This summer, director Spike Lee headlines the American Film Institute’s annual flick fest in downtown Silver Spring.

Lee, whose fictional films include “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986) and “School Daze” (1988), will be honored at the 2008 SilverDocs festival for his work in documentaries, according to a press statement.

“Spike Lee is truly a master storyteller,” AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale said. “In both his contemporary and historical films, he uncovers the deep truths and unhealed wounds of the American experience while celebrating our resilience and passion.”

Lee’s most recent documentary, “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” (2006), recorded the physical and emotional impact of Hurricane Katrina on the people of New Orleans. His take on the black-American experience sprouted other docs, including “Four Little Girls” (1997), “A Huey P. Newton Story” (2001), and “We Wuz Robbed” (2000).

As part of the festival, SilverDocs rolls excerpts from Lee’s body of documentary work. Lee will also discuss his career with symposium attendees. While no date has been announced for Lee’s appearance, the festival runs from June 16 to 23 at the AFI Silver Theatre.

This is not the first time the AFI has shouted out at Lee. His flick “Do the Right Thing” (1989) was pegged as one of AFI’s 100 greatest American films of all time.

Lead photo courtesy of the Associated Press.