November 2022 News
Experience it all at AFI FEST 2022!
Opening night of AFI FEST 2022 kicks off tomorrow, and we’re so excited to have you join us at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre! Be sure to take advantage of 20% off passes and tickets with your Alumni discount, and check out the film guide and the full festival schedule to curate your personalized festival experience.
Celebrating AFI Alumni at FEST
We’re extraordinarily proud to showcase AFI Alumni projects at AFI FEST! Join us in congratulating these filmmakers and come support your fellow Alumni at the festival this year.
AFI FEST 2022 Official Merch
Take a piece of the festival home with you! The AFI FEST 2022 online merch shop is now open and we’re delivering all your favorites from T-shirts, totes, hats, hoodies and more. Check out the exclusive FEST collection for AFI Alumni and enjoy a 10% discount at our AFI Shop.
AFI Conservatory Ranked the #1 Film School by The Wrap
This month, The Wrap named the AFI Conservatory the #1 film school in the nation. The news outlet praised the Conservatory, remarking AFI’s “approach to teaching emphasizes hands-on learning and the forging of creative partnerships that last long after graduation.” The Wrap also commended the AFI Conservatory on its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, with 60% of this year’s class identifying as female.
AFI Alum Freddy Macdonald Wins Student Academy Award
At the 49th Annual Student Academy Awards on October 20 in LA, AFI Alum Freddy Macdonald (AFI Class of 2021) was honored with the Bronze medal in the Narrative category for his AFI thesis film SHEDDING ANGELS. Congratulations to Freddy, co-writer Rafael Diez, cinematographer Rui Arichika, producer Alexandre Oger and editor Jessica Petersen (all AFI Class of 2021) for their remarkable accomplishment.
Gotham Award Nominations Announced
On October 25, the Gotham Film and Media Institute announced the nominations for the 2022 Gotham Awards, honoring our remarkable AFI Alumni for their groundbreaking work this year. Support your fellow AFI Alumni by tuning in for the award ceremony on November 28.
Honoring Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month! To celebrate the diverse culture, histories and stories of indigenous communities, AFI presents our Native American Heritage Month Viewing Guide, featuring stories honored with AFI AWARDS, selected for AFI festivals and programmed for AFI Movie Club.
IndieWire Announces 2022 Consider This FYC Brunch
AFI Alumni are invited to attend the IndieWire Consider This Brunch on November 18, 2022! The event includes panels — curated and moderated by IndieWire’s editorial team — of some of the Award’s Season’s Hottest Contenders. Capacity is limited, you must RSVP to attend.
Meet Fellow AFI Alumni on Backlot!
Looking for potential collaborators, creative guidance or to mentor other AFI alums in the industry? You can do all of the above and enrich the AFI 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
The Critics Choice Association revealed the nominees for their seventh annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, including Andrea Arnold (AFI Class of 1991) whose film COW was nominated for Best First Documentary Feature. NAVALNY, produced by Diane Becker (AFI Class of 2006), was nominated for several awards, including Best Documentary Feature and Best Political Documentary. Eric Nichols (AFI Class of 2013) also executive produced the short film STRANGER AT THE GATE, which was nominated for Best Short Documentary, while Rick Rosenthal (Class of 1973) executive produced CITIZEN ASHE, which was nominated for Best Sports Documentary.
Sundance announced their 2022 Episodic Lab Fellows, including AFI Screenwriting Alum Gianmarco Giacomelli (AFI Class of 2020).
MY LIFE STOPPED AT 15, directed by Nicole Mejia (AFI Class of 2021) and shot by cinematographer Seth MacMillan (AFI Class of 2021), is screening in competition for Camerimage 2022. AFROLENIN, directed and shot by Dawit Adera (AFI Class of 2021) and MAGDALENA, showcasing the work of AFI filmmakers – director Michael Lazovsky; producers Pablo Zamorano and Yuky Shen; cinematographer Enrico Silva; editor Joseph King; production designer Tianhao ‘Simon’ Gao; and story editor Maxwell Dougherty (all AFI Class of 2021) – is also in contention.
AFI Alum Raymond Perez (AFI Class of 2019) was named a grand finalist for the STARZ Take the Lead Writers’ Intensive.
The NBC TV Writers Program have selected their 2022-23 Writers on the Verge class, including Screenwriting Alum Varta Torossian (AFI Class of 2013).
DEVELOPMENT
Screenwriting Alum Halia Abdel-Meguid (AFI Class of 2018) has been tapped to write and executive produce DEATH NOTE, based on the acclaimed Japanese manga series.
On the heels of being hired to write BLUE BEETLE – which debuts DC’s first-ever Latinx superhero, AFI Alum Gareth Dunnet Alcocer (AFI Class of 2013) is on board to script EL MUERTO, starring Grammy Award-winner and mega recording artist Bad Bunny with Jonás Cuarón attached to direct.
