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AFI Conservatory Names Lianne Halfon Producing Discipline Head

The AFI Conservatory has named Academy Award^®-nominated producer Lianne Halfon as Producing Discipline Head. Producing is one of six disciplines in which the AFI Conservatory offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree, along with Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Production Design and Screenwriting.

In 1998, Halfon co-founded the award-winning production company Mr. Mudd with Russell Smith and John Malkovich. Halfon has produced such films as JUNO (2007), which earned her a Best Picture Academy Award^® nomination; GHOST WORLD (2001); ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL (2006); JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME (2011); YOUNG ADULT (2011); and THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2012). Halfon executive-produced the documentaries CRUMB (1994) and WHICH WAY HOME (2009), which earned her a News and Documentary Emmy^® Award. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Producers Guild of America.

The role of Producing Discipline Head was previously held by Neil Canton, who retired in June after 14 years at the AFI Conservatory.

The AFI Conservatory Producing Discipline has graduated such world-renowned filmmakers as Pieter Jan Brugge (Oscar^®-nominated producer, THE INSIDER), Jay Cassidy (Oscar^®-nominated editor, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK), Julie Dash (director/writer/producer, DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST), Dante Di Loreto (Emmy^®-winning producer, AMERICAN CRIME STORY), Anne Garefino (Emmy^®-winning executive producer, SOUTH PARK), Steve Golin (Oscar^®-winning producer, SPOTLIGHT), Liz Hannah (screenwriter/co-producer, Best Picture Oscar^® nominee THE POST) and Beatriz Sequeira (co-producer, GET OUT).