CRITERIA
Each year, AFI AWARDS will honor excellence in American film and television and other forms of the moving image arts by recognizing the creative ensembles which collaborate to create the year's outstanding achievements, all of which:

• best advanced the art of the moving image;
• enhanced the rich cultural heritage of America's art form;
• inspired audiences and artists alike;
• and/or made a mark on American society.

RULES OF ELIGIBILITY – MOTION PICTURES
AFI will consider eligible any film that fulfills the following criteria:

• Feature-Length Motion Picture
  Narrative fiction format, over 60 minutes in length.
• American
  Motion picture with significant creative and/or production elements from the United States. The motion picture need not be presented in the English language if it is incontrovertibly American.
• Theatrically-Released
  Motion pictures originally released between January 1 and December 31, 2011, which have been publicly exhibited in a commercial theater in Los Angeles for paid admission and screened for at least seven consecutive days.

RULES OF ELIGIBILITY – TELEVISION
AFI will consider eligible any television program that fulfills the following criteria:

• Television Program
  Narrative fiction format, originated for television as either a series, movie or mini-series.
• American
  Television program with significant creative and/or production elements from the United States. Program need not be presented in the English language if it is incontrovertibly American.
• Broadcast
  First-run programs airing for American audiences on network, cable or satellite television between January 1 and December 31, 2011. Only programs broadcast Monday through Saturday, between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific, and Sundays, 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific, are eligible.

AFI SPECIAL AWARDS
AFI SPECIAL AWARDS are given to outstanding achievements in the moving image that do not fit into AFI's criteria for the other honorees — for example, foreign films and television programs, documentaries, web narratives, video games and other forms of storytelling that made an indelible mark on the art of the moving image in 2011.