphere, the event is a highlight in the entertainment industry, bringing together creative teams for a shared acknowledgment of excellence.
What makes the AFI AWARDS unique is its focus on recognizing the entire creative team, both in front of and behind the camera. This approach underscores the collaborative nature of film and television, highlighting how these works inspire audiences and contribute to America’s rich cultural heritage. As the AFI points out, these selections create a “complex and rich visual record of our modern world” when viewed in historical context.
The selection process for the AFI AWARDS involves a jury comprising AFI Trustees, artists, scholars, and critics. This year’s jurors included industry figures such as Sterlin Harjo, Gale Anne Hurd, Charles Melton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Jane Seymour. Scholars from institutions like Syracuse University, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, Santa Cruz, also participated. Renowned critics, including Ann Hornaday, Mary McNamara, Janet Maslin, and Peter Travers, contributed alongside representatives from outlets like The New Yorker, NPR, and TV Guide.
The jury was chaired by Jeanine Basinger, AFI Board of Trustees member and Chair Emerita of Wesleyan University’s Film Studies Department, along with Richard Frank, Vice Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees and former Chairman of Walt Disney Television.
Each year, the AFI AWARDS jury provides artistic and cultural context for the selections, which represent the year’s most exceptional achievements in film and television. The honorees join an illustrious group of previous recipients whose works continue to shape the cultural and artistic legacy of the moving image.
This year’s recipients reflect a diverse and vibrant range of storytelling, showcasing the power of visual media to engage, inform, and inspire. Whether through groundbreaking films like Dune: Part Two or acclaimed series like Abbott Elementary and True Detective: Night Country, the AFI AWARDS reaffirm the vital role of art in shaping and preserving cultural history.
As these works continue to resonate with audiences and critics alike, they exemplify the enduring impact of cinema and television as forms of artistic expression and cultural documentation.
