May 2021 News
AFI Alumni Council Established
AFI announced the formation of the AFI Alumni Council, an advisory group of AFI Alumni that will guide career development and community engagement for AFI Alumni and provide leadership to galvanize AFI filmmakers across the industry to work together to affect change. The establishment of the Alumni Council is yet another step in improving the post-graduate experience for AFI Alumni by the recently funded Lawrence Herbert Alumni Center (LHAC). Learn more about the founding members of the AFI Alumni Council below.
AFI Launches the Robert Osborne Collection
AFI is excited to present The Robert Osborne Collection, an historically significant new site at AFI.com that features hundreds of introductions from legendary film historian and TCM host Robert Osborne, paired with content from the AFI Catalog. In honor of the occasion, watch TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz and The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg explore Osborne’s work and legacy in a conversation via THR Presents at 2 p.m. PST on Monday, May 3.
Alum Constanza Castro Partners With Lena Waithe and Indeed for Rising Voices Initiative
Producer Constanza Castro’s (AFI Class of 2015) 271 Films, Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions and Indeed recently established the Rising Voices initiative to invest in 10 filmmakers of color. This year’s participants include Second-Year AFI Directing Fellow Stacy Pascal Gaspard and alum Kantú Lentz (AFI DWW Class of 2014). Each filmmaker has been awarded a $100,000 production budget, a dedicated line production crew, a $10,000 writing fee, access to an additional $25,000 COVID budget to ensure everyone’s safety and the opportunity for their films to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. AFI spoke with Castro about the initiative and how she is looking to champion underrepresented voices in Hollywood. (Photo by Tori Time)
AFI Filmmakers in the Spotlight This Awards Season
Congrats to all of our alums who’ve been recognized this awards season. On April 22, the Film Independent Spirits Awards honored Andy Siara for Best First Feature for his film PALM SPRINGS. All of the major Hollywood guilds have also announced their award winners. Read on to see a rundown of AFI alumni who took home prizes this year!
Giselle Bonilla is the Next AFI Conservatory Audi Fellowship Recipient
AFI and Audi announced today that Giselle Bonilla (Directing Fellow, AFI Class of 2023) has been named as the latest recipient of the Audi Fellowship for Women scholarship, a program that selects one promising female director for a full tuition scholarship to the AFI Conservatory.
Apply to Disney Launchpad Short Film Incubator
Applications for the Disney Launchpad Short Film Incubator will open May 10 at 9 a.m. PST and close June 11 at 11:59 p.m. PST. For the first time ever, writers will be eligible to apply for the program as well as directors. This means applicants can apply as a writer, writer/director, a director with a script someone else wrote (so as a team), or as a director. Learn more about applying.
Alumni Code of Conduct
We are proud of the example and standards you’ve set as graduates of the AFI Conservatory. In the spirit of fortifying our close-knit community, we would like to share an updated Alumni Code of Conduct which details how to engage in a respectful manner in connection with all AFI and AFI Conservatory events and communications.
Alum Ludovica Isidori Takes Us "Behind the Scene" of TEST PATTERN
Cinematographer and AFI alum Ludovica Isidori (AFI Class of 2013) takes us “behind the scene” of TEST PATTERN, her new film that sheds a light on systemic inequality and aims to serve as a catalyst for conversations surrounding consent. Fellow alums Pin-Chun Liu (AFI Class of 2013) also served as a producer and Valentina Martinico (AFI Class of 2014) worked as a gaffer on the film.
AFI Catalog Spotlight: Anna May Wong
In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, the AFI Catalog is shining a spotlight on America’s first female Asian American movie star, Anna May Wong, who transcended racial stereotypes and laid the groundwork for greater inclusivity in Hollywood.
AFI Partners with Apple TV+ for THE MOSQUITO COAST Screening
AFI hosted the World Premiere of THE MOSQUITO COAST, followed by a conversation with director/executive producer Rupert Wyatt, and a cast including executive producer Justin Theroux, Melissa George, Logan Polish and Gabriel Bateman. The discussion was moderated by Emmy® winner and AFI alum Dante Di Loreto (AFI Class of 1991), and you can now watch a recording of this exclusive event.
AFI Alumni Special Seminar: BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY
The Alumni Affairs team welcomed Executive Producer Margaret Riley (AFI Class of 1991) and Director, Writer and Producer R.J. Cutler to discuss their new documentary BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD’S A LITTLE BLURRY in a special online conversation, which is now available to watch.
In Other AFI News…
AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS, GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Mentorship Matters, an initiative aimed at boosting opportunities for emerging writers of color, has announced the participants for its inaugural 2021-22 cycle, including Leticia Ayroza (AFI Class of 2020). Raelle Tucker (AFI DWW Class of 2003) is also serving as a showrunner mentor.
Paul Kowalski (AFI Class of 2015) and Kelly Pike (AFI DWW Class of 2021) recently made the list of 25 Screenwriters to Watch by the Austin Film Festival.
AFI Faculty and alum Heidi Levitt (AFI Class of 1987) recently received a grant from Steven Spielberg’s newly launched Jewish Story Partners to direct and produce the documentary WALK WITH ME, a personal story about early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more about the project here.
Yugo Nakamura (AFI Class of 2020) is selected as a participant of the ninth annual CAPE New Writers Fellowship by the Coalition Of Asian Pacifics In Entertainment (CAPE).
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation announced the 184 recipients of its 2021 fellowships, including directing alum Jake Yuzna (AFI Class of 2017) for Film-Video.
