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LUCIA ANIELLO TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT AFI DWW+ SHOWCASE

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES

EMMY® AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER LUCIA ANIELLO AS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT AFI DWW+ SHOWCASE

DWW+ Class of 2025 to Debut New Films

Alums of the DWW+ Directing Program Include Lesli Linka Glatter, Siân Heder, Dime Davis, Cicely Tyson, Lee Grant, Gandja Monteiro, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Maya Angelou and More

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, March 4, 2025 – Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced that Emmy® Award-winning writer/director/producer Lucia Aniello (HACKS, BROAD CITY, ROUGH NIGHT) will deliver the keynote address at the AFI DWW+ Showcase for the Class of 2025 which will take place on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.

The DWW+ Showcase is an integral part of the AFI DWW+ program and provides an opportunity for the graduating cohort to premiere their short films to an audience of agency and studio representatives, as well as working artists from throughout the creative community.

The presenting directors from the Class of 2025 include Julia Bales, Jahmil Eady, MG Evangelista, Marissa High, Jasmine J. Johnson, Natasha Mynhier, Karina Lomelin Ripper and Ezra Rose. The directors were mentored by AFI DWW+ Guest Artistic Director Hanelle M. Culpepper (STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE, STAR TREK: PICARD, WESTWORLD) who also oversaw the artistic curriculum for the 2024–2025 program.

“Lucia Aniello is an imperative and dynamic voice in today’s storytelling landscape, and we are honored to welcome her as this year’s keynote speaker at the AFI DWW+ Showcase,” said Susan Ruskin, Dean of the AFI Conservatory and Executive Vice President of the American Film Institute. “We look forward to bringing the entertainment community together to celebrate the DWW+ Class of 2025 directors and their bold new films.”

Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Lucia Aniello is a writer, director, producer, performer and one half of the comedy team Paulilu with her partner, Paul W. Downs.

Aniello and Downs have achieved critical acclaim and commercial success writing, directing, producing and acting in comedies such as HACKS, BROAD CITY, TIME TRAVELING BONG, NORA FROM QUEENS, THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB and more.

Aniello is currently writing, directing and executive producing the fourth season of Max’s Original comedy series, HACKS, starring Jean Smart, which she also co-created alongside Downs and Jen Statsky. HACKS has received 48 Emmy® nominations and nine wins across its three seasons, including wins for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series as well as wins for four Golden Globe Awards, four Writers Guild of America Awards and a Peabody Award; and Aniello has won two Directors Guild of America Awards in the category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series. The series was honored as one of the Outstanding Television Programs of the Year at the AFI AWARDS for seasons one, two and three. HACKS has also received various award nominations and wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Producers Guild of America Awards and the Gotham Awards, among others. Season three of the show premiered on May 2, 2024, on Max with season four premiering in the Spring of 2025.

After the success of HACKS in 2021, Downs and Aniello signed a multiyear overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. Most recently, in November of 2024, HBO landed KANSAS CITY STAR, a half-hour comedy starring and executively produced by Kaley Cuoco, created by the Hacks trio of Aniello, Downs and Statsky.

Aniello also served as executive producer and director on Comedy Central’s series AWKWAFINA IS NORA FROM QUEENS and Netflix’s THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB. Aniello previously served as a writer, executive producer and director on Comedy Central’s beloved series BROAD CITY, which ran for five seasons. On the big screen, Aniello directed Sony’s ROUGH NIGHT starring Scarlett Johansson which she also co-wrote and produced with Downs. Other past projects include the Comedy Central miniseries TIME TRAVELING BONG, which was created and written by Aniello, along with Downs and Ilana Glazer.

Download photo of Lucia Aniello (photo credit: Ryan Pfluger)

RSVPs are required for the AFI DWW+ Showcase on March 5.

