Photos: Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal and Sterling K. Brown at the AFI Awards

Photography by

Jan. 12, 2024 4:33 PM PT

Margot Robbie, Pedro Pascal, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Blunt, Lily Gladstone and Selena Gomez were among the notables at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for a private luncheon hosted by the American Film Institute to honor 2023’s 10 best films and television shows .

In a Dec. 7 press release, AFI President and Chief Executive Bob Gazzale stated, “As our nation and our world continue to navigate difficult times, AFI is honored to shine a proper light upon these works of art that lift us up and, ultimately, lead us to empathy.”

The films honored were “American Fiction,” “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “May December,” “Oppenheimer,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”

Honored television series were “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Beef,” “Jury Duty,” “The Last of Us,” “The Morning Show,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “Poker Face,” “Reservation Dogs” and “Succession.”

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey during the 2023 American Film Institute Awards.

Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, Selena Gomez and Martin Short from "Only Murders in the Building."

A man in a red velvet suit bows to a woman in a pink dress.

A young woman in a brimmed hat and a Native American patterned vest over a white shirt.

A man in a brown jacket is greeted by a man in a black jacket at a party.

A woman in a light dress laughs, her head thrown back, as a man with his arm in a sling points at her.

A man in a dark suit and a woman in a white dress face each other, lightly embracing.

A woman and a man stand side by side, smiling for the cameras

A man enthusiastically greets a woman who has her back to the camera

1. “The Bear” co-stars Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri share a quiet moment. 2. “Beef” co-stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun seem to be getting along. 3. Cillian Murphy has a big smile for “Oppenheimer” co-star Emily Blunt. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

A woman in a white dress shares a laugh with two men in dark suits

Quinta Brunson enjoys a drink. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Sarah Snook of “Succession” at the 2023 American Film Institute Awards. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

A white-haired older woman greets a young woman.

Two women pose for a selfie in a crowded room.

Two women hug as a man walks by, his hand to his mouth as if coughing.

A blond woman in a white patterned dress talks to a bearded man in a gray suit.

Two men in dark suits stand, arms around each other's shoulders.

A woman in black next to a woman in a light patterned dress.

Jennifer Aniston, left, and Reese Witherspoon. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

A gray-haired woman hugs a man in a suit around his waist

Ellen Burstyn and Bradley Cooper. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Two women at a party stand covering their mouths with one hand

Two smiling men in suits and glasses pose for a photo

A smiling woman greets a gray-haired man who's seen from behind

A man in blue faces a man in a red suit.

A woman puts her arm around the shoulder of a shorter woman next to her.

1. Natalie Portman greets her “May December” director Todd Haynes. 2. Pedro Pascal and Sterling K. Brown share a moment at the luncheon. 3. Ayo Adebiri and Ali Wong get friendly at the event. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)