October 2022 News

AFI Alumni FEST Benefits

AFI FEST 2022 is almost here and we can’t wait to gather in person to celebrate the best films from around the world! Passes go on sale today at 11:00 a.m. PT.

 

As an AFI Alum and AFI member, you receive a 20% discount on all AFI FEST passes & tickets and complimentary access to the AFI Conservatory Thesis Showcase. You will also be entered to win tickets to Red Carpet Premieres throughout the festival.

 

Passes to this year’s all in-person festival go on sale today and give you the opportunity to select up to 6 films to attend during the festival (excluding Red Carpet Premieres) + priority entry. As a member and Alum, you will have the chance to select your films before anyone else starting Thursday, October 6. Individual tickets are on sale exclusively to Alumni and members on October 11.

 

Mark your calendar:

  • Monday, October 3 at 11:00 a.m. PT – Passes on sale
  • Thursday, October 6 at 11:00 a.m. PT – AFI Alumni and members early access: Select films for your pass
  • Tuesday, October 11 at 11:00 a.m. PT – AFI Alumni and members pre-sale: Tickets on sale

Look for an email today from our ticketing platform, Eventive, with instructions on how to access your exclusive AFI discount and other benefits.

 

Keep an eye on your inbox for more information on the Alumni event planned at FEST, including a complimentary screening of Elvis Mitchell’s compelling documentary IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!?

 

If you’d like more information on our incredible programming, RSVP for our Virtual Member Preview on Wednesday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. PT.

 

VIEW PROGRAM

Official AFI FEST 2022 Merch

With AFI FEST 2022 right around the corner, you can upgrade your style and represent the best film festival in town. Take a piece of the festival home with you this year by sporting AFI FEST totes, T-shirts, hats, hoodies and more!

 

SHOP EXCLUSIVE AFI ALUMNI MERCH

AFI Alumni Celebrate Emmy® Award Wins

Some of the best projects of the 2021-2022 TV season have been announced, first during the 74th Creative Arts Emmy® Awards, which were handed out on September 3 and 4, followed by the 74th Primetime Emmy® Awards on September 12. Learn more about the AFI Alumni whose innovative work was honored this year.

 

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AFI Conservatory Kicks Off with TV Creators Conversation

To mark the Opening Day of the AFI Conservatory, AFI welcomed distinguished Alumni Liz Hannah (AFI Class of 2009, THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE, THE DROPOUT), Andy Siara (AFI Class of 2015, THE RESORT, PALM SPRINGS) and Byron Wu (AFI Class of 2019, THE BROTHERS SUN) to speak to Fellows about their trajectories from AFI graduates to TV creator and showrunners, in a conversation moderated by Dean Susan Ruskin.

 

WATCH VIDEO

Federal Government Announces More Details on Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

To all domestic graduates of the AFI Conservatory who have borrowed federal student loans, President Biden recently announced an Executive Action to provide up to $20K in student loan debt relief to qualified individuals and a pause extension on federal student loan repayment through December 31, 2022. Read more about which loans are eligible and how the relief will be implemented.

 

LEARN MORE

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 community on AFI Backlot. Join today!

 

JOIN AFI BACKLOT

AFI Emails Available

Would you like an AFI email address to make it easier to contact other Alumni? If you’re interested, please feel free to contact Alumni Affairs at AlumniEmailRequest@AFI.com.

In Other AFI News…

 

AWARDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND OTHER HONORS

 

Variety named 10 artisans to watch for 2022, including cinematographer and AFI Alum Todd Banhazl (AFI Class of 2009).

 

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, which is produced by AFI Alum Daniel Dreifuss (AFI Class of 2007), has been selected to represent Germany in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars®.

 

AFI Alum Allie Schultz (AFI Class of 2017) is being recognized at the ICG Emerging Cinematographer Awards for her work on a short film titled YOUR MONSTER. Congratulations! https://ecawards.net/honorees/2022/your-monster

 

Humanitas awarded the 2022 The Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Fellowship to Screenwriting Alum Hayley Tibbenham (AFI Class of 2022) for her script “Songs Without Words.”

 

DEVELOPMENT

 

Cinépolis has partnered once more with producer Javier González-Rubio of Invicta Films on Hugo Lara’s second feature SERENDIPIA from a script written by González-Rubio, Marika Cahn (AFI Class of 2010) and Molo Alcocer (AFI Class of 2013).

