with Jean Picker Firstenberg,
AFI Director and Chief Executive Officer

Movies are an art form which is, without question, the most successful of the century. There is something almost mythical about American movies. The cornerstone of AFI's "100 Years...100 Movies" is the recognition of the very best in American cinema's first 100 years. With the help of prominent leaders in the film community, AFI will determine the definitive 100 American films of all time in order to celebrate and commemorate this great American art form. We will reach a huge audience with a three-hour, prime-time special on CBS in June, 10 one-hour specials on TNT to follow, and the AFI Centennial Collection distributed on videocassette. In addition, Turner Classic Movies, which has at its disposal the world's largest film library, is planning a cable film festival during which they will present many of the 100 movies on the AFI list.

What are AFI's motivations and goals behind launching "100 Years...100 Movies"?

As we leave this century and reflect on its defining moments, among the most extraordinary and important would have to be the American movie. It is a benchmark for American creativity and achievement. These images—these stories—are so much a part of our lives. They embody the spirit of a nation and reflect our collective character. Movies are truly the triumph of the 20th century. Part of AFI's mission is to bring attention, respect and appreciation to the astonishing achievements of the American motion picture community.

What has been the response to AFI's "100 Years...100 Movies" from the film community?

There is tremendous respect for the role of AFI because it represents the best of the entire motion picture community. AFI provides the context—when a film is made, it's not just here today and gone tomorrow. So, all of the major movie studios and creative film community have embraced this with an unprecedented level of involvement. AFI is the appropriate organization to mount such a unifying project because of its mission and goal to recognize excellence. This project is about achievement, distinction and the contribution that film and filmmakers have made to all of our lives. And this is a once-in-a-century opportunity to do it.

What is the selection process for the 100 greatest American movies of all time and who is on the blue-ribbon panel?

AFI determined a list of 400 films with the goal of amassing a capsule of the first 100 years of American cinema, across decades and across genres. A blue-ribbon panel of more than 1,500 leaders from the American film community will review the 400 and select the top 100 movies of all time. Judging criteria includes critical recognition, popularity over time, historical significance, cultural impact and major award winners. A film's enduring impact on the history of the moving image is judged through historical significance, while cultural impact measures a film's indelible mark left on society. Our distinguished jury is comprised of a who's who of the movie business, from in front of and behind the camera, writers, producers and directors to historians, movie executives and critics.

What is the Centennial Collection?

All of the major studios are joining forces for the Centennial Collection, a library of 100 movies on videocassette representing the greatness of the American film storyteller. So, just as you would acquire a collection of 100 great literary works, film lovers will be able to purchase through AFI the 100 great American movies of cinema's first century in a variety of ways from video retailers across America.

How does AFI's "100 Years...100 Movies" appeal to the public?

With the turn of the century, people are inspired to commemorate, celebrate and collect great moments in history. We've all shared unforgettable memories through movies. Even if a film was shot in 1939, we've been there, seen it, lost ourselves in the story. People want to acknowledge what has transpired, and AFI can put into context what has been achieved. This finite moment in history is the ideal opportunity to celebrate that intimate relationship between the audience and their movies.

How do you foresee future generations and historians viewing this legacy of images in the next century?

The stories told in movies capture better than anything else our nation's psyche and point of view in any given decade. At its highest level of achievement, the moving image definitely has something to say to future generations. Just as the written word was the literature of the 19th century, the moving image is the literature of the 20th. One hundred years from now, historians will use these films as an insightful glimpse into our everyday lives. That seems to be the real test-the test of time reveals whether any art is worthy of long-term respect and appreciation. Woodrow Wilson once remarked, when he saw movies for the first time, "It is like writing history with lightning..."