Additional information about AFI can be found by visiting its award-winning Web site at www.AFIonline.org. AFI's 100 makes 'em laugh.
The American Film Institute's AFI'S 100 Years...100 Laughs' To Give Funny Films The Last Laugh
CBS Television Special To Air In June 2000
The American Film Institute (AFI) announced, ""AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs,"" the first major salute to the films and film artists that have made audiences laugh throughout the century. Continuing the celebration of the centennial of American cinema, ""AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs,"" will air on the CBS Television network in June 2000. ""AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs"" will reveal America's funniest movies, as chosen by leaders of the entertainment community, in a three-hour television event. For the third consecutive year, the primetime special will be executive produced and directed by Gary Smith and executive produced for AFI by former AFI Board Chair Frederick S. Pierce. ""AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies"" (1998) and ""AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars"" (1999) CBS specials were each viewed by more than 11 million people, winning their respective time periods and igniting lively debates among movie lovers across the nation. The impact of these specials has been felt in consumer worlds as well. According to the Video Software Dealers Association, sales and rentals of films highlighted in the specials have dramatically increased following the shows. Also, various cable movie channels have featured AFI selections in their programming, and the lists have become the bellwether for other ""greatest film"" lists. ""AFI created the 100 Years... specials to raise the national awareness of America's rich cultural heritage. That they have also become part of the American lexicon in just two years is especially gratifying to AFI,"" says Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI's Director and CEO. ""The enormous popularity of the specials turns the national dialogue briefly away from box office grosses and toward the art of film, and even more gratifying, introduces a new generation of movie lovers to America's film classics."" AFI has distributed a ballot with 500 nominated films to a jury of 1,800 leaders in the film community, including film artists (directors, screenwriters, actors, editors, cinematographers, etc.) critics, historians and film executives. The jurors have been asked to consider the following criteria in their selections: Feature-Length Fiction Film Narrative format typically over 60 minutes in length. American Film English language film with significant creative and/or financial production elements in the United States. Funny Regardless of genre, the total comedic impact of a film's elements that creates an experience greater than the sum of its smiles. Legacy Laughs that echo across time, enriching America's film heritage and inspiring artists and audiences today. Jurors may also include up to five write-in votes should a film they deem to be among America's funniest not appear on the AFI ballot. The 500 nominated films range alphabetically from ""Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein"" to ""Zelig."" Cary Grant is the most represented actor in the 500 balloted films (17), and Jack Lemmon is the most represented living actor (14). Myrna Loy is the most represented actress (10) and Shirley MacLaine is the most represented living actress (9). General Motors, Blockbuster, U.S. Postal Service, Pepsi, AT&T and Johnson and Johnson are returning as sponsors of ""AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs."" AFI is the preeminent national organization dedicated to advancing and preserving the art of film, television and other forms of the moving image. AFI trains the next generation of filmmakers, coordinates nationwide film preservation efforts and explores new technologies in moviemaking. AFI presents the best of the film through the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival, the AFI Theater in the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the annual AFI Life Achievement Award tribute, the highest honor given for a career in film.