News
AFI Alumni Meet At Tribeca 2026
AFI Alumni turned out in force during the Tribeca Festival for a lively Alumni Happy Hour that brought together graduates from across disciplines and generations. The gathering offered an opportunity to reconnect, expand professional networks, and celebrate the growing presence of AFI storytellers at one of the industry’s premier festivals. Special thanks to Screenwriting Alum Ivano Pulito (AFI Class of 2016) for hosting the event at his family restaurant, Petrarca, in the heart of Tribeca.
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.
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
Women In Film, Los Angeles has announced its 2026 Fellowship cohort, a year-long program supporting the career development of women, nonbinary and trans creatives across the entertainment industry. AFI Alumni are among those selected for this year’s cohort.
Artisan and Crew Fellows
-Elika Rezaee (AFI Class of 2015), Editor
-Rajarajeshwari Ragampudi (AFI Class of 2025), Production Designer
Cinematographers
-Hannah Platzer (AFI Class of 2023), Cinematographer
-Lisa Janae (AFI Class of 2026), Cinematographer
-Louise YunJu Chen (AFI Class of 2026), Cinematographer
-Quinn Thomashow (AFI Class of 2024), Cinematographer
Directors
-Jhanvi Motla (AFI Class of 2017), Director
-Nicole Taylor-Roberts (AFI DWW+ Class of 2020), Director
AFI Alumni are among the nominees for the 14th Annual Best of NFMLA Awards, which recognize standout projects from NewFilmmakers Los Angeles’ 2025 programming season and InFocus initiative.
Best Short Film, Drama
CORPSE FISHING
-Sarah Park (AFI Class of 2021), Producer
LITTLE BIRD
-Oanh-Nhi Nguyen (AFI Class of 2024), Director
-Eva Zheng (AFI Class of 2024), Producer
RE-ENTRY
-Ariel Mahler (AFI Class of 2023), Director
-Ilayda Cetinkaya (AFI Class of 2023), Producer
WITNESS
-Radha Mehta (AFI Class of 2023), Director
-Sheheryar Ahsan (AFI Class of 2022), Producer
Best Short Film, Comedy
MEAN GOALS
-Ahuatl Amaro (AFI Class of 2023), Director
Best New Media & Experimental
SKIN
-Leo Behrens (AFI Class of 2023), Director
-Ilayda Cetinkaya (AFI Class of 2023), Producer
Best Short Film, Documentary
THE CHANGEBAKER
-Javier Gonzalez-Rubio (AFI Class of 2010), Producer
STREET SMART: LESSONS FROM A TV ICON
-Maor Azran (AFI Class of 2018), Producer
Best Cinematography
DAWN EVERY DAY
-Evan Weidenkeller (AFI Class of 2022), Cinematographer
SKIN
-Leo Behrens (AFI Class of 2023), Cinematographer
The Young Director Award returned to Cannes to celebrate the industry’s most promising emerging filmmakers, and two AFI Thesis Films earned 2026 Young Director Award – Silver honors.
DEGREE OF CERTAINTY (2025)
-Simon Schneider (AFI Class of 2025), Director/Writer
-Maxwell Kagan (AFI Class of 2025), Producer
-Eliot Grigo (AFI Class of 2025), Cinematographer
-Jason Luo (AFI Class of 2025), Editor
-Jessica Burnam (AFI Class of 2024), Production Designer
IRON LAKE (2024)
Grant Swanson (AFI Class of 2024), Director/Writer
Annine Zhang (AFI Class of 2024), Producer
Ioana Vasile (AFI Class of 2024), Cinematographer
Yuchen Fang (AFI Class of 2024), Editor
Emily Henninger (AFI Class of 2024, Production Designer
Cinematography Matthias Grunsky (AFI Class of 2000) was featured in ASC Magazine for developing Cineside, a macOS application designed to support collaboration between directors and cinematographers during preproduction.
Rohit Relan (AFI Class of 2024) was named a winner of the 2026 DGA Student Spotlight Awards for Underrepresented Directors in the Narrative West: Graduate category for his AFI Thesis Film PATAKHA (FIRECRACKER). Additional AFI Class of 2024 Alumni who worked on the film include producer Tiffany Wu, cinematographer Brooke Mueller, production designer Reem Al Shaini, editor Siddharth Lal and screenwriter Umut Ipek.
Writer, producer and director Siân Heder (AFI Class of 2005) will bring Gabrielle Zevin’s bestselling novel “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” to the big screen, with Paramount announcing a theatrical release date of November 12, 2027.
Filmmakers Selina Ringel and Dan Levy Dagerman (AFI Class of 2014) continue championing independent storytelling with the launch of “Start the Engine,” a new online field guide created by Ringel for emerging filmmakers.
Dan Levy Dagerman also premiered CANNESABIS: DISCLOSURE NIGHT, a new AI-assisted sci-fi satire created with the Space Weed Universe collective, at the Cannes Film Festival. Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0q5GgvTU4U
Screenwriter Natalie Zimmerman (AFI Class of 2018) won multiple Telly Awards for her work on the YouTube series BLACKVEIL (now rebranded as HUMAIN), earning both Bronze and Silver honors in the Craft–Writing Specialty category.
AFI Alumni are among those invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of its 2026 member class. Invitees include Michael Bauman (AFI Class of 1992), Martin Bernfeld (AFI Class of 2008), Editing Fellow Dimitri Komm Korabelnikov (AFI Class of 2026), Tamika Lamison (AFI DWW Class of 2002) and Melody London (AFI DWW Class of 1994), joining this year’s group of 529 artists, executives and industry leaders across the film community.
CORONER TO THE STARS is now in theatrical release. Executive produced by P David Ebersole (AFI Class of 1991), the documentary explores the career of former Los Angeles Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Noguchi. Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHIlgyYy0Z4
Cinematographer Robert Richardson (AFI Class of 1979) will receive the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. While attending the festival, Richardson will also present the documentary ROBERT RICHARDSON: THE WHITE DEVIL.
Shannon Baker Davis (AFI Class of 2023) was named on Women in Film (WIF) and ReFrame’s Who to Watch List for Outstanding Editing and received praise for her work on THE BEAUTY and IRONHEART.