41-592: The AFI Life Achievement Award was established by the board of directors of the American Film Institute on February 26, 1973, to honor a single individual for their lifetime contribution to enriching American culture through motion pictures and television. The recipient is selected and honored at an annual ceremony, with the award presented by a master of ceremonies and, recently, the prior year's recipient. The AFI's trustees initially specified that "The recipient must be one who fundamentally advanced
82-450: A local San Diego TV station, KCST (now KNSD ), taking on various roles including camera operator , video editor , floor director and finally as KCST news production coordinator . After her employment with KCST, she produced a local talk show entitled You're On for the station for four years before moving to Los Angeles . In Los Angeles, Kennedy secured her first film production job working as an assistant to John Milius , who at
123-548: A producer. Five of the nominations are for Spielberg directed projects such as E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (1982), The Color Purple (1985), Munich (2005), War Horse (2011), and Lincoln (2012). As a producer, she is third behind Kevin Feige and Spielberg in domestic box office receipts, with over $ 7.5 billion as of 2020 . In 2019 she received the Irving J. Thalberg Award along with Marshall. That same year Kennedy
164-536: A qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the annual Academy Awards . The festival has paid tribute to numerous influential filmmakers and artists over the years, including Agnès Varda , Pedro Almodóvar and David Lynch as guest artistic directors, and has screened scores of films that have gone on to win Oscar nominations and awards. The movies selected by AFI are assigned to different sections for
205-535: A set of hour-long programs reviewing the career of acclaimed directors. The Directors Series content was copyrighted in 1997 by Media Entertainment Inc and The American Film Institute, and the VHS and DVDs were released between 1999 and 2001 on Winstar TV and Video. Directors featured included: Kathleen Kennedy (producer) Kathleen Kennedy (born June 5, 1953) is an American film producer who has been president of Lucasfilm since 2012. In 1981, Kennedy co-founded
246-491: Is a training program committed to educating and mentoring participants in an effort to increase the number of women working professionally in screen directing. In this tuition-free program, each participant is required to complete a short film by the end of the year-long program. Alumnae of the program include Maya Angelou , Anne Bancroft , Dyan Cannon , Ellen Burstyn , Jennifer Getzinger , Lesli Linka Glatter , Lily Tomlin , Susan Oliver and Nancy Malone . AFI released
287-530: Is a web-based filmographic database. A research tool for film historians, the catalog consists of entries on more than 60,000 feature films and 17,000 short films produced from 1893 to 2011, as well as AFI Awards Outstanding Movies of the Year from 2000 through 2010. Early print copies of this catalog may also be found at local libraries. Created in 2000, the AFI Awards honor the ten outstanding films ("Movies of
328-591: Is highly selective, with a maximum of 140 graduates per year. In 2013, Emmy and Oscar -winning director, producer, and screenwriter James L. Brooks ( As Good as It Gets , Broadcast News , Terms of Endearment ) joined as the artistic director of the AFI Conservatory where he provides leadership for the film program. Brooks' artistic role at the AFI Conservatory has a rich legacy that includes Daniel Petrie, Jr. , Robert Wise , and Frank Pierson . Award-winning director Bob Mandel served as dean of
369-609: Is now the executive producer of the Virtual Production company Profile Studios. Her other sister is Dana Middleton-Silberstein, a television host and anchor, and press secretary/communications director for former Governor Gary Locke (D-WA). Kennedy graduated from Shasta High School in Redding, California , in 1971. She continued her education at San Diego State University where she majored in telecommunications and film. In her final year, Kennedy gained employment at
410-525: Is the American Film Institute’s annual celebration of artistic excellence. It is a showcase for the best festival films of the year as selected by AFI and an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in New York . It is the only festival of its stature that is free to the public. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI Fest as
451-480: The AFI Conservatory , an accredited graduate film school located in the hills above Hollywood, California, providing training in six filmmaking disciplines: cinematography , directing , editing , producing , production design , and screenwriting . Mirroring a professional production environment, Fellows collaborate to make more films than any other graduate level program. Admission to AFI Conservatory
