In the run up to The Oscars, as awards season is in full swing, a mention by The American Film Institute in their top 10 films of the year represents a confidence boost for the respective directors and actors hoping to pick up that much coveted gold statue. 

One of these films in the last instalment of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy: The Dark Knight Rises, which isn't totally void of Oscar buzz, but is very much considered to be an outsider. Being selected in the list doesn't guarantee anything, but it certainly revitalises the flame for films that were released earlier in the year. 

Given the stellar list of movies, it's hard to see how Dark Knight... will prevail. Even if it's nominated, it'll more than likely face stiff competition from Life of Pi, Lincoln and Ben Affleck's Argo.

Conversely, The Master's exclusion from the list, as well as Looper's, will serve as a pertinent reminder that nothing is certain come Oscar season. Here is the full list of the AFI's choices, as well as their TV picks for your delectations. Let us know if you agree or disagree with any of their decisions (but bear in mind they're in alphabetical order).

AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR

Argo

Beasts of the Southern Wild

The Dark Knight Rises

Django Unchained

Les Miserables

Life of Pi

Lincoln

Moonrise Kingdom

Silver Linings Playbook

Zero Dark Thirty

AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR

American Horror Story

Breaking Bad

Game Change

Game of Thrones

Girls

Homeland

Louie

Mad Men

Modern Family

The Walking Dead