‘Sideways’ lands another accolade

Fresh from winning five major awards Saturday from the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn., Alexander Payne’s comedy-drama “Sideways” was announced Sunday as one of the official selections for the AFI Awards 2004.

The American Film Institute’s selections are the organization’s almanac of the year’s most outstanding achievements in film and television, as well as memorable moments in the two mediums.

Joining “Sideways” as among the 10 outstanding motion pictures of the year are “The Aviator,” “Collateral,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Friday Night Lights,” “The Incredibles,” “Kinsey,” “Maria Full of Grace,” “Million Dollar Baby” and “Spider-Man 2.”

Selections for the fifth annual awards were made through a 13-person jury process featuring scholars, artists, critics and AFI trustees. The motion picture and television juries convened in Los Angeles for two days to deliberate on the selections.

Notably missing from the movies list were “Finding Neverland,” which the National Board of Review chose as best film earlier this month, “Ray” and “Spanglish.”

On the television side, the official selections were “Arrested Development,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Deadwood,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Lost,” “Nip/Tuck,” “The Shield,” “Something the Lord Made,” “The Sopranos” and “South Park.”

The rationales for the juries’ selections will be revealed at the honorees luncheon Jan. 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.