June 9, 2020
AFI Movie Club: MUDBOUND
MUDBOUND is directed by Dee Rees and features cinematography by Rachel Morrison, a graduate of the AFI Conservatory. The film made history at the Oscars® – Morrison became the first women nominated for Best Cinematography and Rees was the first black woman nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. In this exclusive AFI Archive video, MUDBOUND cinematographer…
May 7, 2020
Lawrence Herbert On His $3 Million Dollar Gift to AFI Conservatory
“At this time in history, it is my honor to create a place at AFI that will drive the future of this global connection between all of us who love a story well-told.” -Lawrence Herbert AFI recently announced a $3 million gift from AFI Trustee Emeritus Lawrence Herbert, which will establish the Lawrence Herbert Alumni…
April 22, 2020
AFI Announces $3 Million Gift From AFI Trustee Emeritus Lawrence Herbert
AFI announced today that it has received a $3 million gift from AFI Trustee Emeritus Lawrence Herbert, which will establish the Lawrence Herbert Alumni Center on the AFI Campus located in Los Angeles, CA, as well as a digital portal, AFI Backlot, to magnify the center’s global reach to AFI alumni. Herbert joined the AFI…
April 2, 2020
Dean Susan Ruskin Q&A: How the AFI Conservatory is Adapting to COVID-19
As we continue to evolve to meet this unprecedented moment prompted by the COVID-19 crisis, AFI turned to Dean Susan Ruskin to discuss how the AFI Conservatory has transitioned to online learning over the past several weeks and how Fellows, faculty and staff are adjusting. We spoke with her about the state of the industry,…
April 2, 2020
The CARES Act and What It Means for AFI Fellows and Alumni
On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security “CARES” Act was signed into legislation in order to offset the economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Below are a few key provisions that we hope will be beneficial to AFI Fellows and Alumni: A Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program that will last through…
March 24, 2020
Industry and Community Resources for AFI Alumni and Fellows
With the impact of the coronavirus slowing our community to a standstill, AFI is committed to helping AFI Conservatory alumni and Fellows during this challenging time. Below are community resources for different sectors of the industry and links to grants and relief funds, as well as health and mental health resources. AFI Fellows, please email…
March 6, 2020
AFI Alum Films to Screen at Tribeca 2020
Congratulations to the AFI alumni who will be screening their films at the Tribeca Film Festival! The festival will take place in New York City from April 15-26. Here are the 22 alumni and their 14 projects that will inspire east coast audiences: ASIA Daniella Nowitz (AFI Class of 2014), Cinematographer BLOOD AND…
March 4, 2020
AFI Alum Heidi Levitt On Collaborating With Directors and Casting Sally Potter’s New Film
AFI alumna Heidi Levitt (Class of 1987) has established herself as a versatile casting director and producer, crisscrossing artistic mediums from theater to television to film to commercials. Her new film, THE ROADS NOT TAKEN, recently had its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. Reuniting with director Sally Potter for the fourth time,…
February 4, 2020
Production Designer Yong Ok Lee on her Sundance films MINARI and THE FAREWELL
Following her work on the critically-acclaimed THE FAREWELL – a 2019 AFI AWARDS recipient, AFI alum Yong Ok Lee (Production Design, Class of 2013) returned to Sundance for the second year in a row with MINARI – which won the U.S. dramatic grand jury prize and the dramatic audience award at this year’s festival. The film, inspired by director…
January 21, 2020
AFI Directing Alum Zoé Wittock on her Sundance Feature JUMBO
AFI Alum Zoé Wittock (Directing, Class of 2010) is set to debut her feature film JUMBO at Sundance 2020. The film follows a shy young woman who develops an intense relationship with the amusement park ride. Wittock joins over 25 other AFI Alumni with projects at Sundance 2020. Watch Wittock discuss the inspiration for her…
December 17, 2019
AFI Alumni Shortlisted for Academy Awards
Congratulations to the AFI thesis film MILLER & SON which has been shortlisted for an Academy Award® in the Live Action Short Film category! It was just two months ago that MILLER AND SON director Asher Jelinsky (AFI Class of 2018) won a Gold Medal at the Student Academy Awards®. And STAY CLOSE, a labor…
December 13, 2019
Television Academy Honors AFI Conservatory Thesis Films
Another proud moment for AFI Conservatory Alumni! Two AFI thesis films – THEY WON’T LAST and BALLON – received nominations from the Television Academy’s 40th Annual College Television Awards for excellence in college student-produced films. And the AFI film FORT IRWIN was named as the recipient of the 2020 Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Scholarship….
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