American Film Institute Awards
The American Film Institute Awards are awards presented by the American Film Institute to recognize the top ten films and television programs of the year. Unlike other accolades about the art form, the AFI Awards acknowledge the film and television productions deemed culturally and artistically representative of the year's most significant achievements in the art of the moving image in American cinema.
Media that does not fit the AFI's conventional eligibility criteria for the main categories, such as non-American productions as well as other types of media, are given recognition through the AFI Special Award.
2000
The 2000 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films of the year.Top 10 Films
Almost FamousBefore Night FallsBest in ShowErin BrockovichGladiatorHigh FidelityRequiem for a DreamTrafficWonder Boys2001
The 2001 AFI Awards honored the best in film and television of the year. The nominations were announced on December 17, 2001, and the ceremony was broadcast on January 5, 2002, on CBS. It did not do well in the ratings, so it would not be held in this format again. The AFI would go back to just listing the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year, and not have any technical nor acting categories.Each winner is in bold with the other nominees after:
Movies
Movie of the Year
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring- * A Beautiful Mind
- * Black Hawk Down
- * In the Bedroom
- * The Man Who Wasn't There
- * Memento
- * Monster's Ball
- * Moulin Rouge!
- * Mulholland Drive
- * ''Shrek''
Director of the Year
Robert Altman – Gosford ParkActor of the Year – Male – Movies
Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris – Training Day- * Russell Crowe as John Forbes Nash Jr. – A Beautiful Mind
- * Billy Bob Thornton as Ed Crane – The Man Who Wasn't There
- * Tom Wilkinson as Matt Fowler – ''In the Bedroom''
Actor of the Year – Female – Movies
Sissy Spacek as Ruth Fowler – In the Bedroom- * Halle Berry as Leticia Musgrove – Monster's Ball
- * Stockard Channing as Julie Styron – The Business of Strangers
- * Naomi Watts as Betty Elms / Diane Selwyn – ''Mulholland Drive''
Featured Actor of the Year – Male – Movies
Gene Hackman as Royal Tenenbaum – The Royal Tenenbaums- * Steve Buscemi as Seymour – Ghost World
- * Brian Cox as Big John Harrigan – L.I.E.
- * Tony Shalhoub as Freddy Riedenschneider – ''The Man Who Wasn't There''
Featured Actor of the Year – Female – Movies
Jennifer Connelly as Alicia Nash – A Beautiful Mind- * Cate Blanchett as Kate Wheeler – Bandits
- * Cameron Diaz as Julianna "Julie" Gianni – Vanilla Sky
- * Frances O'Connor as Monica Swinton – ''A.I. Artificial Intelligence''
Production Designer of the Year
Grant Major – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring- * Stephen Altman – Gosford Park
- * Rick Carter – A.I. Artificial Intelligence
- * Arthur Max – ''Black Hawk Down''
Digital Effects Artist of the Year
Jim Rygiel – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring- * Nick Davis, Roger Guyett, and Robert Legato – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- * Scott Farrar and Dennis Muren – A.I. Artificial Intelligence
- * Bob Sabiston – ''Waking Life''
Cinematographer of the Year
Roger Deakins – The Man Who Wasn't There- * Ericson Core – The Fast and the Furious
- * Sławomir Idziak – Black Hawk Down
- * Janusz Kamiński – ''A.I. Artificial Intelligence''
Screenwriter of the Year
Christopher Nolan – Memento- * Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwigoff – Ghost World
- * Robert Festinger and Todd Field – In the Bedroom
- * Akiva Goldsman – ''A Beautiful Mind''
Composer of the Year
Craig Armstrong – Moulin Rouge!- * Angelo Badalamenti – Mulholland Drive
- * Patrick Doyle – Gosford Park
- * Howard Shore – ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring''
Editor of the Year
Jill Bilcock – Moulin Rouge!- * Dody Dorn – Memento
- * Pietro Scalia – Black Hawk Down
- * Tim Squyres – ''Gosford Park''
Television
Drama Series of the Year
