Protected:
James Cameron, Timothée Chalamet, Jon M. Chu, George Clooney, Ryan Coogler, Guillermo del Toro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joel Edgerton, Jacob Elordi, Vince Gilligan, Stephen Graham, Ariana Grande, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Yorgos Lanthimos, Diego Luna, Nick Offerman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jafar Panahi, Seth Rogen, Mark Ruffalo, Keri Russell, Emma Stone, and Chloé Zhao Among Guests
Carol Burnett Delivered Benediction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Los Angeles, CA, January 9, 2026 – Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) celebrated the 2025 AFI AWARDS honorees at an exclusive invitation-only luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Celebrating film and television arts’ collaborative nature, AFI AWARDS is the only national program that honors creative teams as a whole, recognizing those in front of and behind the camera.
Carol Burnett delivered the annual benediction in celebration of the honorees’ remarkable achievements to close the event and shared: “I’ve never lost the deep respect and love that I have for all the stories we tell through cinema and television and by all of those behind and in front of the camera. Creative collaboration has always remained at the heart of our work, and AFI brings us all together. The world is a better place for having heard your voices.”
Guests in attendance at the AFI AWARDS luncheon included Pam Abdy, Patricia Arquette, Odessa A’zion, Ike Barinholtz, David Benioff, Clint Bentley, Alan Bergman, Casey Bloys, Jessie Buckley, Debora Cahn, James Cameron, Timothée Chalamet, Oona Chaplin, Jon M. Chu, George Clooney, Charlie Collier, Ryan Coogler, Tim Cook, Robert A. Daly, Keith David, Michael De Luca, Benicio del Toro, Guillermo del Toro, Laura Dern, Alexandre Desplat, Leonardo DiCaprio, Erin Doherty, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Ava DuVernay, Joel Edgerton, Jacob Elordi, Dan Erickson, David Fenkel, Jean Picker Firstenberg, Dede Gardner, R. Scott Gemmill, Vince Gilligan, Dan Gilroy, John Gilroy, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Goldblum, Mia Goth, Nick Grad, Stephen Graham, Ariana Grande, Alex Gregory, Kathryn Hahn, Ethan Hawke, David Heyman, Winnie Holzman, Peter Huyck, Chase Infiniti, Brad Ingelsby, Emilia Jones, Michael B. Jordan, Jacobi Jupe, Kathleen Kennedy, Jeremy Kleiner, Peter Kujawski, John Landgraf, Donna Langley, Yorgos Lanthimos, Delroy Lindo, Britt Lower, Diego Luna, Wunmi Mosaku, Nick Offerman, Edward James Olmos, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jafar Panahi, Tom Pelphrey, Marc Platt, Jesse Plemons, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Seth Rogen, Mark Ruffalo, Keri Russell, Josh Safdie, Adam Sandler, Ted Sarandos, Stephen Schwartz, Teddy Schwarzman, Adam Scott, Rhea Seehorn, Rufus Sewell, Stellan Skarsgård, Steven Spielberg, George Stevens Jr., Scott Stuber, Lynette Howell Taylor, Teyana Taylor, Tramell Tillman, Anthony Vinciquerra, D.B. Weiss, Ryan Werner, Bradley Whitford, Chase Sui Wonders, Karolina Wydra, Chloé Zhao and Edward Zwick.
The AFI AWARDS luncheon also featured the Institute’s signature MARCH OF TIME VIDEO montage – a unique cross-section of cinematic milestones from decades past, which places the motion picture and television program honorees into a historical context and provides a perspective on the evolution of the narrative arts.
At the event, AFI revealed its official rationales (below) for all 21 honorees, providing the cultural and artistic context to mark these outstanding creative endeavors as the year’s notable milestones. All the honored works advance the art of the moving image, inspire audiences and artists alike and enhance the rich cultural heritage of America’s art form.
Learn more about AFI AWARDS 2025 at AFI.com.
MOTION PICTURE RATIONALES
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH further realizes the impossible. James Cameron’s unfolding epic deepens an otherworldly immersion – transporting audiences back to a seductively lush Pandora, while also igniting a conversation about how we live on planet Earth. For all of its extraordinary technical achievements, the film’s true magic is the exploration of what is human – a fiery conflict between good and evil, a celebration of family and, ultimately, an appeal to the heart that beats within – and connects – all living creatures.
BUGONIA shatters the concept of “reality” in a cinematic experience unlike any other. Yorgos Lanthimos’ vision is wildly and uniquely his own – blending genres with a sleight of hand that proves explosive when worlds collide. The clash of wills between Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons is a masterclass in the art of acting – demanding audiences question point of view and asking us to consider our world long after we leave the theater.
FRANKENSTEIN electrifies Mary Shelley’s classic novel with a bolt of fragile beauty. Guillermo del Toro’s creation is a monument to the art of cinema – celebrating all that came before while looking to the future with a beating heart. Among the gifts of a brilliant all-star cast including Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth, Jacob Elordi stands tall in this tale of monsters and men, fathers and sons and, ultimately, the power of forgiveness.
HAMNET takes audiences to the very depths of grief, only to lift them high above humanity in the spiritual revelation that we are never alone. Chloé Zhao’s command of time, place and peace bewitches from the Groundlings to the Galleries, and Paul Mescal embodies the Bard with bravado as Jessie Buckley gives the performance of a lifetime – and for all time.
JAY KELLY invites audiences to define “family” – and encourages a commitment to be present for the answer. Noah Baumbach’s insightful valentine to the movies is tailor-made for America’s leading man – George Clooney – whose brilliantly self-reflective performance is further illuminated by emotionally nuanced turns from Adam Sandler and Laura Dern. Hilarious and heart-breaking, this instant Hollywood classic celebrates the making of movies and, more importantly, the making of memories.
