September 21, 2020
AFI Alumni Win 2020 Emmy Awards
Congratulations to this year’s Emmy®-winning AFI alumni! In a historic first, the Television Academy hosted a virtual ceremony to celebrate the best in television. The evening was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and featured a long list of special guests. We are so proud of all the AFI alumni who were honored by the Academy. Please…
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…
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 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…
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,…
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