AFI'S 10 TOP 10, a new chapter in its Emmy Award-winning "AFI's 100 Years..." series, will count down the top 10 films from 10 classic American film genres, including animation, fantasy, science fiction, gangster, western, sports, romantic comedy, courtroom drama, mystery and epic films.  The new entertainment special will be broadcast in June 2008 on the CBS Television Network.

AFI's 10 TOP 10 turns a page in the institute's ongoing celebration of the American cinema centennial with a more diverse version of AFI's highly anticipated annual countdown special. Celebrating film genres that have never been honored before, AFI will create 10 new lists within the format previously designed for a top 100.

"AFI's 100 Years..." series has included "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies" (1998), "100 Stars" (1999), "100 Laughs" (2000), "100 Thrills" (2001), "100 Passions" (2002), "100 Heroes & Villains" (2003), "100 Songs" (2004), "100 Movie Quotes" (2005), "100 Cheers" (2006) and "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies—10th Anniversary Edition" (2007).

About the Jury Process

Today, AFI distributed a ballot with 500 nominated movies (50 per genre) to a jury of over 1,500 leaders from the creative community, including film artists (directors, screenwriters, actors, editors, cinematographers), critics and historians.

This year, the jury will be asked to choose up to 10 movies per genre from a comprehensive list, including entries such as: Animated: PINOCCHIO (1941) and SHREK (2001); Fantasy: KING KONG (1933) and THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2001); Sci-Fi: WAR OF THE WORDS (1953) and THE MATRIX (1999); Gangster: SCARFACE (1932) and THE DEPARTED (2006); Westerns: THE SEARCHERS (1956) and UNFORGIVEN (1992); Sports: THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) and SEABISCUIT (2003); Romantic Comedy: IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) and MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING (1997); Courtroom Drama: WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957) and A FEW GOOD MEN (1992); Mystery: SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939) and THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995); and Epics: BEN-HUR (1959) and BRAVEHEART (1995).

AFI asks jurors to consider the following criteria in their selection process:

FEATURE-LENGTH FICTION FILMS

Narrative format, typically over 60 minutes in length. 

AMERICAN FILM

English-language film with significant creative and/or production elements from the 

United States . Additionally, only films released before January 1, 2008 will be considered.

GENRE:

ANIMATED

AFI defines "animated" as a genre in which the film's images are primarily created by computer or hand and the characters are voiced by actors.

FANTASY

AFI defines "fantasy" as a genre where live-action characters inhabit imagined settings and/or experience situations that transcend the rules of the natural world. 

GANGSTER

AFI defines the "gangster film" as a genre that centers on organized crime or maverick criminals in a 20th century setting. 

SCIENCE FICTION

AFI defines "science fiction" as a genre that marries a scientific or technological premise with imaginative speculation.

WESTERN

AFI defines "western" as a genre of films set in the American West that embodies the spirit, the struggle and the demise of the new frontier.

SPORTS

AFI defines "sports" as a genre of films with protagonists who play athletics or other games of competition.

MYSTERY

AFI defines "mystery" as a genre that revolves around the solution of a crime.  

ROMANTIC COMEDY

AFI defines "romantic comedy" as a genre in which the development of a romance leads to comic situations.  

COURTROOM DRAMA

AFI defines "courtroom drama" as a genre of film in which a system of justice plays a critical role in the film's narrative.

EPIC

AFI defines "epic" as a genre of large-scale films set in a cinematic interpretation of the past.  Their scope defies and demands—either in the mode in which they are presented or their range across time.

CRITICAL RECOGNITION

Formal commendation in print, television and digital media.

MAJOR AWARD WINNER

Recognition from competitive events including awards from peer groups, critics, guilds and major film festivals.

POPULARITY OVER TIME

Including success at the box office, television and cable airing, and DVD/VHS sales and rentals.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

A film's mark on the history of the moving images through visionary narrative devices, technical innovation, or other ground breaking achievements.

CULTURAL IMPACT

A film's mark on American society in matters of style and substance.

AFI allows one write-in vote per genre.

Interesting Facts About the Ballot

• Animation—32 of the 50 films on the ballot were made by the Walt Disney Company; 13 were produced by Walt Disney himself. 17 of the 50 films are computer animated

• Fantasy—11 movies feature ghosts and four movies feature super heroes. The 1980s is the most represented decade with 15 movies.

• Gangster—Robert De Niro is the most featured actor with seven movies; James Cagney and Al Pacino are featured with five movies each.

• Sci-Fi—22 of the 50 movies contain an alien presence.

• Western—11 of the 50 movies feature John Wayne; 10 of the 50 movies were directed by John Ford. Seven of these 21 movies feature both John Ford and John Wayne.

• Sports—12 movies are based on baseball; nine movies are based on boxing; eight movies are based on football.

• Mystery—nine movies were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

• Romantic Comedy—Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn are featured together three times. Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn are featured together twice.

• Courtroom Drama—20 of the 50 films involve a falsely accused defendant.