AFI Awards 2025 Photos: Inside Hollywood’s Most Exclusive Honors Luncheon
Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI
From Timothée Chalamet and Emma Stone to Ryan Coogler and James Cameron, AFI’s annual awards luncheon brought together the filmmakers and stars who defined the year.
Yesterday, the American Film Institute gathered Hollywood’s creative community for its annual AFI Awards luncheon, honoring the films and television series that shaped the year — and bringing together the artists behind them in one of awards season’s most intimate, invitation-only events.
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, the AFI Awards have long stood apart from traditional ceremonies. There are no winners, no rankings, and no televised speeches — just recognition of creative excellence across both film and television, and a rare opportunity to see the industry’s most influential voices sharing the same room.
This year’s luncheon offered a striking snapshot of where Hollywood stands right now. Honorees and guests from the year’s most acclaimed projects filled the space, including Timothée Chalamet, George Clooney, Ryan Coogler, Benicio del Toro, Guillermo del Toro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jacob Elordi, James Cameron, Ariana Grande, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Emma Stone, and Chloé Zhao, among many others.
Unlike red carpets built for spectacle, AFI’s event is defined by its tone: understated, celebratory, and deeply industry-facing. The photos from the luncheon reflect that atmosphere — candid conversations between collaborators, awards-season heavyweights seated side by side, and a sense of shared recognition rather than competition.
The gathering also underscored AFI’s unique role in awards season. By honoring creative teams as a whole — directors, writers, actors, and craftspeople alike — the Institute continues to emphasize collaboration as the foundation of the moving image. That spirit was echoed throughout the room, from the filmmakers behind large-scale studio releases to those responsible for the year’s most challenging prestige dramas.
POPULAR ON THE CINEMA GROUP
Carol Burnett closed the luncheon with the event’s traditional benediction, reminding attendees of the power of storytelling and the importance of creative community — a sentiment that felt especially resonant in a room filled with artists whose work has defined the cultural conversation of the past year.
As awards season accelerates toward its final stretch, the AFI Awards luncheon remains a singular moment: less about campaigning, more about acknowledgment — and a rare chance to see the faces behind the year’s most influential stories gathered in one place.
See Photos From the AFI Awards luncheon Below:
