AFI Awards Honor David Lynch, Los Angeles Firefighters and the Top 10 Films and Television Programs of 2024
Originally slated for Jan. 10 but postponed due to the Los Angeles wildfires, the American Film Institute’s AFI Awards took place nearly a month later Thursday afternoon at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.
As always, the event was a starry affair with a guest list that included actors Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Harrison Ford, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Boyd Holbrook, Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Quinta Brunson, Jesse Eisenberg, Michelle Yeoh, Colin Farrell, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter, Ralph Fiennes and Jodie Foster.
Directors included Sean Baker, Denis Villeneuve, James Mangold, RaMell Ross and Edward Berger.
The ceremony opened with footage of the late David Lynch talking about how much he loved AFI. The video ended with a title card that read, “We love you too, David. And always will.”
No surprise, but the Karla Sofía Gascón controversy was a hot topic of conversation. “Emilia Perez” was represented at the luncheon by stars Zoe Saldaña, Édgar Ramírez and Adriana Paz, director Jacques Audiard, composer Clément Ducol and songwriter Camille. Sitting at their table were Netflix’s COO Bela Bajaria and vice president of talent relations and awards Lisa Taback.
While Netflix has distanced itself from Gascón, she was recognized in the intro read from the podium with Gascón, Saldaña and Gomez described as a “genuine triple threat of today’s top talent.”
The streamer’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos sat at the neighboring “Nobody Wants This” table alongside Tim Larson, a Los Angeles firefighter stationed in Pacific Palisades who received a standing ovation during the afternoon’s program.
The event celebrated AFI’s list of the best 10 films and television programs of 2024.
The movies include “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Conclave,” “Wicked,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Nickel Boys,” “Sing Sing” and “A Real Pain.” Making the cut on the TV side were “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Hacks,” “A Man on the Inside,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Nobody Wants This,” “The Penguin,” “Shōgun,” “Shrinking” and “True Detective: Night Country.” “Baby Reindeer” received a special award.
George Stevens delivered the benediction, recalling his father and legendary director George Stevens’ work with President Lyndon B. Johnson in establishing the AFI in 1965.
Check out the best photos from the AFI Awards below.
Jeff Goldblum
Jeff Goldblum attends the AFI Awards.
AFI Awards
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Quinta Brunson, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo attend the AFI Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on February 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster attends the AFI Awards.
Tim Larson
Los Angeles firefighter Tim Larson, who is stationed in the Pacific Palisades, recieves a standing ovation at the AFI Awards.
Colman Domingo, Adrien Brody and Denis Villeneuve
Colman Domingo, Adrien Brody and Denis Villeneuve attend the AFI Awards.
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes attends the AFI Awards.
Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin attends the AFI Awards.
Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White
Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White attend the AFI Awards.
Erin Foster and Sara Foster
Erin Foster and Sara Foster attend the AFI Awards.
Cristin Milioti and Colin Farrell
Cristin Milioti and Colin Farrell attend the AFI Awards.
Ted Sarandos and Jacques Audiard
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and Jacques Audiard attend the AFI Awards.
Adriana Paz, Édgar Ramírez, Zoe Saldana and Jacques Audiard
Adriana Paz, Édgar Ramírez, Zoe Saldaña and Jacques Audiard attend the AFI Awards.
Cristin Milioti and Lauren LeFranc
Cristin Milioti and Lauren LeFranc attend the AFI Awards.
Michelle Yeoh and Hiroyuki Sanada
Michelle Yeoh and Hiroyuki Sanada attend the AFI Awards.
Lisa Tabak and Jacques Audiard
Netflix’s Lisa Taback and Jacques Audiard attend the AFI Awards.
Lionel Boyce, Fred Hechinger, Ayo Edebiri, RaMell Ross and Ethan Herisse
Lionel Boyce, Fred Hechinger, Ayo Edebiri, RaMell Ross and Ethan Herisse attend the AFI Awards.
Jacques Audiard and Denis Villeneuve
Jacques Audiard and Denis Villeneuve at the AFI Awards.
Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams
“Shrinking” co-stars Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams chat at the AFI Awards.
Clarence Maclin, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
“Sing Sing” star Clarence Maclin, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande share a laugh at the AFI Awards.
Brett Goldstein and Cynthia Erivo
Brett Goldstein and Cynthia Erivo attend the AFI Awards.
Rose Abdoo and Nava Mau
Rose Abdoo and Nava Mau attend the AFI Awards.
Harrison Ford and Tim Larson
Harrison Ford talks to Los Angeles firefighter Tim Larson at the AFI Awards.
Fred Berger and Alex Heineman
“A Complete Unknown” producers Fred Berger and Alex Heineman attend the AFI Awards.
George Stevens Jr.
George Stevens Jr. delivers the benediction at the AFI Awards.
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody
“Nobody Wants This” co-stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody attend the AFI Awards.
Kristen Bell and Zoe Saldaña
Kristen Bell and Zoe Saldaña attend the AFI Awards.
Brett Goldstein and Michael Urie
“Shrinking” co-creator Brett Goldstein and star Michael Urie reunite at the AFI Awards.
Cristin Milioti, Jeff Goldblum and Jon M. Chu
Cristin Milioti, Jeff Goldblum and Jon M. Chu attend the AFI Awards.
Jeff Goldblum, Erin Foster, Sara Foster and Jackie Tohn
Jeff Goldblum, Erin Foster, Sara Foster, David Foster and Jackie Tohn attend the AFI Awards.
Luke Tennie, RaMell Ross and Jessica Williams
Luke Tennie, RaMell Ross and Jessica Williams attend the AFI Awards.
Jason Segel, Bob Gazzale and Harrison Ford
Jason Segel, AFI CEO Bob Gazzale and Harrison Ford attend the AFI Awards.
Colman Domingo and Casey Bloys
Colman Domingo and HBO/Max’s Casey Bloys attend the AFI Awards.
Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein
Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein attend the AFI Awards.
Donna Langley, Ayo Edebiri and Cynthia Erivo
Universal Pictures’ Donna Langley, Ayo Edebiri and Cynthia Erivo attend the AFI Awards.
Janet Yang and Michelle Yeoh
The Academy’s Janet Yang with Michelle Yeoh at the AFI Awards.
Adam Brody and Jesse Eisenberg
Adam Brody and Jesse Eisenberg attend the AFI Awards.
Jesse Eisenberg and Adrien Brody
Jesse Eisenberg and Adrien Brody huddle at the AFI Awards.
Jennifer Grey and Ali Herting
“A Real Pain” star Jennifer Grey and producer Ali Herting at the AFI Awards.
Fred Hechinger, Greg Kwedar, Brandon Wilson, Ethan Herisse, Clint Bentley and Alex Coco
Fred Hechinger, Greg Kwedar, Brandon Wilson, Ethan Herisse, Clint Bentley and Alex Coco attend the AFI Awards.
Ariana Grande, Hiroyuki Sanada and Nava Mau
Ariana Grande, Hiroyuki Sanada and Nava Mau attend the AFI Awards.
Adrien Brody and Jason Segel
Adrien Brody and Jason Segel attend the AFI Awards.
Hiroyuki Sanada and James Mangold
Hiroyuki Sanada and James Mangold attend the AFI Awards.
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford recieves a standing ovation the AFI Awards for having been honored previously with a lifetime achievement award from the film school.
Stephanie Beatriz and Jon M. Chu
Stephanie Beatriz and Jon M. Chu attend the AFI Awards.
