AFI Awards 2004 Luncheon Salutes Film and Television Creative Teams

AFI Awards 2004 Luncheon Salutes Film and Television Creative Teams Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood and Liam Neeson Among Guests at Fifth Annual Celebration of AFI Almanac Today LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson, and many other artists from in front of and behind the camera, were among the attendees honored by the American Film Institute (AFI) today, during its AFI AWARDS 2004 luncheon in Los Angeles. This is the fifth year to record entries to AFI's almanac of the 21st century, which documents the year's most outstanding achievements in film and television, as well as significant moments in the world of the moving image. AFI AWARDS 2004 is the only form of national recognition that acknowledges the collaborative nature of film and television by honoring the creative ensembles as a whole. Principal cast members joined distinguished filmmakers, executives, crew members and other members of the creative community today at the Four Seasons Hotel for the luncheon, sponsored by Ellen Tracy. Also among the principal cast members were Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, and Sandra Oh (SIDEWAYS), Catalina Sandino Moreno (MARIA FULL OF GRACE), Michael Chicklis CCH Pounder and Benito Martinez (THE SHIELD), Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor, and Will Arnett (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), Molly Parker (DEADWOOD), Dominic Monaghan, and Jorge Garcia (LOST) as well as Roma Maffia (NIP/TUCK). Also among acclaimed filmmakers present were Michael Mann (COLLATERAL), Peter Berg and Brian Grazer (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS), Brad Bird (THE INCREDIBLES), Bill Condon (KINSEY), Joshua Marston (MARIA FULL OF GRACE), as well as Brad Grey (THE SOPRANOS). Also among the guests were members of the AFI Board of Trustees and longtime supporters of the institute including Gil Amelio, Dick Askin, Jon Avnet, John Cooke, Rich Frank, Chuck Fries, Marshall Herskovitz, Suzanne Lloyd, Daniel Petrie Jr., Bob Rehme, Lois Saffian, George Steven's Jr., Al Uzielli, and Ed Zwick. James Cromwell from the AFI Jury for Motion Pictures and Richard Frank, Chair, AFI Jury for Television, entered the jury rationales into the almanac by reading them as scenes from the film/TV programs were presented. Announced for the first time today, the complete rationales can be found at http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards04/movies04.aspx. Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI Director and CEO, congratulated the creative ensembles as a whole from each of the 10 films and television programs selected (listed below and previously announced on December 12, 2004). And in a special tribute honoring the passing of Marlon Brando -- marked as one of the year's nine Moments of Significance -- Karl Malden honored his late friend and ON THE WATERFRONT (celebrating its 50th anniversary year) co-star with a poem. The luncheon also reflected on the other eight AFI Moments of Significance -- issues that most affected the moving image during 2004. These spanned the issues of political and religious polarization in the US, as demonstrated by the success of Michael Moore's FAHRENHEIT 911 and Mel Gibson's THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST; the changing landscape of television news; and the vertical re-integration of film and television as signaled by the merger of NBC and Universal. The Moments of Significance also recognized the role of the FCC as a powerful force in programming and the changing face of comedy on television with the final episodes of FRASIER, FRIENDS and SEX AND THE CITY. The official selections are listed below in alphabetical order: AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR-OFFICIAL SELECTIONS THE AVIATOR COLLATERAL ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS THE INCREDIBLES KINSEY MARIA FULL OF GRACE MILLION DOLLAR BABY SIDEWAYS SPIDER-MAN 2 AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR-OFFICIAL SELECTIONS ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM DEADWOOD DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES LOST NIP/TUCK THE SHIELD SOMETHING THE LORD MADE THE SOPRANOS SOUTH PARK About the American Film Institute AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media. AFI trains the next generation of filmmakers at its world-renowned Conservatory, maintains America's film heritage through the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and explores new digital technologies in entertainment and education through AFI's New Media Ventures. As the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the US, AFI ON SCREEN encompasses the annual AFI FEST presented by Audi: AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival and SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival, while offering year-round programming at ArcLight Hollywood and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. AFI AWARDS, the annual almanac for the 21st century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year, while AFI's 100 Years series has ignited extraordinary public interest in classic American movies. And, during the past 32 years, AFI'S LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD has become the highest honor for a career in film. Additional information about AFI is available at AFI.com. Source: American Film Institute CONTACT: Alison Deknatel, +1-323-856-7896, adeknatel@AFI.com, or Erin Hurff, +1-323-856-7603, ehurff@AFI.com, both of American Film Institute Web site: http://www.afi.com/tvevents/awards04 Web site: http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards04/tvshows04.aspx Web site: http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards04/movies04.aspx Web site: http://www.afi.com/awards04 NOTE TO EDITORS: PHOTOS OF THE LUNCHEON will be available online at 6:00 p.m. (EST), Friday, January 14, 2005 http://www.AFI.com/awards04 VIDEO FOOTAGE WILL BE PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY AFI immediately after the event via satellite IA 5 / Tr. 7 (C-Band) Downlink Frequency 3840 Vertical on January 14, 2005, from 7:00-7:15 p.m. EST (4:00-4:15 PST) and a re-feed from 7:30-7:45 p.m. EST (4:30-4:45 PST). The complete JURY RATIONALS will also be available online at 6:00 p.m. (EST), Friday, January 14, 2005 For the film selections, visit: http://www.AFI.com/tvevents/afiawards04/movies04.aspx For the television selections, visit: http://www.AFI.com/tvevents/afiawards04/tvshows04.aspx THE AFI AWARDS 2004 FULL-LENGTH ANNOUNCEMENT listing the official selections along with the complete creative ensembles, 2004 jury members and moments of significance can also be found at: http://www.AFI.com/tvevents/awards04 ------- Profile: International Entertainment