August 2025 News

AWARDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND OTHER HONORS 

The Hollywood Reporter has released its annual list of top film schools, and AFI has once again ranked among the best. Congratulations to all the Faculty, Staff, Fellows and Alumni who make AFI one of the best film schools in the world.

Congratulations to both AFI Conservatory 2024 thesis films celebrated by the Academy in the Narrative category:

• Finalist – DANDELION: Fiona Obertinca, Director; Corey Pinchoff, Writer; Tori Ichikowitz, Producer; Bruce Wang, Cinematographer; Ana Visuetti, Production Designer; Ace Jing Wang, Editor

• Semi-Finalist – SHANGRI-LA: Rhys Raiskin, Director; Hannah Rice, Writer; Kevin Shanmugam, Cinematographer; Jeffrey Ramos, Producer; Skye Li, Production Designer; Manny Rothman, Editor

Academy voting for the winners begins Monday, August 11.

Local 600 has chosen Eythan Maidhof (AFI Class of 2021) as one of eight honorees for this year’s Emerging Cinematographer Awards (ECAs). The 27th annual awards gala and reception will be held at the Television Academy Saban Media Center Wolf Theatre on September 28.

Vidhya Iyer (AFI Class of 2017) and Christina Strain (AFI Class of 2015) have been selected for the prestigious CAPE x STARZ Showrunners Incubator Class of 2025 – a program designed to champion AAPI creatives and accelerate their paths to becoming television showrunners.

Lisanne Sartor (AFI DWW+ Class of 2012) was named a 2025 finalist for The Women’s List – a curated industry list spotlighting outstanding unproduced screenplays by women writers – for her original feature script: SIX LETTER WORD.

Ari Aster (AFI Class of 2010) and his Square Peg co-founder Lars Knudsen are accepting applications for Square Peg Social. The four-day event in Austin, Texas will provide 20 writer-directors and 10 producers with programming, private dinners and other intimate gatherings designed to help filmmakers make their films. The deadline is July 29.

The Directors Guild of America will host a tribute to director and AFI DWW+ Alum Neema Barnette on Saturday, August 9 honoring her groundbreaking career. The conversation will be moderated by Julie Dash (AFI Class of 1974). Learn more and RSVP here:  https://cf.dga.org/public/250809_AASC_TributetoNeemaBarnette/nonmemberinvite.html

AFI Alum Joshua Zucker-Pluda (Class of 2016) has been named one of American Cinematographer’s 2025 Rising Stars. Selected by members of the American Society of Cinematographers, Zucker-Pluda joins a distinguished group of filmmakers recognized for their bold artistry and vision behind the camera.

NEW PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT/PRODUCTION 

Natasha Henstridge and Joshua Close were announced to star alongside Josh Hartnett in the upcoming Netflix NEWFOUNDLAND series, executive produced by Sharon Hall (DWW+ 1998).

Jonathan Cohen (AFI Class of 2009) writer, producer and co-host of Mayim Bialik’s “Breakdown” podcast – which has amassed over 33 million audio downloads and 51 million YouTube views – has joined the Impact Theory network in their first external partnership.

Netflix’s Sam Bankman-Fried limited series THE ALTRUISTS from co-showrunner and executive producer Jacqueline Hoyt (AFI Class of 2002) has announced 10 additional cast members including Matt Rife, Paul Reiser and Alex Lawther.

QUEER EYE from showrunner Jennifer Lane (AFI Class of 1999) has kicked off production for its 10th and final season.

Robert Elswit (AFI Class of 1977) was announced as the cinematographer in a five-part cinematic branded campaign for New Balance featuring Rosalía.

NEW TRAILERS  

A new Trailer for TRON: ARES, written by Jesse Wigutow (AFI Class of 1999) has been released: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YShVEXb7-ic

Ricardo Diaz (AFI Class of 2009) is the 2nd unit cinematographer for the upcoming season of STRANGER THINGS. Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKZyYdwS3Wg

NEW RELEASES AND OTHER PROJECTS 

The new season of SOUTH PARK, executive produced by Anne Garefino (AFI Class of 1988) since 2007, debuted on Paramount+ this week after reaching a $1.5 billion deal with the streamer. Watch the teaser here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4G18-bY_8o

Jim Jarmusch’s first feature since 2019 – FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER – was edited by Affonso Gonçalves (AFI Class of 1993) with cinematography by Frederick Elmes (AFI Class of 1972) and will make its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 3 after playing in competition at Venice.

Ari Aster (AFI Class of 2010) – whose latest feature EDDINGTON hit theaters in July – was featured in two articles in the New York Times, including a profile interview piece and a review of the film. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/magazine/ari-aster-eddington-film.html ; https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/opinion/ari-aster-eddington.html.

Darren Aronofsky’s (AFI Class of 1992) BLACK SWAN will return for a special 15th anniversary engagement on August 21st  and 24th in IMAX theaters a week before his latest film, CAUGHT STEALING opens in theaters everywhere on August 29th.