The SopranosComedy Series of the Year
Curb Your EnthusiasmMovie or Mini-Series of the Year
Band of Brothers- * Anne Frank: The Whole Story
- * Boycott
- * ''Conspiracy''
Actor of the Year – Male – TV Series
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano – The Sopranos- * Michael C. Hall as David Fisher – Six Feet Under
- * Chi McBride as Principal Steven Harper – Boston Public
- * Ray Romano as Raymond Barone – ''Everybody Loves Raymond''
Actor of the Year – Female – TV Series
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano – The Sopranos- * Allison Janney as C. J. Cregg – The West Wing
- * Jane Kaczmarek as Lois – Malcolm in the Middle
- * Doris Roberts as Marie Barone – ''Everybody Loves Raymond''
Actor of the Year – Male – TV Movie or Mini-Series
Jeffrey Wright as Martin Luther King Jr. – Boycott- * Kenneth Branagh as Reinhard Heydrich – Conspiracy
- * Ben Kingsley as Otto Frank – Anne Frank: The Whole Story
- * Giovanni Ribisi as Mikal Gilmore – ''Shot in the Heart''
Actor of the Year – Female – TV Movie or Mini-Series
Judy Davis as Judy Garland – Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows- * Tammy Blanchard as Young Judy Garland – Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
- * Phylicia Rashad as Elizabeth – The Old Settler
- * Hannah Taylor-Gordon as Anne Frank – ''Anne Frank: The Whole Story''
2002
The 2002 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
About a BoyAbout SchmidtAdaptation.Antwone FisherChicagoFridaGangs of New YorkThe HoursThe Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersTop 10 Television Programs
The BelieverBoomtownDoor to DoorEverybody Loves RaymondThe Gathering StormGilmore GirlsThe SimpsonsSix Feet UnderThe Sopranos- ''The West Wing''
2003
The 2003 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
American SplendorFinding NemoThe Human StainIn AmericaThe Last SamuraiThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingLost in TranslationMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldMonster- ''Mystic River''
Top 10 Television Programs
24AliasAngels in AmericaArrested DevelopmentEverybody Loves RaymondJoan of ArcadiaNip/TuckPlaymakersSoldier's Girl- ''The Wire''
2004
The 2004 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
The AviatorCollateralEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindFriday Night LightsThe IncrediblesKinseyMaria Full of GraceMillion Dollar BabySideways- ''Spider-Man 2''
Top 10 Television Programs
Arrested DevelopmentCurb Your EnthusiasmDeadwoodDesperate HousewivesLostNip/TuckThe ShieldSomething the Lord MadeThe Sopranos- ''South Park''
2005
The 2005 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
The 40-Year-Old VirginA History of ViolenceBrokeback MountainCapoteCrashGood Night, and Good LuckKing KongMunichThe Squid and the Whale- ''Syriana''
Top 10 Television Programs
24Battlestar GalacticaDeadwoodGrey's AnatomyHouseLostRescue MeSleeper CellSometimes in April- ''Veronica Mars''
2006
The 2006 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
BabelBorat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of KazakhstanThe Devil Wears PradaDreamgirlsHalf NelsonHappy FeetInside ManLetters from Iwo JimaLittle Miss Sunshine- ''United 93''
Top 10 Television Programs
24Battlestar GalacticaDexterElizabeth IFriday Night LightsHeroesThe OfficeSouth ParkThe West Wing- ''The Wire''
Documentary
- ''Blindsight''
2007
The 2007 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
Before the Devil Knows You're DeadThe Diving Bell and the ButterflyInto the WildJunoKnocked UpMichael ClaytonNo Country for Old MenRatatouilleThe SavagesTop 10 Television Programs
30 RockDexterEverybody Hates ChrisFriday Night LightsLongfordMad MenPushing DaisiesThe SopranosTell Me You Love Me- ''Ugly Betty''
Documentary
2008
The 2008 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonThe Dark KnightFrost/NixonFrozen RiverGran TorinoIron ManMilkWALL-EWendy and Lucy- ''The Wrestler''
Top 10 Television Programs
Breaking BadIn TreatmentJohn AdamsLifeLostMad MenThe OfficeRecountThe Shield- ''The Wire''
