December 18, 2015
The AFI Interview: SON OF SAUL Cinematographer Mátyás Erdély
László Nemes’s harrowing portrait of a Sonderkommando in the final days of Auschwitz, SON OF SAUL stunned Cannes upon its world premiere, landing the festival’s Grand Jury Prize and making the festival rounds before playing at AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi. We spoke with cinematographer and AFI Conservatory alumnus Mátyás Erdély about how he…
December 15, 2015
Here Are the AFI AWARDS 2015 Official Selections
It’s once again time for AFI AWARDS, an annual celebration of outstanding achievements in the moving image arts that recognizes the year’s most culturally and artistically significant works of both film and television. And what a stellar year it has been. AFI AWARDS aren’t like other accolades about the art form — they acknowledge the importance of…
December 14, 2015
From the Archives: George Lucas Tells the STAR WARS Origin Story
With STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS hitting theaters this week, we dug up a vintage American Film™ magazine interview with George Lucas published just before the release of the first STAR WARS film in 1977. Long before the space opera franchise would land in the hands of director J.J. Abrams, Lucas started developing STAR WARS in the early 1970s, even…
December 10, 2015
The AFI Interview: UNREAL Creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro
Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (AFI DWW, Class of 2012) continues to receive acclaim and accolades as co-creator of the Lifetime original series UNREAL, which grew from her AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women (AFI DWW) short SEQUIN RAZE. AFI spoke with Shapiro about her series’ meteoric success story, and how her AFI DWW experience shaped her…
December 8, 2015
AFI and Lifetime Team Up to Employ Female Filmmakers
AFI and Lifetime will join forces next year to create and offer production jobs for each graduate of the AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women (AFI DWW) throughout the A+E Networks’ portfolio of platforms starting with the Class of 2015. The alliance is part of Lifetime's Broad Focus initiative to provide women with more opportunities to write, develop,...
December 2, 2015
Four Documentary Projects Receive First-Ever AFI DOCS/NBCUniversal Impact Grants
This week, AFI announced the four documentary projects that will receive funding from the first-ever AFI DOCS/NBCUniversal Impact Grants. The grants will support the outreach and social action campaigns for the projects, which screened at AFI DOCS 2015 and participated in the inaugural AFI DOCS Impact Lab, a two-day filmmaker workshop that engaged participants with policymakers pursuing…
December 1, 2015
The AFI Interview: MR. ROBOT Creator Sam Esmail
Sam Esmail graduated from the AFI Conservatory in 2004. Since then, he's directed a feature film and created a hit television series beloved by critics and viewers alike. Here's our interview with the AFI alum. Please introduce yourself. My name is Sam Esmail. I was born to Egyptian parents in the lovely city and state of Hoboken,...
November 24, 2015
Look Back at AFI FEST 2015’s Cultural Supporters
This year, many cultural supporters helped celebrate AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi. These guests included consul generals, cultural representatives and filmmakers hailing from 15 countries, proving that the love of world cinema can speak one language. Events such as the Awards Brunch, the Filmmaker Welcome Dinner, the Francophone reception and the YOUTH reception for…
November 20, 2015
Ridley Scott Reveals the Opening to the BLADE RUNNER Sequel
Ridley Scott appeared at AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi to not only talk about his many notable past projects and his current film – THE MARTIAN –but also about his upcoming sequel to BLADE RUNNER, in which Harrison Ford is set to return as Rick Deckard and will also star Ryan Gosling. Read the transcription of his very special…
November 12, 2015
AFI FEST 2015 Award Winners Announced
AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi has announced the features and short films that received this year’s Jury and Audience Awards. Select award-winning films will screen again on November 12, 2015 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Grand Jury Award for Live Action Short: BOYS Grand Jury Award for Animated Short: WORLD OF TOMORROW Live Action Short Special Mention for…
November 10, 2015
The AFI FEST Interview: MEN GO TO BATTLE Director Zachary Treitz
Director Zachary Treitz’s MEN GO TO BATTLE, which is eligible for the AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi American Independents Audience Award, follows two young farmers, Francis and Henry Mellon as they eke out a living in the rural Kentucky countryside in 1861. As the Civil War plays out in the distance, the brothers focus…
November 9, 2015
POSSIBILIA: Encouraging the Audience to Interact with the Story
One of the interactive films featured in the State of the Art technology showcase, POSSIBILIA, is directed by the Grammy®-nominated filmmaking duo The Daniels (TURN DOWN FOR WHAT, 2014). The film’s interactive storytelling transforms viewers into active participants in the contentious relationship of two young lovers named Paulina and Rick. Playing in the Cinema Lounge…
AFI is a 501c3 non-profit advancing the art of the moving image by empowering storytellers and inspiring audiences