 

Lionsgate is in early talks with actor Jonathan Majors to play Dennis Rodman in 48 HOURS IN VEGAS movie. The project will be overseen by Producing Alum Erin Jones-Wesley (AFI Class of 2020).

 

Lauren Ludwig’s (AFI DWW Class of 2012) untitled half-hour comedy at FX announced that it has cast actors Addie Weyrich, Sydney Kuhne and Sabrina Wu as series leads.

 

PRODUCTION

 

COLD COPY, the feature directorial debut of Roxine Helberg (AFI Class of 2011), who also wrote and produced the film, just completed production. The film stars Bel Powley, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jacob Tremblay.

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

Lionsgate has acquired the rights to SCRAMBLED, about “a broke, single 34-year-old, fresh off a breakup, who faces down an existential crisis when she decides to freeze her eggs.” The film is produced by AFI Alum Jonathan Levine (AFI Class of 2004).

 

Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to distribute the thriller WHERE ARE YOU directed by Riccardo Spinotti (AFI Class of 2011).

 

Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American rights to the Halloween-themed psychological thriller PUMPKINHOLE, directed by Juan Pablo Arias Muñoz from a script co-written by him and Marc Tarczali (both AFI Class of 2019). Cinematography Alum Leo Purman (AFI Class of 2019) also worked on the project.

 

NEW PROJECTS

 

Nicolas Cage is set to star in A24’s DREAM SCENARIO, which will be produced by AFI Alum Ari Aster (AFI Class of 2010).

 

Director Henry Selick’s first film in 13 years, WENDELL & WILD, which Indiewire describes as an “afro-punk-inspired horror comeback,” released its first trailer. AFI Alum Kim Blanchette (AFI Class of 1983) worked as an animator on the eagerly anticipated project.

 

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RING OF POWER drew over 25 million viewers globally within the initial 24 hours that the TV series’ first two episodes were available, according to Amazon. Two of the eight episodes were directed by AFI Alum Charlotte Brändström (AFI Class of 1982) and AFI Alum Shamim Seifzadeh (AFI Class of 2013) worked as a Set Designer on the new series.

 

AFI Alum Ellen Burstyn (AFI DWW Class of 1974) has signed on to reprise her Oscar®-nominated role as Chris MacNeil in David Gordon Green’s upcoming sequel to THE EXORCIST in order to fund a scholarship program at Pace University.

 

Apple TV+ released the first trailer for RAYMOND & RAY, directed by Rodrigo García (AFI Class of 1986) and starring Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke.

 

People Magazine shared the first exclusive trailer for AMERICAN MURDERER, written and directed by AFI Alum Matthew Gentile (AFI Class of 2015). Cinematographer Kalilah Robinson (AFI Class of 2016), Editor/Score Producer/Post-Production Supervisor/Pre-Visualization Editor Matt Allen (AFI Class of 2017), Editor/Script Editor Christopher Young (AFI Class of 2016), VFX Artist Justin Chandra, (AFI Class of 2012), Assistant Editors April Du (AFI Class of 2018) and Krishna Sanchez (AFI Class of 2020) and Camera Operator Stas Bondarenko (AFI Class of 2016) all worked on the project, which will officially premiere in theaters October 21, followed by a VOD release on October 28. The film will also screen at The Newport Beach International Film Festival on October 15, 2022.

 

Kino Lorber revealed the first trailer BRAINWASHED: SEX-CAMERA-POWER, which premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and was co-produced by Guo Guo (AFI Class of 2020) and Summer Xinlei Yang (AFI Class of 2018). In the film, “award-winning documentarian Menkes argues that shot design is gendered, with ‘Brainwashed’ seeking to illuminate the patriarchal narrative codes that hide within supposedly “classic” set-ups and camera angles.”

 

THE FABELMANS, which will officially close AFI FEST 2022 on November 6, released its first trailer. The film showcases the work of cinematographer Janusz Kamiński (AFI Class of 1987), editor Sarah Broshar (AFI Class of 2005), Supervising Art Director Andrew Max Cahn (AFI Class of 1992) and Assistant Art Director Katelynn Wheelock (AFI Class of 2010).

 

Netflix announced a November 23 premiere date for WEDNESDAY, the new Addams family series which AFI Alum Gandja Monteiro (AFI DWW Class of 2018) serves as a director on.

 

THE WOMAN KING, shot by cinematographer Polly Morgan (AFI Class of 2010), opened strong to $19.1 million over the Sept. 16-18 weekend at the domestic box office. The Hollywood Reporter interviewed industry executives to talk about the significance of the moment and why the film exceeded expectations.

