The American Film Institute (AFI) is America’s promise to preserve the heritage 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. The AFI Film Readers Series is one of the many ways AFI supports the art of the moving image as part of our national activities.
AFI preserves the legacy of America’s film heritage through the AFI Archive, comprised of rare footage from across the history of the moving image, and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, an authoritative record of American films staring with work produced as early as 1893. Both resources are available to the public via AFI’s website at AFI.com.
AFI honors moving image artists and their work through a variety of annual programs and special events, including the AFI Life Achievement Award, AFI Awards, and AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Movies television specials. The AFI Life Achievement Award has remained the highest honor for a career in film since its inception in 1973; AFI Awards, the Institute’s almanac for the twenty-first century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year; and AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Movies television events and movie reference lists have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers. And as the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the United States, AFI offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year, including AFI Fest, which each fall brings together Hollywood icons, emerging artists and audiences to experience global cinema in the movie capital of the world; AFI Docs, the Institute’s annual documentary festival offering screenings and events that connect audiences, filmmakers and policy leaders in the seat of our nation’s government; and the world-class AFI Silver Theatre located in the Washington, DC metro area, AFI’s independent film hub offering both first run films and film classics 365 days of the year.
AFI educates the next generation of storytellers at its world-renowned AFI Conservatory, which offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in six filmmaking disciplines—Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting—along with its notable AFI Directing Workshop for Women, which provides an opportunity for women to direct a narrative film through workshop training. The Conservatory is continuously recognized for its quality hands-on production-based curriculum and training, and its notable alumni.
Step into the spotlight and join other movie and television enthusiasts across the nation in supporting the American Film Institute’s mission to preserve, to honor and to educate by becoming a member of AFI today at AFI.com/membership.
Visit us at AFI.com or connect with us on facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, twitter.com/AmericanFilm and youtube.com/AFI.
Robert Vaughn
Librarian
AFI Conservatory at the American Film Institute