She honoured longtime friend and director Melina Matsoukas at the AFI Gala.
Beyoncé made a surprise appearance at the AFI Gala in June to present Melina — who directed the "Formation" music video — with the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal. "After over a decade of collaborating with Melina, we've become family," Bey said. "In 2005, she managed to shoot five videos with me in three days, creating beautiful imagery with little to no budget. We've come a long ways since those days."