From the Big Top to the Rooftop: AFI Member Gerry Cottle Talks Growing up in the Circus and Founding Rooftop Cinema Club

Performing and entertaining is undoubtedly in Gerry Cottle Jr.’s blood. He is the son of not one, but two circus performers. His father ran away from home at 15 to join the circus where he eventually married Betty Fossett, the daughter of another circus showman. He grew up in the circus, but rather than get…

Congratulations to AFI’s Student Academy Award Winners

Last night at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored 16 student winners from colleges and universities around the world at the 46th Student Academy Awards® ceremony. “You are the future of film: a future that is diverse, international and very bright,” said David Rubin, the…

Gala Premiere of THE CROWN Season Three at AFI FEST 2019

Festival to Honor THE CROWN Creator Peter Morgan With A Tribute To His Career Season Three Award-Winning Cast to Also Appear AFI announced that AFI FEST 2019 presented by Audi will host An Evening With Peter Morgan which will include a conversation with Academy Award®-nominated, Emmy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning writer and producer in tribute…

AFI DOCS Announces 2020 Dates and Call for Entries

AFI DOCS is now officially accepting submissions for this year’s festival, which will be held from June 17-21, 2020, at Washington, DC venues and the historic AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD. The five-day program presents the very best of contemporary documentary filmmaking from across the globe, including world and international premieres, and works…

Meet the Dean: Susan Ruskin Discusses Her Leadership Approach and Why AFI Alumni Stand Out in the Industry

In August, Susan Ruskin joined AFI as both the Dean of the AFI Conservatory, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, and Executive Vice President of the Institute. Ruskin comes to AFI after establishing herself as a staunch innovator and dedicated champion of storytelling and new media as the Dean of the School of Filmmaking…

Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion Group Doubles Number of Filmmakers Selected For 2019 Directors Initiative

American Black Film Festival, New York Latino Film Festival and NBCUniversal Filmmasters Partner With AFI Directing Workshop for Women and Sundance Institute’s FilmTwo Fellowship Today Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion group (GTDI) announced the filmmakers who will participate in the studio’s 2019 Directors Initiative, which exposes directors to the studio production process and connects…

AFI Sweeps the Student Academy Awards Narrative Category

Today the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced the winners of the 46th Student Academy Awards with AFI filmmakers from the Class of 2018, including Asher Jelinsky for MILLER & SON, Hao Zheng for THE CHEF and Omer Ben-Shachar for TREE #3, sweeping the Narrative category for second time in history. Also this…

AFI FEST 2019 Call for Entries Closes Friday, July 12

The final deadline for submitting films to AFI FEST 2019 presented by Audi is Friday, July 12. Filmmakers are invited to submit feature, documentary, experimental, animated and short films at AFI.com/AFIFEST or through FilmFreeway until 11:59 P.M. PST on Friday. Films can be fiction shorts (under 30 minutes), nonfiction shorts (under 40 minutes) and feature…

Announcing AFI DOCS 2019 Award Winners

The American Film Institute has announced the AFI DOCS 2019 Award Winners, concluding the five-day festival supported by Presenting Sponsor AT&T in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, MD.  The festival’s Audience Award for Best Feature went to CHASING THE MOON, directed by Robert Stone.  The Audience Award for Best Short went to ST. LOUIS SUPERMAN,…

The AFI DOCS Interview: PICTURE CHARACTER With Director Martha Shane

PICTURE CHARACTER plays as part of the Spectrum program at AFI DOCS at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD on Saturday, June 22 and at the Landmark E Street Cinema in Washington DC on Sunday, June 23. Director Martha Shane in attendance. Buy tickets to the screening here. PICTURE CHARACTER is fun, informative and shows…

Susan Ruskin Named Dean of AFI Conservatory

The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced the appointment of producer and educator Susan Ruskin as Dean of the AFI Conservatory. Ruskin will lead AFI’s world-class, graduate film-training program, working alongside a celebrated faculty to continue the traditions of excellence that have defined the AFI Conservatory since its inception 50 years ago. Ruskin will also…

The AFI DOCS Interview: WHO KILLED GARRETT PHILLIPS? With Director Liz Garbus

WHO KILLED GARRETT PHILLIPS? has its World Premiere as part of the Truth and Justice program at AFI DOCS at the Landmark E Street Cinema in Washington DC on Thursday, June 20. Director Liz Garbus will be in attendance. Buy tickets to the screening here.  On October 24, 2011, police officers found the lifeless body of 12-year-old…
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