American Film Institute
History
The American Film Institute (AFI) was established on June 5, 1967, under the patronage of the National Endowment for the Arts as a national arts organization to preserve the legacy of American film heritage, educate the next generation of filmmakers, and honor the artists and their work. The institute was created by a 1965 presidential mandate announced in the Rose Garden of the White House by President Lyndon B. Johnson—to establish a national arts organization to preserve the legacy of American film heritage, educate the next generation of filmmakers and honor the artists and their work.
Mission and programs
The AFI's main mission is to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI provides leadership in film, television, and digital media and is dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present, and the future of the moving image arts. It carries out this mission through a variety of programs.
The AFI Catalog, started in 1968, is the premier, authoritative resource of American film information and covers the history of American cinema comprehensively from 1893 to the present. It also includes Canadian films from 1912 to the present. The Catalog is the AFI's flagship publication, and it strives to preserve the rich history of American film.
AFI Awards is an annual celebration of outstanding achievements in the art of the moving image. AFI Fest, held each fall in Los Angeles, is a celebration of global cinema and today's Hollywood—a showcase for the best festival films of the year and an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the movie capital of the world.
AFI Directing Workshop for Women (DWW) is a hands-on training program committed to increasing the number of women working professionally in screen directing. AFI Conservatory is a graduate film school providing training in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design, and Screenwriting. Notable alumni include David Lynch, Darren Aronofsky, Terrence Malick, and Patty Jenkins.
Significance and impact
The American Film Institute has had a profound impact on American film and television by providing advanced training for a new generation of filmmakers, honoring film and television artists and their work, and enhancing the appreciation of film and television as an art form. AFI's programs have introduced countless individuals to film and television by teaching them about the cultural, artistic, and historical significance of these art forms.
AFI's efforts to preserve film heritage include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive, which contains rare footage from across the history of the moving image. Through the AFI Awards, the Institute honors the creative ensembles of the most outstanding motion picture and television programs of the year.