2009
The 2009 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
CoralineThe HangoverThe Hurt LockerThe MessengerPrecious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by SapphireA Serious ManA Single ManSugarUp- ''Up in the Air''
Top 10 Television Programs
The Big Bang TheoryBig LoveFriday Night LightsGleeMad MenModern FamilyThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective AgencyNurse JackieParty Down- ''True Blood''
2010
The 2010 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
127 HoursBlack SwanThe FighterInceptionThe Kids Are All RightThe Social NetworkThe TownToy Story 3True Grit- ''Winter's Bone''
Top 10 Television Programs
30 RockThe Big CBoardwalk EmpireBreaking BadGleeMad MenModern FamilyThe PacificTemple Grandin- ''The Walking Dead''
Special Awards
The King's Speech2011
The 2011 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
BridesmaidsThe DescendantsThe Girl with the Dragon TattooThe HelpHugoJ. EdgarMidnight in ParisMoneyballThe Tree of Life- ''War Horse''
Top 10 Television Programs
Boardwalk EmpireBreaking BadCurb Your EnthusiasmGame of ThronesThe Good WifeHomelandJustifiedLouieModern FamilySpecial Awards
The Artist- ''Harry Potter''
2012
The 2012 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
ArgoBeasts of the Southern WildThe Dark Knight RisesDjango UnchainedLes MisérablesLife of PiLincolnMoonrise KingdomSilver Linings Playbook- ''Zero Dark Thirty''
Top 10 Television Programs
American Horror Story: AsylumBreaking BadGame ChangeGame of ThronesGirlsHomelandLouieMad MenModern Family- ''The Walking Dead''
2013
The 2013 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
12 Years a SlaveAmerican HustleCaptain PhillipsFruitvale StationGravityHerInside Llewyn DavisNebraskaSaving Mr. BanksTop 10 Television Programs
The AmericansBreaking BadGame of ThronesThe Good WifeHouse of CardsMad MenMasters of SexOrange Is the New BlackScandal- ''Veep''
2014
The 2014 AFI Awards honored the Top 11 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 11 Films
American SniperBirdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)BoyhoodFoxcatcherThe Imitation GameInterstellarInto the WoodsNightcrawlerSelmaUnbroken- ''Whiplash''
Top 10 Television Programs
The AmericansFargoGame of ThronesHow to Get Away with MurderJane the VirginThe KnickMad MenOrange Is the New BlackSilicon Valley- ''Transparent''
2015
The 2015 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
The Big ShortBridge of SpiesCarolInside OutMad Max: Fury RoadThe MartianRoomSpotlightStar Wars: The Force AwakensTop 10 Television Programs
The AmericansBetter Call SaulBlack-ishEmpireFargoGame of ThronesHomelandMaster of NoneMr. Robot- ''UnREAL''
Special Award
The AFI Special Award was given to Mad Men, which for "its contributions to America's cultural legacy". The show has been listed in AFI's awards list seven times.2016
The 2016 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
ArrivalFencesHacksaw RidgeHell or High WaterLa La LandManchester by the SeaMoonlightSilenceSully- ''Zootopia''
Top 10 Television Programs
The AmericansAtlantaBetter Call SaulThe CrownGame of ThronesThe Night OfThe People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime StoryStranger ThingsThis Is Us- ''Veep''
Special Award
2017
The 2017 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
The Big SickCall Me by Your NameDunkirkThe Florida ProjectGet OutLady BirdThe PostThe Shape of WaterThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri- ''Wonder Woman''
Top 10 Television Programs
Big Little LiesThe CrownFeud: Bette and JoanGame of ThronesThe Good PlaceThe Handmaid's TaleInsecureMaster of NoneStranger Things- ''This Is Us''
AFI Special Award
- ''The Vietnam War''
2018
The 2018 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year.Top 10 Films
Black PantherBlacKkKlansmanEighth GradeThe FavouriteFirst ReformedGreen BookIf Beale Street Could TalkMary Poppins ReturnsA Quiet Place- ''A Star Is Born''
Top 10 Television Programs
