The future of the moving image looked bright as family and friends joined leaders of the Hollywood creative community to cheer on the next generation of filmmakers during the AFI Conservatory's 2005 Commencement ceremony. AFI Director and CEO Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI Board of Trustees chair Sir Howard Stringer, AFI Board of Directors chairs Jon Avnet and John Cooke, and AFI Executive Vice President Jonathan Estrin participated in congratulating the 111 graduates (25 directors, 22 cinematographers, 27 screenwriters, 19 producers, 14 editors and four production designers) at the ceremony on Thursday, June 8, at AFI's Campus in the hills above Hollywood.

Sir Howard Stringer, Nora Ephron

Stringer, who is Chairman and CEO, Sony Corporation of America, presented an honorary degree to Nora Ephron, award-winning reporter, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, producer and director. Robert Iger, President and COO, The Walt Disney Company, presented television pioneer and AFI trustee Fred Pierce with his degree. And, Oscar and Tony Award-nominated producer David Brown was presented his degree by acclaimed writer and AFI trustee Fay Kanin. Among the previous recipients of AFI honorary degrees are Robert Altman, Maya Angelou, Michelangelo Antonioni, Steven Bochco, Roger Corman, Robert Daly, Lee Grant, Ray Harryhausen, Chuck Jones, John Lasseter, Karl Malden, Gena Rowlands, Thelma Schoonmaker, Jack Valenti, Haskell Wexler and Alfre Woodard.

Fay Kanin, David Brown

Prestigious awards were also given to graduating AFI Fellows through The Sherrill C. Corwin Scholarship Program, established in honor of Sherrill C. Corwin, a founding AFI trustee as well as an exceptional friend and supporter of AFI. The following three awards were given at the 2005 Commencement as part of this program:

Travis Peterson, a graduating AFI Conservatory Fellow, was awarded the Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award of $10,000 and a trip to the Sundance Film Festival for his thesis production INDIO, USA. This award was established in 1991 by Jean Schaffner in honor of her husband Franklin J. Schaffner, a longtime champion of AFI and chair of the AFI Conservatory Advisory Committee. It's presented to an outstanding Directing Fellow as selected by a panel of distinguished jurors from the artistic community.

Fred Pierce, Bob Iger

Chris Ranta was chosen by his peers to speak at the ceremony and Jonathan Levine was given The Richard P. Rogers Spirit of Excellence Award of $10,000 for SHARDS, his thesis production. Awarded in memory of Richard P. Rogers--filmmaker, teacher, mentor and friend--who died in 2001 at the age of 57, this honor is conferred on a graduating Directing Fellow whose commitment to excellence and whose contribution to the class best exemplifies Rogers' spirit.

Established in 1969, the AFI Conservatory is dedicated to identifying and nurturing future leaders of the moving image arts and profession through its five-semester, fully-accredited, Master of Fine Arts degree program that trains talented and aspiring filmmakers using a hands-on curriculum focusing on narrative storytelling.