As one of the longest-running and preeminent film and television workshops nationwide, AFI DWW+ has trained hundreds of artists whose directorial work has entertained global audiences and defined our collective cultural landscape. Distinguished Alums of the AFI DWW+ program include Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Neema Barnette, Pippa Bianco, Tessa Blake, Tricia Brock, Ellen Burstyn, Rebecca Cammisa, Dyan Cannon, Dime Davis, Jan Eliasberg, Naomi Foner, Jennifer Getzinger, Lesli Linka Glatter, Lyn Goldfarb, Randa Haines, Siân Heder, Victoria Hochberg, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Matia Karrell, Maggie Kiley, Lynne Littman, Nancy Malone, Gandja Monteiro, Amber Sealey, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, Becky Smith, Cicely Tyson, Jude Weng and Joanne Woodward. View full list of 350+ AFI DWW+ Alums here.

AFI DWW+ is part of the AFI Conservatory’s Department of Innovative Programs, which also includes the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Through a range of learning opportunities, Innovative Programs serves a diverse community of aspiring visual storytellers to cultivate cutting-edge technological and media-making skills, bridge access to professional networks and place participants on an upward career trajectory.

Learn more at Conservatory.AFI.com/Innovative-Programs/.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST Presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at elevating emerging storytellers and technology, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

About the AFI Conservatory

The AFI Conservatory opened its doors in 1969 to an inaugural class that included Terrence Malick, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader. Today, the Conservatory offers a two-year MFA degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. In a collaborative production environment, AFI Fellows learn to master the art of storytelling, collectively creating up to 175 films a year. Fellows actively participate in the entire life cycle of a film, from development through production and exhibition.

Alumni of this elite program, ranging from modern masters to bold new voices defining the state of the art form, include Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Aster, Deniese Davis, Sam Esmail, Brad Falchuk, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Liz Hannah, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Polly Morgan, Rachel Morrison and Wally Pfister, among others.

Press contact: American Film Institute

Shari Mesulam, Shari@themesulamgroup.com

#AFI, American Film Institute

AFI Announces the Directors Selected for the AFI DWW+ Class of 2026

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

AFI ANNOUNCES THE DIRECTORS SELECTED FOR THE
AFI DWW+ CLASS OF 2026

Award-winning Filmmaker Marie Jamora Named Guest Artistic Director

Alums Include Lesli Linka Glatter, Siân Heder, Dime Davis, Cicely Tyson, Lee Grant, Gandja Monteiro, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Maya Angelou and More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, February 13, 2025 – Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced the filmmakers selected for the AFI DWW+ Class of 2026. Founded in 1974 as the Directing Workshop for Women, AFI DWW+ is a tuition-free year-long directing program, open to all applicants, that supports emerging narrative filmmakers through the production cycle of a short film, providing hands-on instruction led by industry experts. The short films will premiere at the annual DWW+ Showcase in Spring 2026.

The artists selected for the AFI DWW+ Class of 2026 are Ragini Bhasin, Reena Dutt, Maja Fernqvist, Melissa Fisher, Ran Jing, Eunice Levis, Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz and Destinee Stewart.

The eight participants demonstrate a passion for visual storytelling, the tenacity to pursue a directorial career and a willingness to learn and grow, among other program requirements. Each participant went through a rigorous selection process and were ultimately selected from 20 finalists who met with the Final Selection Committee.

AFI also announced that Marie Jamora (AFI DWW Class of 2020) has been named the AFI DWW+ Guest Artistic Director for the Class of 2026.

“For over 50 years, AFI DWW+ has had a meaningful impact on the industry,” said Susan Ruskin, Dean of the AFI Conservatory and Executive Vice President of the American Film Institute. “We are honored that AFI DWW+ Alum and trailblazing director, Marie Jamora, will be guiding the new cohort as they create their films and showcase their unique visions. We look forward to watching the Class of 2026 flourish as directors and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.”

“AFI’s DWW changed my life – the short film that I produced in the program became my calling card that launched me into the television directing career I aspired to,” said Jamora. “The filmmakers in my class are not just my dearest friends, we continue to provide each other with support and feedback in our ongoing projects. I’m honored to be able to give back to the program that gave me so much, to design the curriculum setting up this amazing new cohort for success. Now more than ever, we need to elevate voices like theirs to contribute to the film industry that we all love and grew up dreaming about.”

