The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced its AFI Moments Of Significance for 2008, the eight noteworthy events 'determined to have had an impact on the world of the moving image during the calendar year 2008.'

The AFI Moments of Significance selections are:

Slumdog Millionaire - A celebration of the global film

The AFI called the film 'a monument to the possibilities of cross-cultural storytelling.' Other films deemed to reflect this cultural shift included Gran Torino, The Visitor, Australia and television's Heroes.

Television and new technologies provide a global oracle for America's Presidential race.

The race to the White House saw 'television and web coverage played to each other's strengths, as every nuance of the long, arduous campaigns was accessible for public celebration and scrutiny.'

NBC coverage of summer Olympics brings the world together
Zhang Yimou directed and choreographed the opening ceremony in Beijing.

'Age Of Anxiety' as business models for the arts evolve.
The writers strike and ongoing threat of an actors strike highlighted tensions between artists and executives.

Tina Fey - America's First lady of laughs

Former Saturday Night Live head writer returned to the show with her a brief, acclaimed impersonation of defeated Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Independent film artists face distribution crisis

The demise of specialty and smaller labels like Warner Independent Pictures, Picturehouse, THINKFilm, New Line and Paramount Vantage heralds a seismic shift in the independent arena.

Film critics lose voice

Shift to web-based criticism as full-time posts at Time, Newsweek, The Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice and Newsday, among others, were eliminated.

Dr Horrible operates in explosion of short form

Writer-director Joss Whedon's Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog became a cult hit after it was released as three 13-minute webisodes.

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