AFI Conservatory Commencement 2017

A historic AFI Conservatory Commencement at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Monday, June 5, 2017, marked the 50th Anniversary of the Institute’s formation in 1967, with its honorees — the AFI Class of 2017, as well as Honorary Degree recipients Carol Burnett, Marshall Herskovitz (AFI Class of 1975) and Edward Zwick (AFI Class of 1975) — spanning the past, present and future of the art form.

In celebration of the Anniversary, AFI Founding Director George Stevens, Jr., joined AFI President Emerita Jean Picker Firstenberg and current AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale — bringing together all three presidents from AFI’s history.

A Doctorate of Fine Arts honoris causa was conferred upon Burnett by special guest Kristin Chenoweth, and Doctorates of Communication Arts honoris causa were conferred upon Herskovitz and Zwick by Firstenberg.

0:09 Opening Message from AFI Graduate, David Lynch
0:54 Procession of AFI Board, Faculty, and Staff
1:42 Procession of AFI Honorary Degree Recipients and Presenters
2:10 Entrance of AFI Class of 2017 into the Chinese Theater
5:15 Procession of AFI Class of 2017
7:10 Opening remarks by AFI President and CEO, Bob Gazzale
15:45 AFI 50th Anniversary remarks by AFI Founding Director, George Stevens, Jr.
20:30 Presentation of AFI Honorary Degrees
21:40 Kristin Chenoweth's introductory remarks for Carol Burnett
29:52 Carol Burnett reel
32:50 Carol Burnett does her famous Tarzan yell
33:17 Carol Burnett receives her Honoraray Degree and gives her remarks
39:29 AFI President and CEO, Bob Gazzale introduces AFI President Emerita, Jean Picker Firstenberg
41:30 AFI President Emerita, Jean Picker Firstenberg's remarks
45:20 AFI President Emerita, Jean Picker Firstenberg's introductory remarks for Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick
50:43 Marshall Herskovitz reel
53:13 Marshall Herskovitz receives his AFI Honorary Degree and gives his remarks
1:00:19 AFI President Emerita, Jean Picker Firstenberg bestows Ed Zwick with the AFI Conservatory Honorary Degree
1:01:36 Ed Zwick reel
1:05:05 Ed Zwick receives his Honorary Degree and gives his remarks
1:13:57 AFI President and CEO, Bob Gazzale introduces AFI Conservatory Dean, Jan Schutte
1:15:30 AFI Conservatory Dean, Jan Schutte's remarks and introduction of class speaker, Byonghoon Jo.
1:23:22 AFI Class Speaker, Byonghoon Jo addresses the his fellow graduates.
1:33:05 Diploma Distribution - Cinematography by AFI Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence, Stephen Lighthill (ASC)
1:35:55 Diploma Distribution - Directing by AFI Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence, Peter Markham
1:38:27 Diploma Distribution - Editing by AFI Senior Lecturer, Matt Chessé
1:40:04 Diploma Distribution - Producing by AFI Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence, Neil Canton
1:42:37 Diploma Distribution - Production Design by AFI Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence, Joseph Garrity
1:43:51 Diploma Distribution - Screenwriting by AFI Senior Lecturer, Anna Thomas
1:46:45 AFI President and CEO, Bob Gazzale presents the AFI Class of 2017
1:47:47 AFI Class of 2017 photo