MUMBAI: The American Film Institute (AFI) has conferred honorary degrees on producer Richard Frank, director Spike Lee and actress Helen Mirren at its conservatory‘s commencement ceremonies for its 2011 graduating class last Wednesday.

Frank, an AFI trustee since 1991, was presented with a Doctorate of Communication Arts by USA Network co-president Jeff Wachtel. Lee was honoured with a Doctorate of Fine Arts by AFI trustee Tom Pollock.

Mirren also received a Doctorate of Fine Arts that was presented to her by Sony Corp. chairman and CEO Howard Stringer, who also chairs the AFI board of trustees.