Jun 10, 2011

The 39th AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Morgan Freeman Event. Culver City!

Morgan Freeman

The 39th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Morgan Freeman was held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California last night and this awards event honors one person every year and one only, this year it was Morgan Freeman and is awarded by non other than the American Film Institute.! This event we would say is the Film Industry equivalent of the Music Hall of Fame and honors a certain actor/actress every year for their outstanding contribution to the film industry over a consistent and prolonged period of time. This is not something that awards hype but awards talent over an incredible time span…………..the best type of award.

The AFI Life Achievement Awards Event Photos Getty

That person in 2011 is Morgan Freeman and we think this is somebody that should definitely receive something of this calibre. If you’ve seen Morgan Freeman in the incredible film Shawshank Redemption you will know what we are talking about. Seven is another film that springs to mind. To give you an idea of the calibre of people who have received this award in the past it includes legendary names such as Bette Davis, Fred Astaire, Kirk Douglas and Elizabeth Taylor, amongst others. It’s a big deal to be included on this list, it’s a star on the Hollywood walk of fame but better as only a few people have received it.I would personally say it’s arguably better than an Oscar.

Film industry stars turned out for this event including those involved with production and names that stood out included Giselle Bundchen, Matthew McConaughey and Forest Whitaker.

What is the AFI Life Achievement Award. Official Definition

The Trustees initially specified that the recipient must be one who fundamentally advanced the art of film and whose achievements had been acknowledged by the general public as well as by film scholars and critics and the individual’s peers. The Trustees also specified that the work of the recipient must have withstood the test of time. Courtesy Wiki

The event was held last night but for those who would like to see this event in the US the ttribute to Morgan Freeman will premiere on TV on Saturday, June 19 at 9PM ET/PST. Essential viewing!
AFI Life Achievement award Guest list

A
Alan Horn (2)
Amy Pascal (2)
Ana de la Reguera (3)
Anne Sweeney (2)
B
Babyface (2)
Ben Vereen (1)
Bob Gazzale (1)

C
Camila Alves (10)
Carole Bayer Sager (3)
Cary Elwes (2)
Cuba Gooding Jr. (16)
D
Djimon Hounsou (3)
Doug Herzog (1)
E
Edward Zwick (4)

F
Forest Whitaker (15)
Fran Drescher (4)
Frank Pierson (2)
G
Gary Barber (1)
Gisele Bundchen (21)
H
Helen Mirren (3)
Howard Stringer (3)

J
Jean Picker Firstenberg (1)
Jon Avnet (7)
K
Kimora Lee Simmons (3)
L
Leonard Maltin (1)
M
Marshall Herskovitz (4)
Matthew Broderick (3)

Matthew McConaughey (16)
Morgan Freeman (14)
P
Peter Gallagher (3)
R
Rich Ross (1)
Rita Moreno (3)
Robert A. Daly (1)
Roger Birnbaum (3)

S
Samuel L. Jackson (5)
Stana Katic (3)
V
Virginia Madsen (2)

Photo Credit: kibaspirit