Alumni Nominated for Film Independent Spirit Awards and National Board of Review Awards

AFI is happy to congratulate the following AFI Conservatory alums that have been recently nominated for the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards and the 2012 National Board of Review Awards.

2013 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
(7 Films with 9 Alums credited)

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Affonso Gonçalves (AFI Class of 1993), Editor
Best Feature (Nominee)

THE INVISIBLE WAR
Kirby Dick (AFI Class of 1983), Director/Screenwriter
Best Documentary (Nominee)

KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
Affonso Gonçalves (AFI Class of 1993), Editor
Best Feature (Nominee)

MOSQUITA Y MARI
Magela Crosignani (AFI Class of 2008), Cinematographer
Augie Robles (AFI Class of 1995), Editor
John Cassavetes Award (Nominee)

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
Rita DaSilva (AFI Class of 2005), Additional Editor
Best First Feature (Nominee)

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (Screened at AFI FEST 2012)
Masanobu Takayanagi (AFI Class of 2002), Cinematographer
Jay Cassidy (AFI Class of 1976), Editor
Best Feature (Nominee)

SOUND OF MY VOICE
Zal Batmanglij (AFI Class of 2006), Director/Screenwriter
Rachel Morrison (AFI Class of 2006), Cinematographer
Best First Feature (Nominee)

2012 NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW AWARDS
(11 Films with 15 Alums credited)

ARBITRAGE
Lauren Versel (AFI Class of 1984), Executive Producer
Brian Young (AFI Class of 1974), Executive Producer
Top 10 Independent Films

ARGO
Sharon Seymour (AFI Class of 1984), Production Designer
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (AFI Class of 1997), Second Unit Director
Top Films

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Affonso Gonçalves (AFI Class of 1993), Editor
Top Films

DJANGO UNCHAINED
Robert Richardson (AFI Class of 1979), Cinematographer
Top Films

END OF WATCH
Jillian Longnecker (AFI Class of 2002), Co-Producer
Top 10 Independent Films

THE INVISIBLE WAR
Kirby Dick (AFI Class of 1983), Director/Screenwriter
Top 5 Documentaries

LINCOLN (Screened at AFI FEST 2012)
Janusz Kamiński, AFI Class of 1987), Cinematographer
Sarah Broshar (AFI Class of 2005), First Assistant Editor
Top Films

NO
Daniel Dreifuss (AFI Class of 2007), Producer
Top 5 Foreign Language Films

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
Rita DaSilva (AFI Class of 2005), Additional Editor
Top Films

PROMISED LAND
Gregory Weimerskirch (AFI Class of 1994), Art Director
Top Films

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (Screened at AFI FEST 2012)
Masanobu Takayanagi (AFI Class of 2002), Cinematographer
Jay Cassidy (AFI Class of 1976), Editor

18 December 1 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Alumni Honored in 2012 AFI Awards

We are proud to congratulate the 25 AFI Conservatory Alums being honored with an AFI Award this year. The following alumni were a part of the collaborative teams in seven films and five television programs selected for 2012.

AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR

ARGO
Sharon Seymour (AFI Class of 1984), Production Designer
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (AFI Class of 1997), Second Unit Director

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
Affonso Gonçalves (AFI Class of 1993), Editor

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Wally Pfister (AFI Class of 1988), Cinematographer
Berenice Eveno (AFI Class of 2011), Set Assistant/Assistant to Wally Pfister

DJANGO UNCHAINED
Robert Richardson (AFI Class of 1979), Cinematographer

LIFE OF PI
Cindy Shin-lun Li (AFI Class of 2013), Production Assistant
Pin-Chun Liu (AFI Class of 2013), Grip

LINCOLN
Janusz Kamiński (AFI Class of 1987), Cinematographer
Sarah Broshar (AFI Class of 2005), First Assistant Editor

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Masanobu Takayanagi (AFI Class of 2002), Cinematographer
Jay Cassidy (AFI Class of 1976), Editor

AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM
Bradley Buecker (AFI Class of 2003), Co-Executive Producer/Director/Editor
Dante Di Loreto (AFI Class of 1991), Executive Producer
Brad Falchuk (AFI Class of 1996), Executive Producer/Screenwriter
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (AFI Class of 1997), Director
Adam Penn (AFI Class of 2003), Editor

HOMELAND
Gideon Raff (AFI Class of 2003), Executive Producer/Screenwriter

MAD MEN
Jennifer Getzinger (AFI Directing Workshop for Women, Class of 2005), Director
Nathaniel Smith (AFI Class of 2006), Associate Producer
Chris Manley (AFI Class of 1994), Cinematographer
Christopher Gay (AFI Class of 2006), Editor

MODERN FAMILY
Steven Rasch (AFI Class of 1988), Editor

THE WALKING DEAD
Sang Kyu Kim (AFI Class of 2006), Producer
Lesli Linka Glatter (AFI Directing Workshop for Women, Class of 1982), Director (episode airing February 10, 2013)
Rohn Schmidt (AFI Class of 1985), Cinematographer

11 December 2 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

Read More

5 December 1 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Alumni in the News – August 2012 Recap

So many of our AFI Alumni have been recognized over the past month on their work and accomplishments!

NBC has acquired an hour-long romantic comedy, tentatively titled CYRANO penned by Michael Palmer (AFI Class of 1999).

Dimension Films has acquired ANGRY LITTLE GOD for US Distribution. AFI Class of 2004 alum Daniel Stamm directed the film.

Warner Brothers has acquired a script from Vera Blasi (AFI Class of 1991) titled PONTIUS PILATE which follows the life of Lucius Pontius Pilate from his beginnings as “the sensitive son of a Roman Knight into a ferocious solider.”

An interview with Cinematographer Robert Elswit (AFI Class of 1977) regarding his work on THE BOURNE LEGACY.

Pete Villani (AFI Class of 2004) was named one of eight honorees for the Emerging Cinematographer Awards named by the International Cinematographers Guild.

AFI Alumni director Thymaya Payne (AFI Class of 2006) won the Boccalino D’oro (independent critics award) at the Locarno Film Festival for his documentary on Somali pirates STOLEN SEAS.

Directing Workshop For Women alumna Rachel Goldberg (Class of 2010), has shared the news that her short film NEIGHBORS has received First Place for the Alternative Spirit Award from the Rhode Island International Film Festival, and will screen on Friday, September 21 in Los Angeles at the Sunset Gower Studios as part of the NewFilmmakers LA Film series.

Directing Workshop For Women alumna Hanelle Culpepper (Class of 2002) directed an episode of 90210 this month, which featured Olympian Ryan Lochte.

And finally, be sure to check out this interview with Karen Maruyama, a member of the AFI Conservatory Directing Faculty, on her role Jay Roach’s THE CAMPAIGN.

Congratulations to all!

24 August 4 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Alums Nominated For the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards

Congratulations are due today to our many, many AFI Conservatory Alums who have been honored with a 64^th Primetime Emmy Nomination.

Outstanding Drama Series
HOMELAND
Gideon Raff (AFI Class of 2003), Executive Producer

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
HOMELAND - “Pilot”
Gideon Raff (AFI Class of 2003), Written By

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Bradley Buecker (AFI Class of 2003), Co-Executive Producer
Dante Di Loreto (AFI Class of 1991), Executive Producer
Brad Falchuk (AFI Class of 1996), Executive Producer

Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM JOHANNESBURG
Connie Field (AFI Class of 1997), Producer

Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
VEEP
Allison Jones (AFI Class of 1981), Casting By

Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series
MAD MEN - “The Phantom”
Christopher Manley (AFI Class of 1994), ASC, Director of Photography

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
MAD MEN - “Far Away Places”
Chris Gay (AFI Class of 2006), Edited By

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM - “Palestinian Chicken”
Steven A. Rasch (AFI Class of 1988), A.C.E., Editor

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series
MODERN FAMILY - “Election Day”
Steven A. Rasch (AFI Class of 1988), A.C.E., Edited by

Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series
HOT IN CLEVELAND - “God And Football”
Mark Dashnaw (AFI Class of 1999), Edited by

