The American Film Institute on Monday unveiled the recipients of its annual AFI Awards for TV, its list of programs considered culturally and artistically representative of 2020’s most significant achievements in the art of moving image. The organization also announced its film awards and gave a Special AFI Award for the adaptation of Tony’s winning musical. Hamilton which debuted in July at Disney +.
Netflix leads today on the TV side with four titles generally making the list, including Bridgerton, the hectic romance of the Shondaland period that has just been renewed for Season 2, receiving its first recognition award. It was accompanied by The crown, Unorthodox and limited series The Queen’s Gambit.
The winners were spread among the streamers (Disney + Star Wars spinoff The Mandalorian, actor Jason Sudeikis Ted Lasso on Apple TV + and Lady america on Fx on Hulu) and premium cablers (gender bending from HBO Lovecraft Country and Showtime’s Ethan Hawke-starrer The good lord bird) AMC’s Better to call Saul it is the only series of cables to make the cut; no broadcast network programs were on this year’s list (see the full list below).
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AFI said the winners will be presented through AFI’s global Movie Club program starting in February, with new content released daily, including special guests from the honored works that will present the titles and conversations with filmmakers and actors.
AFI Awards winners are often honored at a gala lunch that kicks off the award season at high speed. This year, however, with the coronavirus disrupting those meetings, the tributes will culminate with a virtual blessing on February 26 at YouTube.com/AFI and AFI.com. The new AFI Awards Audi Scholarships initiative will offer scholarships totaling $ 250,000 on behalf of the BIPOC women honorees and fellows at the AFI Conservatory.
AFI TELEVISION PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR
BEST CALL TO SAUL (AMC)
BRIDGERTON (Netflix)
THE CROWN (Netflix)
THE GOOD LORD BIRD (Show)
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY (HBO)
THE MANDALORIAN (Disney +)
MRS. AMERICA (FX on Hulu)
THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT (Netflix)
TED LASSO (Apple TV +)
UNORTHODOX (Netflix)
SPECIAL AFI AWARD
HAMILTON (Disney +)