PRODUCTION DEALS & OTHER MAJOR NEWS
This week, Steven Spielberg launched the film foundation, Jewish Storyline Partners, with AFI alum Roberta Grossman (AFI Class of 1985) serving as Producing Director of their new venture to “tell stories about a diverse spectrum of Jewish experiences, histories, and cultures.”
The Met Gala is returning, and director Melina Matsoukas (AFI Class of 2005) has been commissioned to create an open-ended film to project across the galleries in the exhibition.
NEW PROJECTS
QUEEN SUGAR announced the directors for its sixth season, including Shaz Bennett (AFI DWW Class of 2012) and Marie Jamora (AFI DWW Class of 2020).
Todd Field (AFI Class of 1992) is gearing up to direct his new movie TAR for Universal, which is set to star Cate Blanchett. Field also wrote and is producing the film.
Hulu has given a formal pilot order to OLGA DIES DREAMING which will be directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (AFI Class of 1995).
FX Docuseries PRIDE sets director lineup, including Ro Haber (AFI DWW Class of 2016).
Jacqueline Hoyt (AFI Class of 2002) has been hired to write a new series on icon Audrey Hepburn. The show is based on a treatment by Hepburn’s son Luca Dotti and Italian journalist and writer Luigi Spinola.
Paramount Players’ BOUNCE, based on Megan Shull’s young-adult novel, will be directed by Susan Johnson (AFI Class of 2000) with Will Smith serving as a producer.
AFI alum LaToya Morgan (AFI Class of 2005) (AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD, INTO THE BADLANDS), artist Walt Barna and colorist A.H.G. are collaborating on an evocative new six-issue original series titled “Dark Blood” from BOOM! Studios.
Screenwriter and AFI alum Taylor Townsend (AFI Class of 2018) recently landed her first staff writing job on the CW’s 4400.
DISTRIBUTION DEALS
Ellen Burstyn’s (AFI DWW Class of 1974) new film QUEEN BEES was recently acquired by Gravitas Ventures and is set for a day-and-date theatrical and digital release on June 11.
THE ACTOR, directed by Duke Johnson (AFI Class of 2006) and starring Ryan Gosling, was acquired by Neon, with Charlie Kaufman boarding as an Executive Producer. This marks Johnson’s solo feature film directorial debut.
FESTIVAL NEWS
The Austin Film Festival, which is set to take place October 21-28, will present Scott Frank (AFI Class of 1984), co-creator of the Golden Globe-winning THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT with the 2021 Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting.
PRODUCTIONS & NEW RELEASES
FOUR GOOD DAYS had its theatrical premiere in LA on April 30 and will be available streaming on demand starting May 21. The film features the work of AFI alumni: producer Jon Avnet (AFI Class of 1972), writer/director/producer Rodrigo García (AFI Class of 1986), UPM Ryan Kirby (AFI Class of 2012) and Executive Producer Sage Scroope (AFI Class of 2010).
The debut of the new Tina Turner documentary, produced by Diane Becker (AFI Class of 2006), drew more than 1.1 million total viewers across all HBO platforms when it premiered.
The first trailer was released for THINGS HEARD AND SEEN, starring Amanda Seyfried and based on the acclaimed novel “All Things Cease to Appear” by AFI alum Elizabeth Brundage (AFI Class of 1983). The film was released April 29 on Netflix.
KUNG FU premiered to strong ratings on The CW. The pilot episode was directed by AFI alum Hanelle Culpepper (AFI DWW Class of 2002).
EL BAILE DE LOS 4 (DANCE OF THE 41), shot by cinematographer Carolina Costa (AFI Class of 2013), will premiere on Netflix May 12.
The final season of POSE, co-created, written and produced by Brad Falchuk (AFI Class of 1994), gets a new trailer.
Sci-fi film VOYAGERS premiered recently and features the art direction of Kevin Houlihan (AFI Class of 2011).
Creator and writer Brad Ingelsby’s (AFI Class of 2005) new limited series MARE OF EASTTOWN, starring Kate Winslet, recently premiered on HBO and HBO Max.
Writer/director Azazel Jacobs (AFI Class of 2001) was featured on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, talking about his new film FRENCH EXIT, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges.
The new variety show, ZIWE, featuring the production design work of Erin Magill (AFI Class of 2012), gets its first trailer and will premiere May 9 on Showtime.
Director Ross Marks’ (AFI Class of 1993) new film WALKING WITH HERB, starring Edward James Olmos and George Lopez recently opened nationwide on April 30.
THEM, produced by Lena Waithe, recently debuted on Amazon Prime. The series, which played at SXSW, features the work of director Daniel Stamm (AFI Class of 2004), editor Daniel Kashevaroff (AFI Class of 2004) and production designer Tom Hammock (AFI Class of 2004).
SHADOW AND BONE debuts at #1 on Netflix. AFI alum Christina Strain (AFI Class of 2015) is a writer on the series based on Leigh Bardugo’s best-selling novels.
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE
AFI alum Susan Black (AFI TV Workshop Alum Class of 1987) received a Christopher Award for her New York Times bestseller “Nothing General About It: How Love (And Lithium) Saved Me On and Off GENERAL HOSPITAL” published by William Morrow/Harper Collins.
WHERE ARE YOU, co-written by AFI Class of 2011 alums Matt Handy and Riccardo Spinotti (who also directed), added Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins to its cast. The film was also edited by Vero Vackova (AFI Class of 2016).
Mark Thorson (AFI Class of 1983) just released a new collection of short stories called “Final Delivery, And Eight Others,” which explore race, culture, politics, and religion with unique characters who are faced with the simple struggles in life.