The AmericansThe Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime StoryAtlantaBarryBetter Call SaulThe Kominsky MethodThe Marvelous Mrs. MaiselPoseSuccession- ''This Is Us''
AFI Special Award
- ''Roma''
2019
The 2019 AFI Awards honored the Top 10 Films and Top 10 Television Programs of the year. The winners were announced on December 4, 2019, while the ceremony was held on January 3, 2020.Top 10 Films
1917The FarewellThe IrishmanJojo RabbitJokerKnives OutLittle WomenMarriage StoryOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood- ''Richard Jewell''
Top 10 Television Programs
ChernobylThe CrownFosse/VerdonGame of ThronesPoseSuccessionUnbelievableVeepWatchmen- ''When They See Us''
AFI Special Award
Parasite- ''Fleabag''
2020
The 2020 AFI Awards were announced on January 25, 2021, and the selections were honored in a virtual event on February 26, 2021. The juries were led by Jeanine Basinger and Richard Frank.Top 10 Films
Da 5 BloodsJudas and the Black Messiah Ma Rainey's Black BottomMankMinariNomadlandOne Night in Miami...SoulSound of MetalTop 10 Television Programs
Better Call SaulBridgertonThe CrownThe Good Lord BirdLovecraft CountryThe MandalorianMrs. AmericaThe Queen's GambitTed Lasso- ''Unorthodox''
AFI Special Award
- ''Hamilton''
2021
The 2021 AFI Awards were announced on December 8, 2021. The ceremony was scheduled to be held on January 7, 2022, but was postponed to March 11, 2022, due to COVID-19.Top 10 Films
CODADon't Look UpDuneKing RichardLicorice PizzaNightmare AlleyThe Power of the DogTick, Tick... Boom!The Tragedy of Macbeth- ''West Side Story''
Top 10 Television Programs
HacksMaidMare of EasttownReservation DogsSchmigadoon!SuccessionTed LassoThe Underground RailroadWandaVision- ''The White Lotus''
AFI Special Award
BelfastSquid Game- ''Summer of Soul''
2022
The 2022 AFI Awards were announced on December 9, 2022. The juries were led by Jeanine Basinger and Richard Frank.Top 10 Films
Avatar: The Way of WaterElvisEverything Everywhere All at OnceThe FabelmansNopeShe SaidTárTop Gun: MaverickThe Woman King- ''Women Talking''
Top 10 Television Programs
Abbott ElementaryThe BearBetter Call SaulHacksMoPachinkoReservation DogsSeveranceSomebody Somewhere- ''The White Lotus''
AFI Special Award
2023
The 2023 AFI Awards were announced on December 7, 2023.Top 10 Films
American FictionBarbieThe HoldoversKillers of the Flower MoonMaestroMay DecemberOppenheimerPast LivesPoor ThingsTop 10 Television Programs
Abbott ElementaryThe BearBeefJury DutyThe Last of UsThe Morning ShowOnly Murders in the BuildingPoker FaceReservation Dogs- ''Succession''
2024
The 2024 AFI Awards were announced on December 5, 2024.Top 10 Films
AnoraThe BrutalistA Complete UnknownConclaveDune: Part TwoEmilia PérezNickel BoysA Real PainSing Sing- ''Wicked''
Top 10 Television Programs
Abbott ElementaryThe BearHacksA Man on the InsideMr. & Mrs. SmithNobody Wants ThisThe PenguinShōgunShrinkingAFI Special Award
- ''Baby Reindeer''
2025
The 2025 AFI Awards were announced on December 4, 2025.Top 10 Films
Avatar: Fire and AshBugoniaFrankensteinHamnetJay KellyMarty SupremeOne Battle After AnotherSinnersTrain Dreams- ''Wicked: For Good''
Top 10 Television Programs
AdolescenceAndorDeath by LightningThe DiplomatThe LowdownThe PittPluribusSeveranceThe Studio- ''Task''
AFI Special Award
Records
Game of Thrones earned eight mentions over its run, setting a new record. It also became the first and only continuing series to be awarded for all of its eligible seasons.There have only been thirteen animated films to be officially listed at the AFIAs.Shrek Finding Nemo The Incredibles Happy Feet Ratatouille WALL-E Coraline and Up Toy Story 3 Inside Out Zootopia Soul Spider Man: Across the Spider-Verse
There have only been two animated television programs to be officially listed at the AFIAs.The Simpsons South Park
There have only been seven non-English-language films to be officially listed at the AFIAs.Maria Full of Grace Babel and Letters from Iwo Jima The Farewell Minari Past Lives Emilia Pérez
There have only been two non-English-language television programs to be officially listed at the AFIAs.Pachinko
- ''Shōgun''