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#1732797193724492-655: The AFI Conservatory , an accredited graduate school. AFI moved its presentation of first-run and auteur films from the Kennedy Center to the historic AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center , which hosts the AFI DOCS film festival, making AFI the largest nonprofit film exhibitor in the world. AFI educates audiences and recognizes artistic excellence through its awards programs and 10 Top 10 Lists . In 2017, then-aspiring filmmaker Ilana Bar-Din Giannini claimed that
533-456: The COVID-19 pandemic . This marks the first time an AFI Life Achievement Award event was delayed. The event was rescheduled for November 11, 2021, before it was postponed a second time on October 4, 2021. Nicole Kidman’s ceremony was originally scheduled for June 10, 2023, but was postponed due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike . Kidman is also the first Australian actress to receive
574-553: The fifty highest-grossing movies in film history . As a producer, she has received eight Best Picture Academy Award nominations. Kathleen Kennedy was born on June 5, 1953, in Berkeley, California , to Donald R. Kennedy, a judge and attorney, and his wife Dione Marie "Dede" (née Dousseau), a one-time theater actress. She has two sisters. Her twin sister, Connie, formerly a location manager in British Columbia , Canada,
615-784: The AFI Conservatory for nine years. Jan Schuette took over as dean in 2014 and served until 2017. Film producer Richard Gladstein was dean from 2017 until 2019, when Susan Ruskin was appointed. AFI Conservatory's alumni have careers in film, television and on the web. They have been recognized with all of the major industry awards—Academy Award, Emmy Award, guild awards, and the Tony Award . AFI operates two film festivals: AFI Fest in Los Angeles, and AFI Docs (formally known as Silverdocs) in Silver Spring, Maryland , and Washington, D.C. Commonly shortened to AFI Fest , it
656-598: The AFI expelled her after she accused Dezso Magyar of sexually harassing her in the early 1980s. AFI educational and cultural programs include: In 1969, the institute established the AFI Conservatory for Advanced Film Studies at Greystone, the Doheny Mansion in Beverly Hills , California . The first class included filmmakers Terrence Malick , Caleb Deschanel , and Paul Schrader . That program grew into
697-545: The AFI, which is no longer funded by the US government . The American Film Institute has awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award to one person each year since 1973. The 50th Award will be presented to Francis Ford Coppola in Los Angeles on April 26th, 2025. American Film Institute The American Film Institute ( AFI ) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors
738-659: The Dog (2021), Anthony Hopkins 's The Father (2020), Noah Baumbach 's Marriage Story (2019), Peter Farrelly 's Green Book (2018), Luca Guadagnino 's Call Me by Your Name (2017), Damien Chazelle 's La La Land (2016), and Adam McKay 's The Big Short (2015). Held annually in June, AFI Docs (formerly Silverdocs) is a documentary festival in Washington, D.C. The festival attracts over 27,000 documentary enthusiasts. The AFI Catalog, started in 1968,
779-570: The US versions of two Studio Ghibli animated features Ponyo (2009) and The Secret World of Arrietty (2012). She also produced Spielberg's Lincoln (2012), which was nominated for seven Golden Globes and twelve Academy Awards. In May 2012, she stepped down from Kennedy/Marshall, leaving Marshall as sole principal of their film company. In the following month, Kennedy became co-chair of Lucasfilm Ltd. alongside George Lucas. On October 30, 2012, when Lucas sold his company to Disney, Kennedy
820-643: The Year") and ten outstanding television programs ("TV Programs of the Year"). The awards are a non-competitive acknowledgment of excellence. The awards are announced in December, and a private luncheon for award honorees takes place the following January. The AFI 100 Years... series , which ran from 1998 to 2008 and created jury-selected lists of America's best movies in categories such as Musicals, Laughs and Thrills, prompted new generations to experience classic American films. The juries consisted of over 1,500 artists, scholars, critics, and historians. Citizen Kane
861-436: The art of film and whose achievements had been acknowledge by film scholars , critics , their individual peers and the general public". The trustees also specified "That the work of the recipient must have withstood the test of time". Director John Ford was the unanimous choice of the board of trustees for the first award as he "clearly stands preeminent in the history of motion pictures." President Richard Nixon attended
