September 2025 News
Opening Day at AFI
Opening Day at AFI – Ari Aster (AFI Class of 2010)
The Conservatory opened its doors to the incoming class on Monday, August 25. Welcoming them was Ari Aster (AFI Class of 2010) – writer, producer and director of HEREDITARY, MIDSOMMAR and this year’s EDDINGTON as well as producer of the upcoming BUGONIA. The theater was standing room only – Fellows filling the aisles – and he ended with, “I love seeing a room full of people who are giving their life to this. It’s up to you!”
Opening Day also included the awarding of grants to several AFI Alumni, including: Giselle Bonilla, Mahyar Mandegar and Nicholas Schmid (AFI Class of 2023), and Corey Pinchoff, Rhys Raiskin and Fiona Obertinca (AFI Class of 2024). These included:
Richard P. Rogers Spirit of Excellence Award:
Given annually to a director whose performance at AFI embodies the spirit of celebrated documentarian Richard P. Rog ... SHOW MORE
Guillermo Del Toro Named AFI FEST Guest Artistic Director
AFI FEST 2025 presented by Canva is proud to announce this year’s Guest Artistic Director: Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro! Join us for the festival October 22-26. Passes are now on sale:
As an AFI Alum, you’re eligible for 50% off passes and tickets to AFI FEST – our way of welcoming you back to the movies
AFI Announces 2025-2026 Canva Fellowship Recipients
The recipients of The Canva Fellowship for 2025-2026 are AFI First Year Fellows (from left to right) Maghsoud Eghrari (Screenwriting), Brianna Kolybaba (Production Design), Mahsati Moorhead (Cinematography), Zhizong Qu (Editing), Aemilia Scott (Directing) and Allisa Tsukimori (Producing). Over the course of their two-year AFI Conservatory MFA program, each Fellow will receive a $40,000 scholarship, with a total of $240,000 awarded to the six recipients.
AFI Honors Viola Davis and Walter Murch with Honorary Degrees at AFI Commencement
AFI was proud to confer honorary degrees upon trailbla ... SHOW MORE
Explore the Stellar Work of 2025 Cinematography and Production Design Fellows
This summer, we proudly celebrated the exceptional creativity of our Class of 2025 graduates at the 2025 Cinematography and Production Design SpotlightSHOW MORE
Reserve a Space at the Lawrence Herbert Alumni Center
Planning a meeting, table read or rehearsal? As an AFI Conservatory Alum, you can book our versatile conference and multi-purpose rooms at the Lawrence Herbert Alumni Center. Please review the updated campus access website and request a campus visit.
Join the AFI Alumni Network on Backlot
Looking for collaborators, industry insights or opportunities to mentor fellow AFI Alumni? Stay connected with the latest happenings in the AFI community by signing up for AFI Backlot. It’s your space to share, connect and strengthen our creative network!
Request an AFI Email
Need an AFI email address to streamline communication with fellow Alumni or assistance with your AFI Alumni account? Our Alumni Affairs team is here to help – contact us today!
AFI FRIDAY UPDATE
Earlier this week, AFI announced that JAY KELLY, NUREMBERG, DEAD MAN’S WIRE and CHRISTY will complete the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI FEST presented by Canva. The full lineup of the festival will be announced this coming Tuesday!
Additionally this week, the AFI Conservatory hosted three Alumni from the production design discipline for a deep dive on their creative journey behind the live-action remake of Disney’s LILO & STITCH — coming together on campus for a panel were Anne Costa (AFI Class of 2010), Todd Cherniawsky (AFI Class of 1993) and Angran Li (AFI Class of 2018) all of whom worked as part of the film’s art department.
New Breaks:
Sandra Valde-Hansen, ASC (AFI Class of 2006) and member of the AFI Conservatory Faculty will receive the “Mentor of the Year” honor from the ICG Emerging Cinematographer Awards which will be celebrated by the ASC throughout multiple events this weekend.
Charlie Polinger’s (AFI Class of 2017) THE PLAGUE was selected as the winner of the main competition at Fantastic Fest.
Justin Tipping, (AFI Class of 2011) director of Monkeypaw’s latest horror HIM, was featured on IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast and discussed the many influences — including Lynch and Kubrick — behind the visual language of his film.
Thorsten Schumacher (AFI Class of 2001) is a producer on the reboot of Sylvester Stallone’s 1993 CLIFFHANGER, which was picked up in an eight-figure deal out of the Toronto Film Festival.
Nasreen Alkhateeb is the cinematographer for a film tribute directed by Julie Dash (AFI Class of 1974), memorializing the Emanuel 9. Their work will be displayed within the MONUMENTS exhibit, which considers the ways public monuments have shaped national identity, historical memory, and current events. MONUMENTS is presented at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and The Brick and will be on view from October 23 through May 3.
Neil Ferron (AFI Class of 2020) and Mashael Alqahtani (AFI Class of 2024) were selected as fellows as part of K Period Media and Blumhouse in partnership with the Sundance Institute for their annual “Screamwriting” competition for underrepresented emerging film and television writers aspiring to work in the horror genre.
Current AFI Fellow Quinn Spicker (AFI Class of 2026) was named as an Austin Film Festival Script Competition Semifinalist for the feature GOD MAKERS, which was written in the first-year feature screenwriting workshop led by faculty Antonio Macia.
Dante Di Loreto (AFI Class of 1991) is an executive producer on the upcoming BAYWATCH reboot which was greenlit this week for a straight-to-series order at Fox set to release in 2026-2027.
Frits De Jong (AFI Class of 1993) is one of the cinematographers on a short film as part of an UNAIDS project in support of raising awareness for HIV/AIDS cutbacks which premiered Monday at a United Nations assembly in New York and featured Prince Harry, Magic Johnson and Charlize Theron.
Sheldon Collins (AFI Class of 2003) released his debut historical novel “The Legend of Valentine” to critical acclaim earlier this year. He has since directed a cinematic audio drama adaptation — produced with a full cast, immersive sound design and an original score, set to release on Audible on November 15.
New Videos:
Justin Tipping and Taylor Mason on working with HIM producer Jordan Peele: https://youtu.be/5e2bkuOUx8Y
Martin Scorsese speaks to his inspirations for GOODFELLAS: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Mnb6fgz6Lcs
Harold Lloyd on THE FRESHMAN: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/POx8i71cmhc
Chris Sarandon reflects on Al Pacino’s performance in DOG DAY AFTERNOON: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UCdTb3MNgDs
Have an exciting piece of news, an upcoming project or career accolade to announce? Let us know so we can share with the AFI community!