October 2023 News
AFI Filmmaking Team Wins Student Academy Award®
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored the AFI Conservatory Visual Essay SKIN by naming it a winner at the 50th Student Academy Awards. Congratulations to the AFI filmmakers who brought the film to life including director, writer and cinematographer Leo Behrens; producer Ilayda Cetinkaya; production designer Mojo Wen and editor Alejandra Armijo Cruz (all AFI Class of 2023)!
AFI Fellows Attend Telluride!
The AFI Conservatory Telluride FilmLAB is back! This year’s cohort of AFI Fellows from the Class of 2023 participated in the 50th edition of the prestigious Telluride Film Festival. Fellows had one-on-one conversations with master filmmakers including BIKERIDERS’ writer/director Jeff Nichols, SALTBURN’s writer/director Emerald Fennel and RUSTIN’s director George C. Wolfe, and attended a mid-festival cocktail party hosted by AFI Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall. Thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable experience!
AFI Conservatory Hosts Alumni BBQ
On September 17, AFI Alumni gathered in the courtyard of Whitewater Films for a barbecue that included plenty of community, burgers and beer. We want to thank AFI Alum Rick Rosenthal (AFI Class of 1973) who hosted once again this year and the nearly 300 guests who attended and helped make it an incredible event! If you wanted to donate to the Alumni fund and haven’t had a chance, you can still make a gift today.
Help AFI Admissions Select the Next AFI Conservatory Class
The Admissions Office is looking for Alumni reviewers and interviewers for Fall 2024 applications, particularly in the Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing and Screenwriting disciplines. Reviewers will read applications from Dec. 1, 2023–Jan. 12, 2024, while interviewers participate between Jan. 16–Feb. 28, 2024. Submit your Alumni reader application by Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PST to be considered. If you have any questions, contact Brian Hostenske, Manager of Admissions, at bhostenske@AFI.edu.
AFI AWARDS Submissions are Open
We are now accepting film and television submissions for AFI AWARDS 2023, which will take place January 12, 2024. Celebrating the collaborative nature of film and television, AFI AWARDS is the only national program that honors creative teams as a whole, recognizing those in front of and behind the camera. The deadline to submit is Thursday, October 19 at 5:00 p.m. PST. Learn more about eligibility rules and requirements and submit your film today!
Watch Editing Workshop by AFI Alum Brian Wessel
The Lawrence Herbert Alumni Center recently hosted a virtual workshop, led by Editing Alum Brian Wessel (Class of 2009), for filmmakers looking to position themselves for a successful editing career. If you missed it, you can now access a recording of the event below.
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 on AFI Backlot. Join today!
AFI Emails Available
Would you like an AFI email address to make it easier to contact other Alumni? Or are you a recent graduate who requires assistance with your AFI Alumni Account? If so, please feel free to contact Alumni Affairs at AlumniEmailRequest@AFI.com.