Inaugural AFI Conservatory Expo Showcase

The American Film Institute (AFI) announces the first-ever AFI Conservatory EXPO, a one-day festival showcasing 30 thesis films from the Class of 2017 introducing the AFI Conservatory's most recent MFA graduates to leaders of the film and television community.

Taking place Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. on the AFI Campus in Los Angeles. The filmmaking teams behind each thesis film will be present at the EXPO along with additional AFI Conservatory alumni, faculty, Fellows and staff. The EXPO is sponsored by VIZIO — the official home theater sponsor of AFI.

"The AFI Conservatory EXPO is designed to build community — bringing the industry to our campus to meet our filmmakers and see their films," said Richard Gladstein, Dean, AFI Conservatory. "The EXPO also celebrates collaboration, shining a light on the collective achievements of AFI Conservatory filmmakers across the disciplines of Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting."

All of the shorts will screen twice throughout the day. To learn more about the films and RSVP to attend, visit the EXPO website.


AFI Conservatory Alumna Rachel Morrison Becomes First Woman Ever Nominated For Cinematography Academy Award®

AFI Conservatory Fellows make up to 10 films during their two-year training, which culminates in the production of a thesis film. Thirteen AFI Conservatory thesis films have been nominated for Academy Awards®.

The AFI Class of 2017 joins an elite group of 5,115 alumni who have received a total of 149 Academy Award® nominations and 30 wins. Throughout the 2017-2018 awards season, AFI alumni have been nominated for 174 awards by major guilds, academies and other professional associations — with 42 award wins.

Recently, AFI Conservatory alumni have had global impact including Rachel Morrison, the first woman ever nominated for a Best Cinematography Academy Award®; Patty Jenkins, director of the world-wide phenomenon WONDER WOMAN; Liz Hannah, who wrote the Best Picture Academy Award® nominee THE POST; and Scott Frank, the Academy Award®-nominated writer of LOGAN — the first superhero film ever to receive a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

About the AFI Conservatory
In 1969, the AFI Conservatory opened its doors to an inaugural class that included Terrence Malick, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader.


American Film Institute Announces AFI Awards 2017 Official Selections

The AFI Conservatory offers a two-year MFA degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. Aspiring artists learn from the masters in a collaborative, hands-on production environment with an emphasis on storytelling. Alumni of this elite program include Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Julie Dash, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, David Lynch and Robert Richardson, among others.

About the American Film Institute
The American Film Institute was established by presidential proclamation in the White House Rose Garden, and launched its national mandate on June 5, 1967 — to preserve the heritage of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI's founding Trustees included Gregory Peck, Sidney Poitier, Francis Ford Coppola, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Jack Valenti and George Stevens, Jr., as Director.

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