Composer John Williams to receive 44th AFI Life Achievement Award

The American Film Institute announced today (Friday, October 9, 2015) in a press release, that the recipient of the 44th AFI Life Achievement Award will be presented to Oscar-winning composer John Williams. Since 1973, AFI has honored the most iconic stars and directors in the film industry, including Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Orson Welles, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman and Elizabeth Taylor. Marking a historical moment, this year the AFI's highest honor will be presented to a composer for the very first time. And there is no other film composer that is more synonymous to world of motion pictures than John Williams.

“John Williams has written the soundtrack to our lives,” said Sir Howard Stringer, Chair, AFI Board of Trustees. “Note by note, through chord and chorus, his genius for marrying music with movies has elevated the art form to symphonic levels and inspired generations of audiences to be enriched by the magic of the movies. AFI is proud to present him with its 44th Life Achievement Award.”

John Williams' is responsible for some of the most iconic musical scores in movie history. He has over 150 credits in television and motion pictures and is often known for his collaboration with director Steven Spielberg. He has been nominated for a staggering 49 Academy Awards and he has won five Oscars for composing "Fiddler on the Roof," "Jaws," "Star Wars," "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" and "Schindler's List." John Williams has been nominated for more Academy Awards than any other person still alive today.

John Williams will be honored at the yearly AFI gala tribute on June 9, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. This event will be televised on TNT later in the month of June, it is not televised live. Turner Classic Movies will then present an encore presentation.