U.S. Premiere of THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Tonight in New York

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY from Academy Award^®-winning Peter Jackson has its U.S. Premiere tonight at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, and will benefit the education and preservation initiatives of the American Film Institute.

The screening begins at 7 p.m. EST, with the following expected cast and crew in attendance: 

6 December 1 Permalink

AFI Board Members Make the “Women in Entertainment: Power 100” List

Three members of our Board of Trustees are listed on the “Women in Entertainment 2012: Power 100 List” in today’s issue of The Hollywood Reporter. 

Current board members on the list are Anne Sweeney, Kathleen Kennedy and Shonda Rhimes.

Board Emeriti members also on the list are Amy Pascal and Stacey Snider.

Congratulations to all!

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/women-entertainment-list-anne-sweeney-396224

5 December 3 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Alumni at Sundance 2013

Congratulations to all the AFI Conservatory alums who will be at Sundance 2013 in January!

U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION 

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

Jean-Paul Leonard (AFI Class of 2011), Art Director

EMANUEL AND THE TRUTH ABOUT FISHES

Polly Morgan (AFI Class of 2010), Cinematographer

Anne Costa (AFI Class of 2010), Production Designer

Katelynn Wheelock (AFI Class of 2010), Set Decorator

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5 December 1 Permalink

The Unexpected Journey of Andy Serkis

Our December Issue of American Film Magazine is now available online. Read our exclusive interview with actor Andy Serkis, in which he discusses creating the character “Gollum” in a motion capture suit, for the upcoming Peter Jackson film, THE HOBBIT. 
Read the latest issue now 
http://americanfilm.afi.com

Sign up for our newletter to be alerted when new issues are available:

https://support.afi.com/sslpage.aspx?pid=393&tab=1

1 December 2 Permalink

DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN LOVES THE MOVIES

Read our interview with author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Her prize-winning, best-selling book “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,” was the basis for Steven Spielberg’s new film LINCOLN.

http://americanfilm.AFI.com/cover-story

27 November 1 Permalink

Third Episode of AFI’S MASTER CLASS - THE ART OF COLLABORATION: Robert Zemeckis and Don Burgess

This January, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and the American Film Institute (AFI) will continue their series of specials exploring some of the greatest artistic collaborations in film. In the series’ third installment, TCM PRESENTS: AFI’S MASTER CLASS – THE ART OF COLLABORATION: Robert Zemeckis and Don Burgess, the two men discuss their work together in front of an audience comprised of AFI Fellows studying filmmaking at the world-renowned AFI Conservatory. The special will premiere Monday, January 14, 2013, at 8:00 p.m. (ET), only on TCM.

Oscar^®-winning director Robert Zemeckis and Oscar^®-nominated cinematographer Don Burgess began working together more than two decades ago and, since then, their collaborations have been nothing short of remarkable. Together they have created such acclaimed films as FORREST GUMP (1994), the Academy Award^®-winning story of a simple man’s life through decades of U.S. history; the Oscar^®-nominated sci-fi thriller CONTACT (1997), adapted from Carl Sagan’s book about an astronomer’s discovery of extra-terrestrial intelligence; the Oscar^®-nominated CAST AWAY (2000), a tale of a man’s journey home after being stranded on a deserted island; and their latest film, FLIGHT (2012), an action-packed mystery thriller about a seasoned airline pilot’s struggles after his miraculous crash landing.

In the new AFI special, the two men discuss their many collaborations and how the art of visual storytelling plays into each film. They also discuss films that have inspired them, including CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (1971), THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971), THE GODFATHER (1972) and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962). AFI’S MASTER CLASS is packed with clips from these films, as well as memorable scenes from the artists’ own movies.

TCM will follow this latest edition of AFI’S MASTER CLASS with a TCM premiere presentation of the Zemeckis and Burgess film, WHAT LIES BENEATH (2000), starring Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer and Katharine Towne, at 9:00 p.m. (ET) and an encore of the special at 11:30 p.m. (ET).

