In what might be potentially bad news for director Martin Scorsese, The Departed didn't make AFI's top 10 list. Last year, the American Film Institute's list of the best movies released in 2005 included all five of the films that went on to compete in the Best Picture category at the Academy Awards. If that holds true for this year, then filmmaker Martin Scorsese might be left waiting in the wings once again. It would seem bizarre to honor Scorsese with a Best Director Oscar if his film didn't earn a Best Picture nomination. Scorsese fans should start crossing their fingers now that AFI got one wrong this year.
AFI Movies of the Year - 2006 Official Selections
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According to a press release issued by AFI, the organization uses the following criteria in its selection process:
- Feature-Length Motion Picture: Narrative fiction format, over 60 minutes in length.
- American: Motion picture with significant creative and/or production elements from the United States. The motion picture need not be presented in the English language if it is incontrovertibly American.
- Theatrically-Released: Motion pictures originally released between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006, which have premiered in a commercial theater and screened for at least five consecutive days in Los Angeles or New York City.
