This week, we are thrilled to celebrate that The Hollywood Reporter has once again named the AFI Conservatory the #1 film school in America, highlighting the success of AFI’s Alumni along with the school’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse filmmaking community. 

Speaking about the intense hands-on collaboration that makes the AFI film program unique, AFI Alum and writer/director Chloe Okuno (AFI Class of 2014) says in the article, “I knew immediately I wanted that tight bond with essential creative collaborators.” Okuno’s recent film WATCHER – which she made with fellow Alumni cinematographer Benjamin Nielsen and editor Michael Block (both AFI Class of 2014) – premiered at Sundance and broke records in June 2022 with biggest opening weekend grosses for IFC Films.

Other Alumni partnerships forged at AFI include Academy Award® winner Siân Heder (AFI DWW Class of 2005) and cinematographer Paula Huidobro (AFI Class of 2004), whose film CODA won this year’s Best Picture Oscar®; PALM SPRINGS director Max Barbakow and writer Andy Siara (both AFI Class of 2015); Darren Aronofsky and Matthew Libatique (both AFI Class of 1992), who started working together on a short film and went on to create films like PI, BLACK SWAN and MOTHER!; and MIDSOMMAR director Ari Aster and cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski (both AFI Class of 2010).

Applications to attend AFI in Fall 2023 will open on September 8, 2022, and close December 1, 2022. Sign up here to receive all the latest news.