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#1732797193724902-696: The arts and academia. The institute established a training program for filmmakers known then as the Center for Advanced Film Studies. Also created in the early years were a repertory film exhibition program at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films — a scholarly source for American film history. The institute moved to its current eight-acre Hollywood campus in 1981. The film training program grew into
943-418: The award, and the third non-American actress to be honored after British stars Elizabeth Taylor and Julie Andrews. All Life Achievement Award ceremonies have been televised on major TV networks and cable channels: CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, USA, TV Land, TNT and TBS. Agreeing to appear at the televised ceremony apparently is part of the AFI's criteria for selecting the award. The televised ceremony generates income for
984-714: The festival; these include Galas/Red Carpet Premieres, Special Screenings, Documentaries, Discovery, and Short Film Competition. Formerly named Galas, it is AFI Fest’s section for the most highly anticipated films at the festival, presenting selected feature-length movies from world-class filmmakers and artisans. Although it is a very restrictive selection, usually presenting between three and seven movies at most, many films selected by AFI for this section eventually also earn an Academy Award Best Picture nomination. Examples include Bradley Cooper 's Maestro (2023), Steven Spielberg 's The Fabelmans (2022), Will Smith 's King Richard (2021), Jane Campion 's The Power of
1025-770: The film's opening sequence as a dancer. Following her work on the Indiana Jones films, she rose to become one of Hollywood's leading producers. With Amblin, she produced the Back to the Future trilogy, collaborating with such directors as Martin Scorsese , Robert Zemeckis , Barry Levinson , and Clint Eastwood . In 1991, she and Marshall formed The Kennedy/Marshall Company with a deal at DreamWorks . She continued her business relationship with Spielberg and became producer for Jurassic Park (1993) and executive producer for
1066-401: The gala dinner at which Ford was presented the award on March 31, 1973. The board of trustees later amended the "test of time" requirement to enable the AFI Life Achievement Award to be presented to individuals with active careers, such as Steven Spielberg . Lillian Gish was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1984, aged 90, becoming the oldest recipient of the prize; Mel Brooks was
1107-488: The girl, but instead he got the dog?" Spielberg asked Kennedy to become his secretary for her organization abilities, and Kennedy gradually took on larger roles in the moviemaking process. Kennedy was credited as associate to Spielberg on Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), then associate producer on Spielberg's production of Tobe Hooper 's Poltergeist (1982). Kennedy began receiving producer credit with Spielberg on
1148-564: The heritage of the motion picture arts in the United States . AFI is supported by private funding and public membership fees. The institute is composed of leaders from the film, entertainment, business, and academic communities. The board of trustees is chaired by Kathleen Kennedy and the board of directors chaired by Robert A. Daly guide the organization, which is led by President and CEO , film historian Bob Gazzale . Prior leaders were founding director George Stevens Jr. (from
1189-464: The historical drama Schindler's List (also 1993). Non-Spielberg films that she produced during this time include The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Twister (1996), and The Sixth Sense (1999). Kennedy was a producer on Spielberg's films: War of the Worlds and Munich (both 2005), the latter of which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Marshall and Kennedy were producers for
1230-585: The major box-office hit E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and continued serving the role on most of his films for the next three decades. In 1982, she helped co-found and run the production company Amblin Entertainment with Spielberg and her future husband Frank Marshall . She also produced Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) with George Lucas and Marshall, and appeared in
1271-534: The oldest male recipient, awarded at age 86 in 2013. Tom Hanks was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2002, becoming the youngest recipient of the prize at age 46 and Meryl Streep was the youngest female, awarded at age 54 in 2004. Of the 49 honorees eleven have been women: Bette Davis (the first female recipient), Lillian Gish, Barbara Stanwyck , Elizabeth Taylor , Barbra Streisand , Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine , Jane Fonda , Diane Keaton , Julie Andrews , and Nicole Kidman . Composer John Williams