Born and raised in Manila, Jamora is an award-winning filmmaker who has directed countless films and television programs, including episodes of FIRE COUNTRY, THE CLEANING LADY and QUEEN SUGAR. Most recently, she directed an episode of the MATLOCK reboot starring Academy Award® and Emmy® winner Kathy Bates. Her short film, FLIP THE RECORD, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short at Urbanworld and was shortlisted for the 90th Academy Awards®. Her first feature, WHAT ISN’T THERE, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival. Jamora also produced and directed a project for Ava DuVernay, created for Starz. After two decades of filmmaking and teaching in the Philippines, she has taught at the AFI Conservatory and Sundance Co//ab. She is one of the leaders of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee’s Squad Mentorship program, the founder of the non-profit community organization Cinema Sala, and proudly one of the few Filipinos in the Directors Guild of America.

Jamora will act as a mentor for the DWW+ participants throughout the production cycle and industry showcase and oversee and direct the artistic curriculum, which is taught by film and television professionals working at top levels within the industry, as well as experienced Faculty from the AFI Conservatory.

As one of the longest-running and preeminent film and television workshops nationwide, AFI DWW+ has trained hundreds of artists whose directorial work has entertained global audiences and defined our collective cultural landscape. Distinguished Alums of the AFI DWW+ program include Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Neema Barnette, Pippa Bianco, Tessa Blake, Tricia Brock, Ellen Burstyn, Rebecca Cammisa, Dyan Cannon, Dime Davis, Jan Eliasberg, Naomi Foner, Jennifer Getzinger, Lesli Linka Glatter, Lyn Goldfarb, Randa Haines, Siân Heder,  Victoria Hochberg, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Matia Karrell, Maggie Kiley, Lynne Littman, Nancy Malone, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, Becky Smith, Cicely Tyson and Joanne Woodward. View full list of 350+ AFI DWW Alums here.

 

About the AFI DWW+ Class of 2026:

Ragini Bhasin

Ragini Bhasin is a South Asian writer/director and graduate of Chapman University film school who specializes in everyday thrillers and socially conscious films told with a feminist lens. Her shorts have screened at several Oscar®-qualifying festivals, including two recent shorts opening at Palm Springs ShortFest. Her films have also been featured in The Wrap’s ShortList festival, selected as Vimeo Staff Pick, and distributed by ARTE Channel, ShortsTV, Argo Channel and PBS. She received the Meredith MacRae Memorial Award from WIF, was a BAFTA Newcomer (2021–2024), won the 2022 Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge hosted by CAPE and Janet Yang Productions, and was a 2023 Film Independent’s Project Involve Directing fellow.

Reena Dutt

Reena Dutt is dedicated to new and reimagined texts that catapult polarizing conversations through unexpected stories of the underheard. Her short film, FOUND is being used to start conversations within the transracial adoptee community, and TOO MANY BODIES was supported by NoRAnow.org and Survivors Empowered, advocating for gun reform. As a producer, her films have been screened at over 80 festivals including Sundance, Outfest, SF Dance and Frameline. She was a past producing fellow with SFFilm, TAP and Film Independent. Dutt is also a theater director working regionally in the USA and her next production opens in Long Beach in March.

Maja Fernqvist 

Maja Fernqvist is a multi-award-winning creative director, with many years of experience in the advertising industry. Fernqvist focuses on telling stories in artful and visually arresting ways. Her work includes music videos, art films, commercials and short films officially selected by film festivals such as LA Short Fest and Brooklyn Film Festival. Fernqvist was chosen by Lionsgate to direct a short film from the Twilight Saga Universe and selected as one of the emerging directors for SHOOT New Directors Showcase. Fernqvist’s work has received worldwide recognition from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Clios and British Television Advertising Awards.

