Overview

• The gala at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles featured heartfelt tributes from industry icons, including speeches by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, who presented the award to Coppola.
• Spielberg praised Coppola's fearless creativity and called 'The Godfather' the greatest American film ever made, while Lucas credited Coppola as a lifelong mentor and inspiration.
• Actors Robert De Niro and Al Pacino reflected on Coppola's transformative impact on their careers, with Pacino thanking him for standing by him during 'The Godfather' casting challenges.
• The event also honored late filmmaker David Lynch with a posthumous Franklin J. Schaffner alumni medal tribute, celebrating his legacy as an AFI graduate.
• A televised special of the ceremony is set to premiere on TNT in June, with an encore airing on TCM in July, ensuring a broader audience can experience the tribute.