On February 17, the 27th Annual DGA Student Film Awards were announced by the Directors Guild of America with AFI filmmakers taking home more top awards than any other film school, winning top honors in Best Latin and Best African American Student Filmmakers (Western Region) categories.

DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter (AFI DWW Class of 1982) remarked, “Recognizing emerging talent through these Awards is one part of our ongoing efforts to encourage inclusion in the industry, and we’re proud that a number of our past recipients have found success in film and television.”

Congratulations to recent AFI Conservatory graduates Omar S. Kamara and Jorge G. Camarena, along with their cast and crew, on their award-winning AFI thesis films!

BEST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKERS 

West Region Award Winner: Omar S. Kamara (AFI Class of 2020) – MASS AVE.

BEST LATINO STUDENT FILMMAKERS 

West Region Award Winner: Jorge G. Camarena (AFI Class of 2020) – SPACESHIP

For more than two decades, the DGA Student Film Awards have spotlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino and Women filmmakers. Winners of the DGA Student Film Awards in each category will receive a $2,500 prize from the DGA. The Jury Award is given for a second film that’s deemed exceptional. In the instances when Jury Awards are given, that distinction comes with $1,000 for those Jury Award recipients.

To learn more about the AFI Conservatory and attending the film school, visit AFI.edu.