Melissa Fisher

Melissa Fisher is an accomplished director, writer and multi-hyphenate in the industry with over 12 years of experience on Academy Award®-winning sets such as Damien Chazelle’s LA LA LAND and FIRST MAN, and Emmy Award®-winning shows like GLOW and THE DROPOUT. A graduate of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film, Fisher’s directorial work merges technical skill with poetic imagery to create emotionally evocative drama, tackling social justice themes and highlighting marginalized communities. Fisher’s recent short BUSCANDO ALMA focused on immigration and gender identity, and won numerous awards including the Oscar®-Qualifying Jury Award at Atlanta’s Out On Film Festival.

Ran Jing

Ran Jing is a transnational writer and director, acclaimed for her debut feature MODEL, which was featured in Variety China, won multiple awards at Academy Award®- and BAFTA-qualifying festivals, and had a theatrical release in China. Named one of ISA’s Top 25 Writers to Watch, Jing has written features for Ruyi Films. A former storyboard artist at Blue Sky Studios, she worked on blockbusters such as SPIES IN DISGUISE, THE PEANUTS MOVIE and the ICE AGE franchise. Her extensive experience in both Hollywood and China profoundly informs her passion for crafting nuanced, character-driven stories that explore themes of identity and belonging.

Eunice Levis

Writer and director, Eunice Levis, is a first-generation Dominican American from the Bronx, New York. Levis’ work focuses on genre-bending stories that explore technology, race, gender, history and diaspora identity. She was most recently a 2024 NALIP Media Accelerator fellow, and a Starz #TakeTheLead Writer’s Lab Intensive fellow. Levis was previously a Stowe Story Lab Fellow and a Netflix/NALIP Women of Color Short Film Incubator fellow. Her latest short, RO & THE STARDUST, a bilingual space fantasy, is currently streaming on Netflix. Levis is a film adjunct professor and holds an MA from New York University.

Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz 

Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz is a writer and director whose work explores desire, power dynamics and the female gaze. Her television writing credits include Amazon’s CRUEL INTENTIONS and Amazon’s I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. As a director, Martin-Berkowicz’s short film SCOTTY’S VAG premiered at SXSW and is now streaming on Vimeo, where it received a Staff Pick. Her previous short, IN SYNC, premiered at the Maryland Film Festival and is streaming on NoBudge. Martin-Berkowicz is a 2024 Sony Pictures TV Diverse Directors fellow and is developing her feature directorial debut. She holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University. 

Destinee Stewart

Destinee Stewart is a director and writer from Dallas, Texas, now based in Los Angeles, who explores identity, resilience and connection. Her most recent film, THE OTHER PARTNERS, premiered in 2024 at the Oscar®-qualifying RiverRun Film Festival, and her feature, WADE IN THE WATER, a psychological horror, has been supported by BendFilm: Basecamp and the Cucalorus Writing Residency. She is developing her proof-of-concept short film for her feature WADE IN THE WATER. Previously, she led international dubbing productions for Netflix, collaborating on global projects like LOVE IS BLIND, REPRESENT and IN HIS SHADOW.

AFI DWW+ is part of the AFI Conservatory’s Department of Innovative Programs, which also includes the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Through a range of learning opportunities, Innovative Programs serves a diverse community of aspiring visual storytellers to cultivate cutting-edge technological and media-making skills, bridge access to professional networks and place participants on an upward career trajectory.

Learn more at Conservatory.AFI.com/Innovative-Programs/.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at elevating emerging storytellers and technology, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

About the AFI Conservatory

The AFI Conservatory opened its doors in 1969 to an inaugural class that included Terrence Malick, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader. Today, the Conservatory offers a two-year MFA degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. In a collaborative production environment, AFI Fellows learn to master the art of storytelling, collectively creating up to 175 films a year. Fellows actively participate in the entire life cycle of a film, from development through production and exhibition.

Alumni of this elite program, ranging from modern masters to bold new voices defining the state of the art form, include Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Aster, Deniese Davis, Sam Esmail, Brad Falchuk, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Liz Hannah, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Polly Morgan, Rachel Morrison and Wally Pfister, among others.