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1312-571: The organization's inception in 1967 until 1980) and Jean Picker Firstenberg (from 1980 to 2007). The American Film Institute was founded by a 1965 presidential mandate announced in the Rose Garden of the White House by 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. Two years later, in 1967, AFI
1353-867: The president of Lucasfilm after The Walt Disney Company acquired the company. As Lucasfilm's president, Kennedy has overseen the development, production, and release of projects such as the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019), the Star Wars standalone films Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018) as well as the fifth Indiana Jones film, The Dial of Destiny (2023). She has also produced various Star Wars series including six live-action series for Disney+ , The Mandalorian (2019–present), The Book of Boba Fett (2021), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), Andor (2022–present), Ahsoka (2023–present), and The Acolyte (2024). Kennedy has produced films which have earned over $ 11 billion worldwide, including five of
1394-485: The production company Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and her eventual husband Frank Marshall . Her first film as a producer was E.T. (1982). A decade later, again with Spielberg, she produced the Jurassic Park franchise, the first two of which became two of the top ten highest-grossing films of the 1990s . In 1992, she and Marshall founded The Kennedy/Marshall Company . In 2012, Kennedy became
1435-491: The time was executive producer of Spielberg's 1941 (1979). While working under Milius during the production of 1941 , Kennedy caught the attention of Steven Spielberg , who stated in 2015: She was horrible at taking notes... but what she did know how to do was interrupt somebody in midsentence. We'd be pitching ideas back and forth, and Kathy—who was supposed to be writing these ideas down—suddenly put her pencil down and would say something like, "And what if he didn't get
1476-623: Was also an Honorary Chairperson of the institute. In 1995, she was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. In 1996, she and Marshall received the American Academy of Achievement 's Golden Plate Award. For the 2001–02 period, she was co-president (with Tim Gibbons) of
1517-778: Was appointed an honorary commander of the Order of the British Empire , for services to film production in the United Kingdom. In that same year, it was announced that she would receive the BAFTA Fellowship in 2020. During the 1980s and 1990s, Kennedy served on the advisory board of the National Student Film Institute and in 1991 was a "Grimmy Award" recipient in recognition for her outstanding support of student film making. Kennedy
1558-676: Was established, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts , the Motion Picture Association of America and the Ford Foundation . The original 22-member Board of Trustees included actor Gregory Peck as chairman and actor Sidney Poitier as vice-chairman, as well as director Francis Ford Coppola , film historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. , lobbyist Jack Valenti , and other representatives from
1599-402: Was promoted to president. In 2018 and again in 2021, Kennedy's contract to remain president of Lucasfilm was extended another three years, first through October 30, 2021 and then to 2024. Executive producer Producer Associate producer Co-executive producer Co-producer Producer Executive producer She has received eight Academy Award for Best Picture nominations as
1640-422: Was the first recipient of the award to not be an actor or director. Three sets of family members have received the award: father and son Kirk and Michael Douglas , father and daughter Henry and Jane Fonda , and siblings Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine . Julie Andrews' award event was originally scheduled for April 25, 2020, with a broadcast on May 7 on TNT , but the event was postponed to 2021, due to
1681-681: Was voted the greatest American film twice. The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center is a moving image exhibition, education and cultural center located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Anchored by the restoration of noted architect John Eberson's historic 1938 Silver Theatre, it features 32,000 square feet of new construction housing two stadium theatres, office and meeting space, and reception and exhibit areas. The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center presents film and video programming, augmented by filmmaker interviews, panels, discussions, and musical performances. The Directing Workshop for Women