April 1, 2025
Omar Sharif – AFI Catalog Spotlight
This month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on the illustrious Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, who would have celebrated his 93rd birthday on April 10. Known as one of the first and most prominent Arab actors to achieve stardom in Hollywood,[i] Sharif performed in over 100 American and international films including LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962),...
February 28, 2025
THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR – AFI Catalog Spotlight
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on the Oscar®-nominated documentary THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR, which was released 50 years ago this March. Co-directed and co-produced by AFI Life Achievement Award recipient Shirley MacLaine and feminist filmmaker Claudia Weill – who was 28 at the...
January 1, 2025
Dorothy Arzner – AFI Catalog Spotlight
In celebration of film pioneer Dorothy Arzner’s birthday this month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on her life and her indelible contributions to film history. In a Hollywood career spanning nearly a quarter of a century (1919-1943) – from typist to “script girl,” to editor to director, to being the first woman member of...
December 1, 2024
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS – AFI Catalog Spotlight
Celebrating the holiday season this year, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on the Christmas classic MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944), which first played in theaters 80 years ago this month after its world premiere in late November 1944. Aside from being the film that famously connected Judy Garland with her future husband, director...
November 1, 2024
THE DAUGHTER OF DAWN (1920) – AFI Catalog Spotlight
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month this November, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on THE DAUGHTER OF DAWN (1920), one of the earliest fictional feature films in history to headline a cast comprised entirely of Native American performers who actively participated in the production. Other firsts with Native casts include HIAWATHA (1913) and Edward S....
September 3, 2024
FRIDA (2002) – AFI CATALOG SPOTLIGHT
In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on FRIDA (2002), starring Salma Hayek and co-written by AFI Conservatory Screenwriting Discipline Head Anna Thomas, which premiered in Toronto 22 years ago this month. FRIDA was based on the true story of renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), as told in...
August 1, 2024
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH – AFI Catalog Spotlight
Celebrating back to school this August, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on AFI alum Amy Heckerling’s feature film directorial debut, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982), which was released 42 years ago this month and is included on AFI’s 100 Years...100 Laughs list of the funniest American films of all time. Based on the...
June 27, 2024
COMING HOME (1978) – AFI Catalog Spotlight
In celebration of disability pride month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on COMING HOME (1978), the Oscar®-winning Hal Ashby film that takes place at a VA hospital during the Vietnam War. Included on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Passions list of the greatest love stories of all time, COMING HOME explores the lives of soldiers who...
May 31, 2024
DESERT HEARTS (1986) – AFI Catalog Spotlight
In celebration of Pride Month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on director Donna Deitch’s 1986 landmark romantic drama DESERT HEARTS, considered to be the first mainstream feature film to depict lesbianism without prejudicial, fetishizing tropes and shame. The 1964 novel by Janet Rule upon which the film is based, “Desert of the Heart,” was...
April 30, 2024
AFI Catalog Spotlight: THE CURSE OF QUON GWON and Marion E. Wong
THE CURSE OF QUON GWON title card In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on Marion E. Wong’s THE CURSE OF QUON GWON: WHEN THE FAR EAST MINGLES WITH THE WEST (1917), the earliest known Chinese American feature film and likely the first Asian film directed...
April 1, 2024
AFI Catalog Spotlight: The Recent Discovery of a Lost Silent Film
Roughly 75% of American silent films are believed to be lost forever, according to a report by the Library of Congress that used the AFI Catalog as a primary source,[i] but every once in a while this statistic is reconsidered as incredible discoveries are revealed within and outside of archives. One such finding – which...
March 1, 2024
AFI Catalog Spotlight: “Behind the Veil” Research on Short Films and Diversity in Early Hollywood
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are shining a spotlight on the work being done by the AFI Catalog researchers for “Behind the Veil,” AFI’s landmark initiative to study thousands of short films released in the silent and early sound eras and chronicle the groundbreaking work of female and BIPOC pioneers who were working...
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