Season 3 of THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY – shot by Tarin Anderson (AFI Class of 2004) and Sandra Valde Hansen (AFI Class of 2006) – premiered its first two episodes for streaming on Amazon Prime on July 17: https://deadline.com/feature/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-season-3-release-schedule-1236438500/

Oscar-winning actor Ellen Burstyn (AFI DWW+ 1974) announced the publication of her upcoming poetry book, set to release in 2026.

CATCHING BULLETS, a documentary produced by Kevin Coleman-Cohen (AFI Class of 2005), is set to release on August 15.

Apple TV’s THE MORNING SHOW from director and executive producer Mimi Leder (AFI Class of 1973) released its teaser for Season 4, set to premiere September 17.

Directing alum MC Plaschke (AFI Class of 2023) directed a Vogue branded content cover video featuring Anne Hathaway and Bowen Yangreaching 5.5 million views on Instagram and 380k+ views on YouTube.

Timothy Shin (AFI Class of 2024) is the cinematographer for the Fendi Fall/Winter 2025 digital photo and video campaign featuring Gabbriette and Amelia Gray.

DISTRIBUTION 

Split Screen has acquired Goran Stanković’s (AFI Class of 2013) feature OUR FATHER ahead of its world premiere in the Toronto Film Festival’s Discovery section.

Music Box Films has acquired the North American distribution rights to director Charlie McDowell’s (AFI Class of 2006) THE SUMMER BOOK, which stars eight-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close and screened at last year’s AFI FEST presented by Canva.

FESTIVALS AND FILM MARKETS 

KIM NOVAK’S VERTIGO will world premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival on September 1. P David Ebersole (AFI Class of 1991) is an executive producer for the feature, as well as for the documentary CORONER TO THE STARS, which recently won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at both Slamdance 2025 and at the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival. It continues its festival run this month at Vashon Island Film Festival and the upcoming Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.

Oscar-nominated actor, writer, composer and director Marianne Jean-Baptiste (DWW+ Class of 2008) will serve on the jury for the 2025 Platform program lineup at the Toronto International Film Festival.

FOWL PLAY, the thesis film from Anabelle LeMieux, director/writer; Shams Pasha, producer; Nevo Shirazi, cinematographer; Tianxiao Chen, editor; Mo Ziang, production designer (all AFI Class of 2024) was selected to compete in the shorts competition at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and was nominated for the Thelma Schoonmaker Award for Excellence (£15K prize).

SWEETWATER AQUARIUM, by Yvonne Zhang, writer/director; Sarah Park, producer; Nico Blanco, producer; Guanting Du, cinematographer; Taylor Liyucan Chen, production designer; Xixian Wang (all AFI Class of 2021) won the Golden Chair for Best International Short Film at the Norwegian Short Film Festival.

Jacqueline Lyanga (AFI Class of 2001) co-director of film programming at the Berlin International Film Festival, will award several prizes at Locarno Pro Award Ceremony as a member of its international jury.

Director Radu Jude’s DRACULA, executive produced by David Lynch (AFI Class of 1970), will debut at the Locarno Film Festival in August.

Didi Beck’s (AFI Class of 2024) thesis film, IN FOREIGN, played at Shot List Film Festival in Kingston last week and was recognized by the British Blacklist.

Bradley Cooper’s IS THIS THING ON? has been announced as the Closing Night selection of the New York Film Festival. The film reunites Cooper with cinematographer Matthew Libatique (AFI Class of 1992), who has collaborated with Cooper on all three of his directorial projects.

OTHER NEWS 

The encore presentation of AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: A TRIBUTE TO FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA and the AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL both aired on TCM in July. The Coppola Tribute will be available to stream on WatchTCM for the next two weeks. Watch clips from the show here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hww22oKnXzQ&list=PLgyxfzuf_AtztMfgFg7_m0U6f8b43R77a

IN VITRO ,starring Talia Zucker (AFI DWW+ Class of 2019), was featured in the New York Times as one of the five top science fiction movies to stream in August: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/movies/science-fiction-movies-to-stream.html

The Washingtonian has included the AFI Silver’s Oh My Godzilla Raids Again!! film series as one of its “7 Cool Indoor Movie Screenings in the DC Area This Summer.”

Sony has released eight new character posters for Darren Aronofsky’s (AFI Class of 1992) upcoming film CAUGHT STEALING: https://bleedingcool.com/movies/caught-stealing-8-character-posters-show-off-the-impressive-cast/

Ari Aster (AFI Class of 2010) breaks down scenes from three of his films: HEREDITARY, MIDSOMMAR and EDDINGTON: https://www.vanityfair.com/video/watch/notes-on-a-scene-ari-aster-breaks-down-a-scene

The New York Times’ new Washington D.C. Dining Guide includes a non-food suggestion of watching a movie at the AFI Silver Theatre during the theater’s current VistaVision! series, happening now through September 18: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/dining/where-to-eat-dc.html