LOS ANGELES – The American Film Institute celebrated the 10 Best Films and 11 Best TV Shows of 2024 at the AFI Awards on Thursday.
But the biggest applause of the star-studded event – rescheduled from January 10th due to the miserable Los Angeles wildfires – was for firefighters.
The A-list crowd at the Four Seasons Hotel Ballroom in Los Angeles gave a sustained standing ovation for Tim Larson, a Los Angeles firefighter stationed in Palisades in the Pacific Ocean, where the fire was damaged.
“There are no words to wipe out tears from this town,” AFI president and CEO Bob Gazare said as he began his remarks before introducing Larson in uniform.
Gazale urged the annual meeting of the best television and filmmakers to continue to entertain “because it’s more necessary than ever.”
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Fireaid performance: Supporting Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and undoubtedly La Wildfire Recovery
The audience includes the stars of Oscar’s competing films, “The Evil,” “The Complete Unknown,” “The Brutalist,” “Singing,” “Conclave,” “The Real Pain,” and “Emilia Perez.” Ta. Among them are Ariana Grande, Cynthia Eribo, Michelle Yoh, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Boyd Holbrook, Adrian Brody, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Eisenberg and Adriana Pass. , Zoe Saldana was there.
The prestigious TV stars include Kristen Bell, Adam Brody (“Nobody Wants This”), Colin Farrell, Christine Miliotti (“Penguin”), and Mark Indelicart (“Hack” ), Jodie Foster, Kari Reis (“The True Detective:”Night Country”), Jeremy Allen White, Ayoedebili (“Bear”), Sanada Island (“General”).
Directors include Sean Baker (“Anola”), Dennis Villeneuve (“Dune: Part 2”), Ramel Ross (“Nickel Boys”) and Edward Berger (“Conclave”).
Harrison Ford, who was awarded the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000, won an early standing ovation, following Larson. Ford took part in the AppletV+ comedy “Shrinking,” with co-stars Jason Segel and Jessica Williams applauding.
Oscar-nominated “Emilia Perez” star Cara Sofia Gascon has been caught up in a PR crisis over past social media posts but did not attend the event. However, Gascon received praise during “Emilia Perez”‘s Best Picture to To To The Etomori. This said the “provocative thriller” features powder barrel performances by Zo Saldanya, Cara Sofia Gascon and Selena Gomez.
The ceremony was opened and closed in honor of David Lynch, who passed away last month at the age of 78. The celebration began with a video in which the Twin Peaks director talks about his love for AFI. The video ended with a The title card says, “We love you too, David. And we will always do that.”
AFI founder George Stevens Jr. closed the event with a blessing to praise Lynch and the mysterious beauty we found in living his dreams.
“We’re leaving this ceremony in our hearts and leaving,” Stevens Jr. said.