Master cinematographer and television director Caleb Deschanel will receive AFI’s 25th Annual Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal, which has previously gone to the likes of Darren Aronofsky, Patty Jenkins, David Lynch, Wally Pfister and fellow DP Janusz Kaminski.
This honor recognizes the extraordinary creative talents of an AFI Conservatory alum who embodies the qualities of filmmaker Franklin Schaffner, the Oscar-winning director of 1970’s “Patton.”
An AFI grad from the class of 1969, Deschanel is a five-time Oscar nominee for “The Passion of the Christ,” “The Patriot,” “Fly Away Home,” “The Natural” and “The Right Stuff.” AFI cinematography alumni have been nominated 17 times across the past 12 years — winning five times.
Deschanel won the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Award for “The Patriot” and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the ASC in 2010. His directing credits include feature films “The Escape Artist” and “Crusoe,” and TV episodes of “Twin Peaks” and “Law and Order.”
Deschanel will receive the honor at the AFI Life Achievement Award gala on June 4, 2015, which will also tribute 2015 AFI honoree Steve Martin.
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
