Today, AFI announced the eight directors selected for this year’s edition of the prestigious AFI DWW+ directing program. Founded in 1974 as the Directing Workshop for Women, AFI DWW+ is a tuition-free year-long directing program, open to all applicants, that supports emerging narrative filmmakers through the production cycle of a short film, providing hands-on instruction led by industry experts. The DWW+ Class of 2026 participants include Ragini Bhasin, Reena Dutt, Maja Fernqvist, Melissa Fisher, Ran Jing, Eunice Levis, Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz and Destinee Stewart.
The eight participants demonstrate a passion for visual storytelling, the tenacity to pursue a directorial career and a willingness to learn and grow, among other program requirements. Each participant went through a rigorous selection process and were ultimately selected from 20 finalists who met with the Final Selection Committee.
AFI also announced that Marie Jamora (AFI DWW Class of 2020) has been named the AFI DWW+ Guest Artistic Director for the Class of 2026.
“For over 50 years, AFI DWW+ has had a meaningful impact on the industry,” said Susan Ruskin, Dean of the AFI Conservatory and Executive Vice President of the American Film Institute. “We are honored that AFI DWW+ Alum and trailblazing director, Marie Jamora, will be guiding the new cohort as they create their films and showcase their unique visions. We look forward to watching the Class of 2026 flourish as directors and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.”
“AFI’s DWW changed my life – the short film that I produced in the program became my calling card that launched me into the television directing career I aspired to,” said Jamora. “The filmmakers in my class are not just my dearest friends, we continue to provide each other with support and feedback in our ongoing projects. I’m honored to be able to give back to the program that gave me so much, to design the curriculum setting up this amazing new cohort for success. Now more than ever, we need to elevate voices like theirs to contribute to the film industry that we all love and grew up dreaming about.”
Born and raised in Manila, Jamora is an award-winning filmmaker who has directed countless films and television programs, including episodes of FIRE COUNTRY, THE CLEANING LADY and QUEEN SUGAR. Most recently, she directed an episode of the MATLOCK reboot starring Academy Award® and Emmy® winner Kathy Bates. Her short film, FLIP THE RECORD, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short at Urbanworld and was shortlisted for the 90th Academy Awards®. Her first feature, WHAT ISN’T THERE, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival. Jamora also produced and directed a project for Ava DuVernay, created for Starz. After two decades of filmmaking and teaching in the Philippines, she has taught at the AFI Conservatory and Sundance Co//ab. She is one of the leaders of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee’s Squad Mentorship program, the founder of the non-profit community organization Cinema Sala, and proudly one of the few Filipinos in the Directors Guild of America.
Jamora will act as a mentor for the DWW+ participants throughout the production cycle and industry showcase and oversee and direct the artistic curriculum, which is taught by film and television professionals working at top levels within the industry, as well as experienced Faculty from the AFI Conservatory.
As one of the longest-running and preeminent film and television workshops nationwide, AFI DWW+ has trained hundreds of artists whose directorial work has entertained global audiences and defined our collective cultural landscape. Distinguished Alums of the AFI DWW+ program include Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Neema Barnette, Pippa Bianco, Tessa Blake, Tricia Brock, Ellen Burstyn, Rebecca Cammisa, Dyan Cannon, Dime Davis, Jan Eliasberg, Naomi Foner, Jennifer Getzinger, Lesli Linka Glatter, Lyn Goldfarb, Randa Haines, Siân Heder, Victoria Hochberg, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Matia Karrell, Maggie Kiley, Lynne Littman, Nancy Malone, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, Becky Smith, Cicely Tyson, Joanne Woodward, and more.
Learn more at AFI Conservatory Innovative Programs.
