George Lucas has been selected by the American Film Institute’s (AFI) Board of Trustees to receive the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film, it was announced today by Sir Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees.
The award will be presented to Lucas at a gala tribute in Los Angeles in June 2005.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have had a long career doing what I love to do, and being recognized by AFI for it is really an honor,” Lucas said. “I’m proud to be counted among such an extraordinary group of people whose lives are dedicated to the art of making movies.”
“George Lucas is a master storyteller, but he is first and foremost a moving image pioneer,” said Stringer. “He has advanced the art of the moving image like few others, and in the process has inspired a new generation of filmmakers around the world. AFI is proud to present him with its Life Achievement Award.”
USA Network will broadcast the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award tribute in June 2005. Bob Gazzale, who served as executive producer and writer of AFI’s Tributes to Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro, will continue in these roles.
George Lucas joins an esteemed group of individuals who have been chosen for this distinguished honor since its inception in 1973. Recently people to be honored with the award have been Dustin Hoffman (1999), Harrison Ford (2000), Barbra Streisand (2001), Tom Hanks (2002), Robert De Niro (2003) and Meryl Streep last year.