 

Watch the new stop motion animation film 7LBS 8OZ which was showcased by The New Yorker. The film features the work of cinematographer Ino Yang Popper (AFI Class of 2020) and editor Mengyao Zhang (AFI Class of 2020).

 

The New York Times reviewed AFI Screenwriting Alum Courtney Stephens’ (AFI Class of 2009) documentary TERRA FEMME, which compiles amateur travelogues shot largely by women from the 1920s through the 1950s, and named it a NYT Critic’s Pick.

 

THE VANISHING TRIANGLE, which heads into production later this year, will mark Paper Plane Productions’ first original Irish drama series. AFI Faculty member and producer Alon Aranya, as well as Paper Plane Creative Executive Talya Stern (AFI Class of 2019), are both behind the international co-production.

 

FESTIVAL NEWS

 

AFI Alum Darren Aronofsky’s (AFI Class of 1992) latest film THE WHALE, starring Brendan Fraser and shot by cinematographer Matthew Libatique (AFI Class of 1992), was met with widespread acclaim at the Venice International Film Festival. Aronofsky spent the past 10 years working to get the film made.

 

Deadline reviewed MONICA out of the Venice Film Festival, which stars Trace Lysette and Patricia Clarkson and is produced by AFI Alum Christina Dow (AFI Class of 2015), calling it “a tender portrait of familial reconnection in difficult circumstances, with terrific performances.”

 

At the Venice Film Festival, TÁR, directed by AFI Alum Todd Field (AFI Class of 1992) and starring Cate Blanchett, earned a six-minute standing ovation, rave reviews and instant Oscar® buzz.

 

KCET’s 23rd Fine Cut Festival of Films broadcast a series of six one-hour episodes on KCET including the AFI Thesis film MAGDALENA showcasing the work of AFI filmmakers – director Michael Lazovsky; producers Pablo Zamorano and Yuky Shen; cinematographer Enrico Silva; editor Joseph King; production designer Tianhao ‘Simon’ Gao; and story editor Maxwell Dougherty (all AFI Class of 2021).

 

Variety explored THE LISTENER, Steve Buscemi’s fifth feature as a director which screened at the Venice Festival’s Giornate degli Autori and was the closing film of Venice Days, praising the “steady framework” of cinematographer Anka Malatynska (AFI Class of 2007).

 

This November, the 18th Annual MY HERO International Film Festival will take place and submissions are still being accepted, until October 1, for the festival’s Special Awards. These awards honor filmmakers who work with themes of activism, peace, family relationships, women in media, ocean conservation and more. The goal is to support those using media to create positive change in the world. The festival is spearheaded by Founder and Co-Director Jeanne Meyers (AFI Class of 1983).

 

The Venice Film Festival presented writer/director Paul Schrader (AFI Class of 1969) with the Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award. Festival Director Alberto Barbera remarked, “It is not an exaggeration to affirm that he is one of the most important American filmmakers of his generation, a director who is deeply influenced by European film and culture, and a stubbornly independent screenwriter who nonetheless knows how to work on commission and confidently move within the Hollywood system.”

 

The Busan International Film Festival will premiere AJOOMMA, written and directed by He Shuming (AFI Class of 2014), in its New Currents section.

 

NBC News highlighted the LGBTQ+ representation at this year’s Venice Film Festival, including the films MONICA, TÁR and THE WHALE – all three of which were created by AFI Alumni.

 

OTHER NEWS

 

NPR explored the growth of Latinx representation onscreen, including the eagerly anticipated BLUE BEETLE, which debuts DC’s first-ever Latinx superhero and features a script written by AFI Alum Gareth Dunnet Alcocer (AFI Class of 2013).

 

DOWN HERE, written/directed by Omer Ben Shachar (AFI Class of 2018), shot by Cinematographer by Kai Krause (AFI Class of 2015) and produced by Thomas Hartmann (AFI Class of 2018), was named a Vimeo Staff Pick.

 

Director Hanna Västinsalo (AFI Class of 2014) will continue to play with sci-fi elements in SPACE HOBOS: HOW TO BUM A RIDE FROM SECTOR B12 TO MODULE C9, following the premiere of her Biennale College Cinema title PALIMPSEST at the Venice Film Festival.

 

FX renewed the critically acclaimed television show RESERVATION DOGS for Season 3. The series is edited by AFI Alum Varun Viswanath (AFI Class of 2012).

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