Actress Vicky Krieps and actor Dacre Montgomery are set to star in the ghost story WENT UP THE HILL, from a script by Jory Anast (AFI Class of 2016) and Samuel Van Grinsven, who will also direct.
Uzo Aduba will star in Showtime’s new adaptation of “All Her Little Secrets,” which she is also set to executive produce alongside Deniese Davis (AFI Class of 2012) through her Reform Media Group banner.
LaToya Morgan (AFI Class of 2005) is teaming with NANNY director Nikyatu Jusu for a NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD sequel, which will be shopped at the American Film Market.
NATIVES, a docuseries that will “highlight the ground-breaking achievements of Indigenous activists and allies,” added actor and activist Mark Ruffalo, as well as AFI Alum Margaret Riley (AFI Class of 1991), as executive producers.
Netflix is developing a feature film adaptation of the popular Black Samurai novels, which will be produced by John Schoenfelder (AFI Class of 2000).
MENTORSHIP
The DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee announced the 2022 class of its WSC Squad Mentorship Program. Ashley Eakin (AFI DWW Class of 2020) and Jean E. Lee (AFI DWW Class of 2014) have both been selected, while Neema Barnette (AFI DWW Class of 1982), Hanelle Culpepper (AFI DWW Class of 2002) and Maggie Kiley (AFI DWW Class of 2009) will serve as mentors for this year’s class.
DISTRIBUTION
Lionsgate has acquired the rights to Leah McKendrick’s directorial debut, SCRAMBLED. In mentioning the acquisition last month, we failed to report that the film is also co-produced by AFI Alum Jordan Backhus (AFI Class of 2020).
Momentum Pictures picked up the SXSW thriller SOFT & QUIET, which was written and directed by Beth de Araújo (AFI Class of 2013; AFI DWW Class of 2018) and produced by Saba Zerehi (AFI Class of 2014). The film was also produced by Joshua Beirne-Golden (AFI Class of 2011) and executive produced by Beatriz Sequeira (AFI Class of 2003).
IFC Films has acquired the North American rights to LIFE UPSIDE DOWN, directed by Cecilia Miniucchi (AFI Class of 1984) and starring Bob Odenkirk.
Music Box Films has picked up the North American rights to SXSW road-trip drama THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY, which was edited and produced by AFI Alum Vanara Taing (AFI Class of 2012).
NEW PROJECTS
JILL: LIFE WILL FIND YOU, shot by cinematographer Marco Barberi (AFI Class of 1999) recently premiered at the San Diego International Film Festival.
SOFT & QUIET, written and directed by Beth De Araújo (AFI Class of 2013; AFI DWW Class of 2018), released its first trailer.
Writer A.J. Devlin (AFI Class of 2004) recently appeared on NBC Radio’s House of Mystery as part of his promotional tour for “Five Moves of Doom” the third book in his “Hammerhead” Jed pro-wrestler PI mystery-comedy series.
Marvel Studios released a new trailer for BLACK PANTHER 2: WAKANDA FOREVER, which was shot by cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw (AFI Class of 2009).
The National Herald interviewed writer/director Fay Efrosini Lellios (AFI Class of 1998) about her new film HUZUN which has Oscar®-qualified for Live Action Short Film.
TÁR, written and directed by AFI Alum Todd Field (AFI Class of 1992) had a strong opening at the specialty box office, bringing in $160,000 at four theaters nationwide. It was the best limited initial per theater average since EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE debuted with $500,000 in 10 theaters last spring.
FX dropped a new trailer for their new limited series FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE, executive produced by Susannah Grant (AFI Class of 1991). The show premieres November 17 on Hulu.
The Wrap reviewed BRAINWASHED, co-produced by Guo Guo (AFI Class of 2020) and Summer Xinlei Yang (AFI Class of 2018).
In reviewing the film SIGNIFICANT OTHER, the New York Times wrote that its “narrative flourishes make for an exciting outing.” The film was edited by David Kashevaroff (AFI Class of 2004) with production design by Priscilla Elliott (AFI Class of 2001).
The Atlantic reviewed DECISION TO LEAVE, shot by cinematographer Ji-yong Kim (AFI Class of 2003), writing that the film, “begs to be rewatched, for the electrifying performances and for every frame [Park Chan-wook] composes.”
Netflix released a new trailer for WEDNESDAY, the new Addams family series which AFI Alum Gandja Monteiro (AFI DWW Class of 2018) directed.
The sci-fi dark comedy DEBORAH just released its first trailer. The film marks the first feature of Cinematography Alum Ino Yang Popper (AFI Class of 2020).
OTHER NEWS
The Criterion Channel programmed ADVENTURES IN MOVIEGOING, featuring HEREDITARY and MIDSOMMAR director Ari Aster (AFI Class of 2010) whom they call “one of twenty-first-century horror cinema’s most audacious auteurs.”
AFI Alum Kendall Anlian (AFI Class of 2011) joined the sales outfit, The Coven, as president of global film and television.