News

Alumni Happy Hour At Tribeca Film Festival

The AFI Alumni Happy Hour returns to New York during the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9! Hosted by the Lawrence Herbert Alumni Center, the annual gathering brings together local alumni and AFI community members attending the festival to reconnect over hosted appetizers and drinks.

 

This year’s event will once again take place at Petrarca Cucina e Vino in Tribeca and will be hosted by AFI Screenwriting Alum Ivano Pulito (AFI Class of 2016).

 

Date: Tuesday, June 9
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Petrarca Cucina e Vino | 34 White St, New York, NY 10013

 

RSVP

Bridge To The Future: Screenwriting Industry Sessions

This week, AFI’s Bridge to the Future Screenwriting Industry Sessions gave Second-Year Screenwriting Fellows an unfiltered look at the industry they’re about to enter, straight from the professionals living it every day. No lectures, no theory. Just candid, career-shaping conversations between Fellows and working writers, producers, agents, managers and assistants at every level of the business.

 

Held over three days on Campus in the Lawrence Herbert Alumni Center, sessions included “Working as a Writer,” “Getting in the Room, Staying in the Room,” “Working with Agents and Managers,” “Getting Your Movie Made” and more. Each session was designed around what Fellows actually need to know: how the industry really works and how to make a place for themselves in it.

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.

 

VISIT THE LAWRENCE HERBERT ALUMNI CENTER

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!

 

JOIN BACKLOT

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!

 

EMAIL ALUMNI AFFAIRS

AFI FRIDAY UPDATE

 

Congratulations to the AFI thesis film TRUANT, which has been longlisted for the 2026 BAFTA Student Awards. The film was directed and co-written by Robyn Wholey, co-written and produced by Carl Rennie, photographed by Dan Debrey and edited by Joey Cao, all from the AFI Class of 2025.

 

The Tribeca Film Festival kicked off this week featuring 20 films that include 34 AFI alums in their slate.

 

As he preps for a second season of TASK, Brad Ingelsby (AFI Class of 2005) talks about returning to the series’ characters: “There was an emotional story that hadn’t been completely resolved.”

 

In celebration of Mel Brooks’ upcoming 100th birthday this month, the AFI Catalog and AFI Archive explore the backstory of THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980), including Brooks’ critical role in bringing the film to the screen and his work alongside director David Lynch (AFI Class of 1970) and Stuart Cornfeld (AFI Class of 1975).

 

Matthew Syrett (AFI Class of 2024) has won the Documentary Feature jury award at the Berkshire International Film Festival for his directorial debut, ADMISSION POSSIBLE, which he co-directed with Bowie Alexander.

 

Netflix has released a trailer for the new series I WILL FIND YOU, with two episodes of the series directed by AFI DWW+ alums Maggie Kiley and Maja Vrvilo. The series debuts on June 18.

 

DISCLOSURE DAY could be Steven Spielberg’s biggest box office hit in years. The film, which will be released June 12, was shot by cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (AFI Class of 1987) and co-edited by Sarah Broshar (AFI Class of 2005).

 

Two AFI thesis films from the Class of 2025 are screening at The Palm Springs International ShortFest, which takes place June 23-29.

 

THE END IS AT HAND

 

-Japhet Velazquez, Director
-Sam Gallen, Screenwriter, Producer
-Diana Dahllund, Cinematographer
-Junwu Tan, Editor
-Yuheng Kuang, Production Designer

 

JIA

 

-Samantha Mandich, Director, Screenwriter
-Paloma Pinto, Producer
-Rebecca Richard, Cinematographer
-Sydney Sullivan, Editor
-Natalie Peracchio, Production Designer

 

The short film MY DAD, THE ROCKSTAR shot by Austin Kwok (AFI Class of 2026), which originally premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2025, has been selected for this year’s Sony Future Filmmaker Awards.

 

Darren Aronofsky (AFI Class of 1992) has joined the feature film SOLIDARITY as executive producer. The film was written, directed, edited and produced by Dustin Brown (AFI Class of 2016), produced by Daniel Leighton (AFI Class of 2015) and features production design by Carisa Garcia Fresco (AFI Class of 2016). SOLIDARITY will make its World Premiere at the Dances With Films Festival on June 19.

 

Jonathan Levine‘s (AFI Class of 2004) upcoming sports drama MR. IRREVELANT: THE JOHN TUGGLE STORY, starring David Corenswet, has scored near-perfect test screening scores. The film is slated for a Christmas Day release.

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