Al Pacino has been selected by the American Film Institute's (AFI) Board of Trustees to receive the 35th AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film, it was announced today by Sir Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees. The award will be presented to Pacino at a gala tribute in Los Angeles on June 7, 2007.

"I am moved and honored to be considered for such a prestigious award," said Pacino.

"Al Pacino is an icon of American film," said Stringer. "He has created some of the great characters in the movies -- from Michael Corleone to Tony Montana to Roy Cohn. His career inspires audiences and artists alike, with each new performance a master class for a generation of actors to follow. AFI is proud to present him with its 35th Life Achievement Award."

Al Pacino is that rare combination of consummate craftsman and genuine star," said Bonnie Hammer, President, USA Network and SCI FI Channel.

"We're thrilled to join AFI in a celebration of his outstanding career."

USA Network will broadcast the 35th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute in June, 2007. Bob Gazzale, who served as executive producer and writer of AFI's Tributes to George Lucas, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro and Sean Connery, will continue in these roles.

Al Pacino joins an esteemed group of individuals who have been chosen
for this distinguished honor since its inception in 1973.
    1973     John Ford
    1974     James Cagney
    1975     Orson Welles
    1976     William Wyler
    1977     Bette Davis
    1978     Henry Fonda
    1979     Alfred Hitchcock
    1980     James Stewart
    1981     Fred Astaire
    1982     Frank Capra
    1983     John Huston
    1984     Lillian Gish
    1985     Gene Kelly
    1986     Billy Wilder
    1987     Barbara Stanwyck
    1988     Jack Lemmon
    1989     Gregory Peck
    1990     Sir David Lean
    1991     Kirk Douglas
    1992     Sidney Poitier
    1993     Elizabeth Taylor
    1994     Jack Nicholson
    1995     Steven Spielberg
    1996     Clint Eastwood
    1997     Martin Scorsese
    1998     Robert Wise
    1999     Dustin Hoffman
    2000     Harrison Ford
    2001     Barbra Streisand
    2002     Tom Hanks
    2003     Robert De Niro
    2004     Meryl Streep
    2005     George Lucas
    2006     Sean Connery