MARTY SUPREME manifests the American dream at a time set in the past, but utterly of the moment. Josh Safdie’s sprawling epic ping-pongs between genres in an exhilarating ride that reminds us that life is not a sport we play to win or lose. Along for the journey are Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A’zion, a legend and a rising star playing opposite Timothée Chalamet – whose brash, ambitious and impossibly magnetic anti-hero prove his purpose as the undeniable leading man of a new generation.
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER serves as a rallying cry for fearless originality in American film. Paul Thomas Anderson’s tale for our times pulses with action, explodes with comedy and all on an epic scale. At its core, though, it is an ode to the bond of family – brought to brilliant life by cinema’s supernova, Leonardo DiCaprio. And all hail the stellar supporting cast of Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor and the star-making arrival of Chase Infiniti. ¡Viva la revolución!
SINNERS stakes a rightful place in cinema history by sinking its teeth into the horrors of America’s past. Ryan Coogler’s blood-soaked tale of revisionist vengeance layers genre, music, fire and brimstone to create a wholly original vision. This modern masterpiece is filled with cinematic spirits embodied by talents that span from newcomer Miles Caton to the legendary Delroy Lindo – and Michael B. Jordan’s powerful dual role as “Smoke” and “Stack” confirms that he stands alone as one of today’s brightest stars.
TRAIN DREAMS weaves together memory, time and place to create an art piece worthy of the highest poetry. Presented as a collection of dreamlike American tintypes, Clint Bentley’s ethereal narrative is grounded in an eternally resonant performance from Joel Edgerton. Across his triumphs, turning points and tragedies, audiences are ultimately reminded that every moment is precious.
WICKED: FOR GOOD soars beyond the rainbow and into a world where the youthful defiance of gravity meets the reality of choices made. Jon M. Chu’s return to Oz remains gilded in confectionery colors, but the spellbinding performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande explore the deepest complexities of friendship – leaving America’s beloved cultural canon changed for the better. And, yes, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard is “wonderful.”
TELEVISION RATIONALES
ADOLESCENCE envelops audiences in a nightmare – only to reveal a reality even more chilling. Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne’s landmark drama addresses the rage of the innocent and the devastating consequences of allowing it to simmer and spread. With performances by Graham and Owen Cooper grounding the issue in humanity, the creative ensemble’s hour-long takes are a wonder to behold – not as tricks of television but underscoring the hypnotic nature of this unforgettable “why-done-it.”
ANDOR reimagines one of our culture’s sacred texts to meet this moment in American history. Tony Gilroy proves the power of STAR WARS expands “far, far away” beyond space opera – and cuts deep as a tale of complex, fearless heroes and a rising resistance in the face of fascism.
DEATH BY LIGHTNING arrives with a thunderclap – illuminating an impactful, but bygone moment in American history to provide insight into our divided present. Mike Makowsky’s page from the past is sketched with fine strokes of a romantic yesteryear, tragic pathos and a sly humor brought to life by Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen and a brilliant ensemble.
THE DIPLOMAT ascends to the highest office in television in its third term. Politics are personal in Debora Cahn’s stylish and sophisticated series, with Keri Russell and an all-star ensemble personifying the tension between affairs of the state and affairs of the heart as the two collide in a world on the brink.
THE LOWDOWN stands tall as a story for our time. Sterlin Harjo’s neo-pulp series peers into the forgotten corners of a marginalized America – embracing the human poetry beneath the grit and decay of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ethan Hawke’s “truthstorian” Lee Raybon arrives a hapless anti-hero in one of the year’s most magnetic performances.
THE PITT pulses with empathy for America’s frontline heroes. R. Scott Gemmill’s riveting reinvention of the medical drama is taut and timely – capturing a grueling single-day where horrors span from gun violence and pandemics – to proper funding for healthcare. Heartbreaking performances from an ensemble led by Noah Wyle embody the toll taken on the individuals we rely on with unconditional hope and trust.
PLUR1BUS invades Earth with a smile and a scream to beg the question: what makes us human? Vince Gilligan proves his mastery of tone in this high-concept slow-burn, and Rhea Seehorn stands alone, literally and figuratively, as she navigates the cosmic conformity of the uncanny masses whose only aspiration is to serve man.
SEVERANCE continues its ascent into television history as it descends into a fluorescent-lit darkness. A stellar ensemble brings a hope-filled humanity to Dan Erickson’s surreal serial – a corporate nightmare where each new labyrinth deepens the grim commentary on today’s schizophrenic work-life balance.
THE STUDIO cuts Hollywood’s bullshit to the bone. Creators Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory and Frida Perez’s extreme close-up of today’s creative machine delivers a poison-pen love letter to the film industry – satirizing with deep insider insights, as smart and acerbic as they are consistently, uncomfortably hilarious.
TASK transports audiences to a world where tragedy and redemption discover each other – and embrace. Brad Ingelsby creates an ensemble of characters so complex – and so beautifully realized by Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey and an extraordinary cast – that audiences look beyond the pulse-pounding police procedural and, instead, reflect on family and forgiveness.
AFI SPECIAL AWARD RATIONALE
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT is filmmaking at its finest and, in its creation, a battle cry in the expression of bravery. Jafar Panahi’s lively revenge romp is clear-eyed about atrocity and, yet, skillful in finding the humanity and the humor in unimaginable circumstances. Here and today, this master of cinema’s work stands proudly as proof that filmmaking can be an act of revolution.
About the American Film Institute (AFI)
The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST Presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at elevating emerging storytellers and technology, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.
Press contact:
American Film Institute
Shari Mesulam, [email protected]
