
September 17, 2020
WATCH: WONDER WOMAN Director and AFI Alum Patty Jenkins on Filmmaking
Patty Jenkins (AFI Class of 2000), our very own Wonder Woman, kicked off the new AFI academic year with an inspiring and insightful conversation with the Class of 2022. During the online seminar, Jenkins spoke about the tone and color of WONDER WOMAN, the importance of working on projects you love and finding your own…

September 10, 2020
AFI Alum Unjoo Moon on Directing the New Helen Reddy Biopic I AM WOMAN
Premiering in the U.S. at AFI FEST in 2019, Unjoo Moon’s I AM WOMAN depicts the life of singer and feminist icon Helen Reddy who wrote and sang the song “I Am Woman,” which became the anthem for the women’s movement in the 1970s. The film marks the narrative feature directorial debut of Moon (AFI…

August 21, 2020
AFI Named #1 Film School in America
We couldn’t be more proud of our Fellows, Faculty and Alumni! This week, The Hollywood Reporter – which has established itself as the “go to” list for the “Top 25 Film Schools in America” – released their ranking for 2020 and named AFI Conservatory as the nation’s top film school. Under the leadership of Dean...

August 17, 2020
Catching Up With AFI Alum and WATCHMEN Writer Christal Henry
When WATCHMEN premiered in 2019, the HBO series broke boundaries as the first superhero drama on TV to star a Black woman. Adapted from the trailblazing graphic novel by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, the show has plumbed the depths of racism, white supremacy, police brutality and political corruption all too visible in America…

August 6, 2020
AFI and AGBO Announce 2020 Grant Recipient Marina Kato
AFI and Russo Brothers’ AGBO announced today this year’s recipient of the AGBO/AFI Conservatory Development Grant: AFI Conservatory alumna Marina Kato! “Through its grants and mentorship, AGBO leads the way in supporting and championing diverse voices, an integral step in increasing inclusivity in the industry,” said Susan Ruskin, Dean of the AFI Conservatory and EVP…

August 3, 2020
Watch: Gina Prince-Bythewood on Directing
Following the successful premiere of her new film THE OLD GUARD on Netflix, Gina Prince-Bythewood joined a Harold Lloyd Master Seminar to share her journey as a trailblazing director in the industry. Watch Prince-Bythewood talk about her breakthrough film LOVE & BASKETBALL, which was recently featured as an AFI Movie Club pick, and speak about…

August 1, 2020
NOW PLAYING: AFI Alumni Projects Online
Looking for a new film or TV series to watch online? Whether it’s a long-awaited digital premiere or a first-run theatrical release headed to VOD early, be sure to check out the following AFI alumni projects that are available to stream online. New Projects for August 2020 20th Century Woman: The Documentary Films of…

July 31, 2020
Watch: PALM SPRINGS Filmmakers Discuss the Film
PALM SPRINGS is one of the biggest hits of the summer, even breaking Hulu’s opening weekend streaming record. Recently, the filmmakers, led by director Max Barbakow and writer Andy Siara (both AFI Class of 2015) and AFI faculty Matthew Friedman, participated in an online seminar to share their knowledge and experiences with AFI Fellows. Watch videos from the session whose…

July 28, 2020
Watch: Cinematographer and Director Ernest Dickerson on Filmmaking
Ernest Dickerson established himself as a groundbreaking cinematographer on films such as SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT and DO THE RIGHT THING, and made his directing debut with JUICE, starring Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. He went on to direct episodes of the critically acclaimed shows THE WIRE and THE WALKING DEAD and most recently directed…

July 28, 2020
AFI Alums Garner 2020 Emmy Nominations
Congratulations to this year’s Emmy®-nominated AFI alumni! Today, the Television Academy announced the nominees for the 72nd Emmy® Awards. The early morning event was hosted by Leslie Jones and included presenters Laverne Cox, Josh Gad and Tatiana Maslany. With these groundbreaking and critically acclaimed series, AFI alumni continue to push the boundaries of storytelling. Please…

July 17, 2020
Julie Dash on DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST and her Trailblazing Career
Julie Dash (AFI Class of 1974) is one of the most well-respected and inventive visual storytellers of her generation. After attending AFI in the mid-‘70s, she received her MFA in Film and Television Production from UCLA. She made an auspicious start with bold short films – ILLUSIONS and DIARY OF AN AFRICAN NUN – and…

July 14, 2020
Take a Virtual Tour of the AFI Conservatory
Located in the filmmaking capital of the world, the AFI Conservatory is nestled in the hills overlooking Hollywood. The picturesque eight-acre campus is in the center of the professional filmmaking community with easy access to studios, networks and post-production facilities. Due to the current pandemic, we’re unable to offer in-person tours of the AFI Campus…

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