The following is TCM’s complete schedule for the night of January 14 (all times Eastern):

8:00 p.m. –TCM PRESENTS: AFI’S MASTER CLASS – THE ART OF COLLABORATION: Robert Zemeckis and Don Burgess (premiere)9:00 p.m. –WHAT LIES BENEATH (2000)11:30 p.m. –TCM PRESENTS: AFI’S MASTER CLASS – THE ART OF COLLABORATION: Robert Zemeckis and Don Burgess (encore)12:30 a.m. –CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (1971)2:15 a.m. –TCM PRESENTS: AFI’S MASTER CLASS – THE ART OF COLLABORATION: Robert Zemeckis and Don Burgess (encore)

15 November Permalink

AFI Alumni and Staff Films Screening at AFI FEST 2012

AFI is so very proud of our talented alumni and staff with films selected to screen at AFI FEST 2012!

THE ABCS OF DEATH – D IS FOR DOGFIGHT SEGMENT
Harris Charalambous (AFI Class of 2003), Cinematographer
Midnight

ALASKA IS A DRAG
P. David Ebersole (AFI Class of 1991), Executive Producer
Shaz Bennett (AFI Directing Workshop for Women, Class of 2012), Director/Screenwriter
Tobias Datum (AFI Class of 2002), Cinematographer
Shorts Programs

CHILLY
Dylan Kohler (AFI Class of 2005), Producer/Director/Screenwriter/Editor
Armando Koghan (AFI Class of 2005), Cinematographer
Shorts Programs

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19 October 3 Permalink

World Cinema, Breakthrough, Midnight and Short Film Selections

World Cinema showcases the most anticipated and prize-winning international films of the year, Breakthrough highlights work discovered only through the submission process and Midnight’s selections are always haunting. Both World Cinema and Breakthrough feature a number of films making their North American or U.S. Premieres, including THE ANGELS’ SHARE, GREATEST HITS, LAURENCE ANYWAYS, NAIROBI HALF LIFE, PIETA, WHITE ELEPHANT and ZAYTOUN.

Two of the shorts in competition are from AFI Conservatory’s recent class of 2011 – Justin Tipping’s NANI and Ryan Prows’ NARCOCORRIDO, both winners at the 39th Annual Student Academy Awards® in the Narrative film category earlier this year. Heidi Levitt (AFI Class of 1987) is once again represented at the festival, this time as executive producer of GINGER AND ROSA in the Special Screenings section.

Read More

15 October 8 Permalink

AFI FEST 2012 Centerpiece Galas and Special Screenings Announced

The Centerpiece Galas are LIFE OF PI in 3D (DIR Ang Lee); ON THE ROAD (DIR Walter Salles); RISE OF THE GUARDIANS in 3D (DIR Peter Ramsey); and RUST AND BONE/DE ROUILLE ET D’OS (DIR Jacques Audiard) featuring A Tribute to Marion Cotillard. All galas will be presented in the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

AFI FEST’s Special Screenings are THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE (DIR Ken Burns); GINGER AND ROSA (DIR Sally Potter); HOLY MOTORS (DIR Léos Carax); THE IMPOSSIBLE (DIR Juan Antonio Bayona); QUARTET (DIR Dustin Hoffman in his directorial debut); ROOM 237 (DIR Rodney Ascher); SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (DIR David O. Russell); and WEST OF MEMPHIS (DIR Amy Berg).

As previously announced, the World Premiere of HITCHCOCK (DIR Sacha Gervasi) is the Opening Night Gala and the World Premiere of LINCOLN (DIR Steven Spielberg) is the Closing Night Gala.

For the fourth consecutive year, AFI FEST will continue its unprecedented offer of free tickets to all screenings, but only the Star Patron Package and Marquee Patron Package will provide reserved seating for the galas, including the World Premiere opening night gala of HITCHCOCK and the World Premiere closing night gala of LINCOLN. These and other AFI FEST passes, including the Special Screenings Pass, are on sale now at AFI.com/AFIFEST. The American Film Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and cultural organization, and packages and passes are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

AFI members will have a 24-hour advance window on Wednesday, October 24 before free tickets become available to the general public. In addition, AFI members at the Two-Star level and above receive a 10% discount on all Patron Packages and Passes. Information about AFI Membership is available at AFI.com/membership.

11 October 6 Permalink