‘Wonder Woman’ director Patty Jenkins leads AFI Awards toast
LOS ANGELES: With the American Film Institute’s (AFI) annual luncheon on Friday recognizing the best in film and television, Hollywood’s awards season is officially underway.
The schmooze-y celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel brought together the casts and creators of 2017’s most celebrated movies and TV shows, many of which are also in contention for the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.
“Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins led the honorees in a toast, during which she quoted former Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham (who is played by Meryl Streep in Steven Spielberg’s “The Post,” an AFI honoree and best picture nominee at the Globes).
“To love what you do and feel that it matters, how could anything be more fun?” Jenkins said. “We love what we do. It does not always matter — and often it does not — but sometimes it does, so it is always worth it to try.”
With winners announced in advance and no trophies to accept onstage, the AFI Awards are an opportunity for collegial confabulation.
“This is a place to be together as a community,” said AFI President Bob Gazzale, “to consider the compendium and feel proud.”
Actors, writers, directors and executives embraced the chance to chat, with superstar mashups spontaneously erupting throughout the room.