Outstanding Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming
AMERICAN MASTERS - “Johnny Carson: King Of Late Night”
Mark Catalena (AFI Class of 1994), Editor

Outstanding Main Title Design
AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Juan Ruiz Anchia (AFI Class of 1979), Director of Photography

Congratulations to all our Alums. We are very proud!

http://www.emmys.tv/

19 July 1 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Alum Ben Kitchens Honored by The American Society of Cinematographers

Congratulations to AFI Conservatory alum Ben Kitchens! He has received an Honorable Mention for his Cinematography on AFI Alum film NARCOCORRIDO from The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC)! 

A ceremony announcing the winners in each category was held at the ASC Clubhouse on June 16. The awards are designed to showcase the artistic abilities of the next generation of filmmakers, with a focus on their cinematographic abilities.

(AFI Alumni)

19 June Permalink

Mel Brooks and David Lynch Receive Honorary Degrees

Today at the 2012 AFI Conservatory commencement, we were proud to confer Doctorate of Fine Arts degrees honoris causa upon American comedy icon Mel Brooks and celebrated surrealist David Lynch for “contribution of distinction to the art of the moving image.” Both artists worked together on the Academy Award winning THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980), with Lynch as director and screenwriter and Brooks as executive producer. Brooks and Lynch join previous AFI Honorary Degree recipients including Robert Altman, Maya Angelou, Clint Eastwood, Roger Ebert, James Earl Jones, Nora Ephron, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kathleen Kennedy, John Lasseter, Spike Lee, Helen Mirren, Haskell Wexler and John Williams.

For the first time, the AFI Conservatory commencement was held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, which was declared a cultural landmark in 1968. AFI graduating class representative Vanara Taing spoke about the importance of films, acknowledging the American Film Institute’s tenet that movies matter by saying, “It’s not just a movie – it’s a time to transcend.” In her remarks, Taing referred to AFI as “graduate school on steroids – we make 110 films over two years together.” 122 graduates of the AFI Conservatory received degrees at the ceremony.

13 June 1 Permalink

AFI Conservatory Films Honored at the 39th Student Academy Awards

Congratulations to the AFI Conservatory thesis teams of NARCOCORRIDO and NANI, winners of the 39^th Student Academy Awards in the Narrative film category! At last Saturday’s ceremony, The Bronze Medal went to NANI, directed by Justin Tipping, and the Silver Medal went to NARCOCORRIDO, directed by Ryan Prows.

The AFI Conservatory, named the #1 film school in the world by The Hollywood Reporter for the quality of its instructors and speakers, and its “glittering parade of alumni,” was the only school at this year’s Student Academy Awards with multiple medal winners.

NARCOCORRIDO, directed and written by Ryan Prows, centers on a gravely ill border cop’s reckless cartel heist and the desperate souls destroyed in her wake. The AFI Conservatory thesis team also includes producer L. Onye Anyanwu, cinematographer Benjamin Kitchens, editor Jarod Shannon, production designer Callie Andreadis and story editor Shaye Ogbonna.

NANI, directed and co-written by Justin Tipping, tells the story of a teenage graffiti artist and an elderly nursing home resident who form an unlikely bond through misadventures in graffiti. The AFI Conservatory thesis team also includes producer West McDowell, co-screenwriter Joshua Beirne-Golden, cinematographer Soren Hiorth, editor Linda Jildmalm and production designer Bonnie Bacevich.

11 June Permalink

Wally Pfister to Receive the 2012 Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal

Cinematographer and AFI Conservatory alum Wally Pfister will receive the 2012 Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal. Pfister will be presented with the medal as part of the AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Shirley MacLaine, to be held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City on June 7, 2012, and broadcast on TV Land on June 24 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Pfister’s has collaborated with director Christopher Nolan on
MEMENTO (2000), INSOMNIA (2002), BATMAN BEGINS (2005), THE PRESTIGE (2006), THE DARK KNIGHT (2008), INCEPTION (2010), for which Pfister received the Oscar, and this summer’s THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012). 

5 June 3 Permalink