December 2022 News
Let Us Know If You Got Into Sundance!
We want to hear from you! The 2023 Sundance Film Festival is right around the corner, and year after year we are honored to have so many Alumni represent the AFI community in Park City, UT. If you have a project premiering at the festival this year, email our Alumni Affairs team so we can celebrate you once the full lineup is revealed.
Nicole Kidman to Receive AFI Life Achievement Award
AFI announced that Nicole Kidman, renowned for her complex and versatile performances, will be the recipient of the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film. The award will be presented to Kidman at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on June 10, 2023.
AFI FEST 2022: Red Carpet Photos and Filmmaker Q&As
AFI FEST 2022 officially wrapped on November 6, featuring five days of the best films from around the globe, with official selections including 53% directed by women, 32% directed by BIPOC filmmakers and 11% directed by LGBTQIA+ filmmakers. Go behind the scenes of this year’s festival and explore the 2022 Grand Jury Award winners, exclusive red carpet photos and insightful filmmaker conversations.
Award Winners Revealed at AFI FEST Alumni Party
On November 6, over 250 AFI Alumni came together on the AFI Campus to celebrate AFI FEST 2022. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend this year’s incredible event. Discover which AFI Alumni from the Class of 2020 and 2021 were honored with the Richard P. Rogers Spirit of Excellence Award, the William J. Fadiman Screenwriting Award and the Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award at this year’s celebration.
Make an End-of-Year Gift to AFI
As the end of the year approaches, make a contribution to ensure that AFI remains the standard bearer for cinema, preserving film history and culture for generations to come. AFI is a non-profit and we depend on the generosity and dedication of the AFI Alumni community. No matter how large or small, every tax-deductible gift makes a difference. Thank you for your continued support!
AFI Alumni Take Home Gotham Awards
On November 28, the Gotham Film & Media Institute announced the winners for the 32nd annual Gotham Awards which honors the best in independent film and television. Congratulations to the remarkable AFI alumni whose work was recognized!
AFI Alumni Nominated for 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards
The Spirit Awards, which honors independent films with a budget of $30 million or less, recently revealed their nominees for this year’s ceremony. Learn which distinguished AFI Alumni had projects that were nominated this year.
Meet Fellow AFI Alumni on Backlot!
Looking for collaborative partners, creative guidance or to mentor other AFI Alumni in the film and television industry? You can do all of the above community on AFI Backlot. Join today!
AFI Emails Available
Would you like an AFI email address to make it easier to contact other Alumni? If you’re interested, please feel free to contact Alumni Affairs at AlumniEmailRequest@AFI.com.
In Other AFI News…
AWARDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND OTHER HONORS
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER’s cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw (AFI Class of 2009) has already been mentioned as a forerunner to the Oscar® race for Best Cinematography.
The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival announced the 10 Afro/Black Latino and Indigenous Latino directors that were selected for the 3rd annual LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship, including AFI Alum Jalmer Caceres (AFI Class of 2020).
TÁR, written, directed and produced by Todd Field (AFI Class of 1992), won the Golden Frog at EnergaCamerimage. Cinematographer Enrico Silva (AFI Class of 2021) also was awarded the Golden Tadpole Award for his work on the film MAGDALENA.
Gia-Rayne Harris (AFI Class of 2021) and Nicole Taylor-Roberts (DWW Class of 2020) were accepted to NBC Launch’s TV Directors Program and Female Forward initiative.
FIVE MOVES OF DOOM, written by novelist and AFI Alum A.J. Devlin (AFI Class of 2004), was shortlisted for the 2022 Crime Fiction Lover Award for Best Indie Crime Novel.
Tannaz Hazemi (AFI DWW Class of 2014) was named a 2022 Finalist for the Lynn Shelton “Of A Certain Age” Grant and received a special honorable mention from The Northwest Film Forum’s Award Selection Committee.
Mobolaji Olambiwonnu (AFI Class of 2001) was selected as a participant for the Documentary Development Initiative by the Gotham Film and Media Institute and HBO Documentary Films.
DEVELOPMENT
Producer Deniese Davis (AFI Class of 2012) and her Reform Media Group banner have entered into a development deal with Tyler Perry Studios.
Writers Rebecca Murga (AFI DWW Class of 2015) and Jalysa Conway, who are both military veterans, are developing a coming-of-age Reserve Officers’ Training Corps drama at Amazon Studios, with Spike Lee on board to direct and executive produce.
MENTORSHIP
Editor Jeremy Lerman (AFI Class of 2013) served as a mentor at the CineStory Feature Competition Retreat in Idyllwild, CA.
NEW PROJECTS
The New York Times reviewed THERE THERE, Mumblecore filmmaker Andrew Bujalski’s latest film shot by cinematographer Matthias Grunsky (AFI Class of 2000), and named it a NYT Critic’s Pick.
Cast and crew of THE FABELMANS discussed how Steven Spielberg’s life informed their new movie, which was shot by cinematographer Janusz Kamiński (AFI Class of 1987) and edited by Sarah Broshar (AFI Class of 2005). Supervising Art Director Andrew Max Cahn (AFI Class of 1992) and Assistant Art Director Katelynn Wheelock (AFI Class of 2010) also working on the coming-of-age epic.
The Season 5 premiere of YELLOWSTONE, directed by AFI Alum Stephen Kay (AFI Class of 1991), drew 8.8 million viewers with a 10% increase from the previous season’s premiere episode, and was the most watched show this year.
American Cinematographer Magazine interviewed Ji-yong Kim (AFI Class of 2003) who discussed his cinematography on DECISION TO LEAVE, “the dark and twisty new romance-thriller from prolific Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook.”
THE LONG HAUL OF A.I. BEZZERIDES, written and directed by Fay Efrosini Lellios and shot by cinematographer Marc Leidy (both AFI Class of 1998), is now streaming on Arrow Player. Learn more about the documentary here.
OTHER NEWS
Riverside Entertainment hired Cynthia Graner (AFI Class of 2005) to be their new head of production of the development and production company, which specializes in commercial, unscripted and scripted content.
Priscilla J. (“Sally”) Mattison (AFI Class of 1986) spoke on the State of the Industry panel at Lebanon Valley College’s 18th VALE Media Industry Conference. She previously participated in the Entertainment and Sports Law Panel held as part of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s Pre-College Academy.