The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today that it will bestow Honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts upon acclaimed actress/producer Viola Davis and legendary editor/sound designer Walter Murch, in recognition of their monumental contributions to the art of the moving image.
The honors will be presented during the AFI Conservatory Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2025, taking place Friday, August 8, at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
“Viola Davis and Walter Murch – both masters of their craft – symbolize the standard of excellence AFI was founded to celebrate,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “Their contributions to the art form have inspired audiences around the world – as they will inspire this year’s graduates of the AFI Conservatory.”
Viola Davis, one of the most celebrated talents of her generation, is a rare EGOT winner. She earned an Academy Award for Fences, an Emmy for How to Get Away with Murder, Tony Awards for Fences and King Hedley II, and a Grammy for her audiobook memoir Finding Me. Her performances on screen and stage have consistently broken ground, spotlighting the power of representation and truth in storytelling.
Walter Murch is an industry icon whose career as a pioneering film editor and sound designer has shaped the language of modern cinema. He began working with Francis Ford Coppola on The Rain People and went on to earn an Oscar nomination for The Conversation, followed by wins for Apocalypse Now and a historic double victory—Best Film Editing and Best Sound—for The English Patient.
Davis and Murch join a prestigious list of past AFI honorary degree recipients, including Robert Altman, Angela Bassett, Maya Angelou, Clint Eastwood, Kathryn Bigelow, Spike Lee, Jodie Foster, Rita Moreno, Michelle Yeoh, and many others who have shaped the cultural and creative landscape.
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