AFI Awards: Best Of 2016 Film List Includes ‘Silence’, ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ & More
The American Film Institute has unveiled its annual AFI Movies of the Year list, which is heavy on Paramount films including the latest comer to the awards-season race, Martin Scorsese’s Silence. Its campaigners have been ramping up getting Scorsese’s passion pic screened for voters, and it secures a spot here for its director who was a previous recipient of the AFI Live Achievement Award.
Also in the mix in AFI’s list of 10 are Paramount’s Arrival, the cerebral sci-fi pic starring Amy Adams and directed by Denis Villeneuve, and Fences, the Denzel Washington movie based on August Wilson’s Tony-winning play.
The list is rounded out by Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, his first directing effort in 10 years, and CBS Films’ Western Hell Or High Water, both distributed by Lionsgate. They are in addition to what are turning out to be awards-season staples La La Land, Manchester By The Sea and Moonlight. Clint Eastwood’s Sully and Disney’s animated smash Zootopia also are on the list.
The biggest omissions might be a pair of Focus Features films: Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals and Loving.
In addition to the 20 honorees in film and TV, AFI also recognized O.J.: Made In America with an AFI Special Award. The multi-part documentary is being considered both a film (it’s on the Oscar feature docu shortlist) and a TV series having aired on ESPN.
“Year after year, we are reminded of the power of artists to bring us together as one,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “AFI Awards is proud to recognize the achievements of the storytelling teams who have enlightened and informed us, guided and inspired us, and ultimately invited us to empathize with others in a reminder of our common humanity.”
This year’s film jury was led by producer and AFI Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tom Pollock.
The list:
AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell Or High Water
La La Land
Manchester By The Sea
Moonlight
Silence
Sully
Zootopia
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