(January 18, 2024, Calistoga, CA.)—On Friday, as the American Film Institute (AFI) celebrated the 2023 AFI AWARDS honorees at the annual awards luncheon, Rich Frank, former President of Disney Studios, founder of Frank Family Vineyards and Vice Chair of the American Film Institute (AFI), announced the establishment of The Richard Frank Scholarship for the AFI. Through a multi-million-dollar donation, twenty AFI Conservatory scholarships will be awarded in the name of the individual honorees each year over the next ten years.
The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to empower and support current AFI fellows that demonstrate financial need.
“Rich Frank has been a leader at the AFI Trustee table for over thirty years,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “His commitment to the future of the art form is peerless, and this extraordinary gift will allow the AFI Conservatory to continue to attract the best and the brightest young storytellers – while celebrating the very best film and television of today.”
“I am encouraged that the scholarship will help fuel the next generation of creative film and television makers,” says Frank. “When I started in this business, there were just three networks and a handful of studios. Today, the landscape is vast given multiple viewing platforms and streaming services. It is an exciting time with boundless opportunity. I believe these students have the capability to create anything they can imagine, and the AFI provides a strong foundation for these creative minds to flourish.”
Each Richard Frank Scholarship will be named after an AFI Awards Honoree from the previous year. The candidate selected to receive the scholarship must be an admitted AFI Conservatory Fellow. The Richard Frank Scholarships will be announced annually at the AFI Awards and will be celebrated during the AFI Awards luncheon.
This is not the first time Frank has supported educational access. In 2020, Rich, along with his wife Leslie Miller Frank, donated $7.5 million to The College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where Rich Frank is an alumnus. The gift, the largest in the college’s history, established the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media.
About Rich Frank
Rich Frank, a native of Brooklyn, New York, son of a powerful mother Edyth, and father Hy, a World War II veteran and wholesale meatpacker, was the first in his family to attend college. Rich received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Illinois. He began his career at the advertising agency BBDO in New York City before moving to Los Angeles to work as a Sales Manager at KTLA. He then served as President of Chris-Craft Broadcasting. In 1977 he became President of Paramount Television Group, overseeing the creation and production of such shows as Taxi, Family Ties and Cheers as well as the creation of the groundbreaking entertainment news show, Entertainment Tonight. In 1985 he became President of Disney Studios. Under his leadership, the studio created iconic sitcoms such as The Golden Girls and Home Improvement, and films including Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and The Lion King. He also oversaw the launch of the Disney Channel. Rich served three terms as President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2007, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recognized him with the prestigious Syd Cassyd Founder’s Award. In 2011, Rich received an honorary doctorate from the American Film Institute where he is currently a Vice Chairman on the AFI’s Board of Directors. Rich previously served on the board of the Motion Picture Association of America. His archival interview with the Television Academy provides a fascinating historical perspective of the evolution of modern television: https://bit.ly/3iQvS7s. In 1993, Rich founded Frank Family Vineyards, which over three decades became one of the most successful wineries in the Napa Valley. In 2023, he was honored to receive the Wine Spectator’s esteemed Wine Star Award.
About the American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked the #1 film school in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including the AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women.
As a nonprofit educational organization, AFI relies on generous financial support from film enthusiasts to provide funding for its programs and initiatives.
About Frank Family Vineyards
Frank Family Vineyards has been a part of Napa Valley’s landscape for three decades. Founded by former Disney Studios President Rich Frank, along with his wife, Leslie, an Emmy Award-winning former broadcast news journalist, the winery is dedicated to crafting exceptional wines with balance and memorable guest experiences. Consistently recognized as having one of the best tasting rooms in Napa Valley, Frank Family is considered one of today’s most successful California wineries. The team at Frank Family proudly stewards of 380 acres of sustainably farmed, coveted vineyards spanning five estate properties, including the iconic Winston Hill Vineyard in Rutherford. While best known for its classic renditions of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, the world-class portfolio also includes méthode champenoise sparkling wines, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and more.
For more information about Frank Family Vineyards, please visit www.frankfamilyvineyards.com
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