AFI Awards SHOCKER! Did YOUR Favorite Film Make the Top 10?!

The American Film Institute (AFI) has just dropped its highly anticipated list of Motion Pictures of the Year, and as always, it's sparking some serious conversation around the office. This annual selection of ten films is often seen as a pretty reliable indicator of who will be in the running for the big awards at the Oscars. Think of it as a cinematic weather vane.

AFI Awards SHOCKER! Did YOUR Favorite Film Make th...

Historically, the AFI has a solid track record. In both 2023 and 2024, they nailed eight out of ten movies that went on to Oscar nominations. So, who made the cut this year? The lucky ten are: *Avatar: Fire And Ash*, *Bugonia*, *Frankenstein*, *Hamnet*, *Jay Kelly*, *Marty Supreme*, *One Battle After Another*, *Sinners*, *Train Dreams*, and *Wicked: For Good*. Quite a diverse bunch, and definitely some interesting titles in there.

Beyond the top ten, the AFI also gives out a Special Award from time to time. This year's recipient is Jafar Panahi's *It Was Just An Accident*, which also snagged the Palme d'Or. These Special Awards typically go to international films that might not have a strong US distribution footprint. It's a nice gesture, although some other foreign Oscar hopefuls, like *Sentinmental Value* and *The Secret Agent*, didn't make the list. You can't please everyone, I suppose.

Interestingly, there were some notable American films that didn't make the AFI's list this year. Titles like *F1*, *A House Of Dynamite*, *Nuremberg*, *Rental Family*, and the Springsteen documentary, *Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere*, were absent. That's not to say they aren't good films, just that they didn't resonate with the AFI voters this time around. The awards season is always full of surprises.

Looking at the distribution landscape, Netflix is leading the pack with three selections: *Frankenstein*, *Jay Kelly*, and *Train Dreams*. Universal Pictures, along with its Focus Features division, also grabbed three spots with *Wicked: For Good*, *Bugonia*, and *Hamnet*. It's a good showing for both the streaming giant and the traditional studio system, proving that good filmmaking can come from anywhere.

"For more than a quarter of a century, AFI AWARDS has held the flag high for community without competition," said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO, in a statement. "It is AFI’s honor to celebrate these creative ensembles as one, as together they have proved the power of art in challenging times.” A rather eloquent way to put it, and a sentiment I think most in the industry can appreciate.

The honorees will be feted at the annual AFI AWARDS private luncheon on January 9, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. It's always a swanky affair and a key stop on the awards season circuit. So, keep an eye out – we'll be there, sipping champagne and trying to predict who will take home the gold statues later in the year. It's going to be an interesting race!