VISION
The American Film Institute champions the future of the moving image as an art form. We believe in the revolutionary power of visual storytelling to share diverse perspectives, inspire empathy and drive culture forward.
MISSION
The American Film Institute is dedicated to celebrating excellence in the art form and to creating national education initiatives that inspire artists and audiences alike.
AFI VALUES
A Commitment to Excellence
A Belief in the Power of Storytelling to Change the World
A Dedication to Community
EQUITY & INCLUSION
The American Film Institute believes in the power of diverse voices to drive culture forward.
We strive to cultivate and sustain an inclusive environment at AFI that actively affirms and, is respectful of, the identities of all people, across genders, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds and ideological perspectives – and one where self-reflection, honesty and accountability are practiced.
At AFI, we are responsible for the community we build and the stories we tell.
ABOUT
The American Film Institute 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 the #1 film school 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 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 increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including the AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women.
As a nonprofit educational organization, AFI relies on the generous financial support from film enthusiasts like you to provide funding for its programs and initiatives. Read our Impact Report here.
Become an AFI member today and play your part in preserving as well as making American film history.
AFI LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The American Film Institute recognizes that its campus rests on the native lands of the Tongva/Kizh and the Chumash, and near the Cahuenga Peak (or Kawenga), the Tongva’s “place in the mountains,” that lies behind the Hollywood sign. Click here to read AFI’s full land acknowledgement.