Press contact:

American Film Institute

Shari Mesulam, Shari@themesulamgroup.co

#AFI, American Film Institute, television

AFI AWARDS EVENT CELEBRATES THE POWER OF ART TO HEAL, INSPIRE AND UNITE

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

AFI AWARDS EVENT CELEBRATES THE POWER OF ART

TO HEAL, INSPIRE AND UNITE

Sean Baker, Adrien Brody, Quinta Brunson, Jon M. Chu, Colman Domingo, Jesse Eisenberg, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Ariana Grande, Edward Norton, RaMell Ross, Zoe Saldaña, Denis Villeneuve and Michelle Yeoh Among Guests

AFI’s Founding Director George Stevens, Jr. Delivered Benediction

Richard Frank Scholarships Named in Honor of AFI AWARDS Recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, February 6, 2025 – Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) celebrated the 2024 AFI AWARDS honorees, bringing together the creative community to honor excellence in the art of the moving image. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, AFI AWARDS is the only national program that honors creative teams as a whole, recognizing the collaborative nature of the work by embracing those in front of and behind the camera.

In opening remarks, AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale spoke about the power of art to inspire empathy and hope, and how AFI AWARDS is a unique opportunity for everyone to appreciate and show their love for each other’s work. “It’s about community, it’s about camaraderie – never about competition.”

AFI then revealed its official rationales, provided below, for all 21 honorees, providing the cultural and artistic context to mark these outstanding creative endeavors as the year’s notable milestones. AFI AWARDS honorees include 10 outstanding motion pictures and 10 outstanding television programs deemed culturally and artistically representative of this year’s most significant achievements in the art of the moving image. An additional honoree was selected for an AFI Special Award, designated for works of excellence that fall outside of AFI AWARDS’ eligibility criteria. All the honored works advance the art of the moving image, inspire audiences and artists alike and enhance the rich cultural heritage of America’s art form.

George Stevens, Jr., filmmaker, author and AFI’s Founding Director, delivered the official benediction. In his address, Stevens remembered the unique artistry of David Lynch (AFI Class of 1970), who passed away earlier this year. Addressing the honorees and guests, Stevens said, “Let’s remember the remarkable legacy of cinematic creativity that David left for us – the mystical beauty we found in living his dreams. And as we leave this ceremony with David in our hearts, let us dedicate ourselves to restoring our devastated movie capital – and to making certain that ‘the movies’ in all their forms – not be afraid of grace and beauty and rise to new heights to entertain and enlighten the world.”

AFI also announced that the Richard Frank Scholarship Fund at the AFI Conservatory, which was established in 2024, will award scholarships to AFI Fellows in the name of each of the 21 AFI AWARDS honorees. The scholarships will provide financial assistance to empower and amplify the voices of young storytellers.

The AFI AWARDS luncheon also featured the Institute’s signature March of Time montage – a unique cross-section of cinematic milestones from decades past, which places the motion picture and television program honorees into a historical context and provides a perspective on the evolution of the narrative arts.

View March of Time Video

 

Guests in attendance at the AFI AWARDS luncheon included Rose Abdoo, Pam Abdy, Lucia Aniello, Jacques Audiard, Sean Baker, Stephanie Beatriz, Kristen Bell, Edward Berger, Alan Bergman, Lionel Boyce, Adam Brody, Adrien Brody, Quinta Brunson, Camille, Matt Chessé, Jon M. Chu, Dylan Clark, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Robert A. Daly, Mike De Luca, Colman Domingo, Clément Ducol, Ayo Edebiri, Jesse Eisenberg, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Cynthia Erivo, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Colin Farrell, Mona Fastvold, Rhenzy Feliz, Ralph Fiennes, Jean Picker Firstenberg, Harrison Ford, David Foster, Erin Foster, Jodie Foster, Sara Foster, Richard Frank, Jomo Fray, Petra Fried, Dede Gardner, Lesli Linka Glatter, Jeff Goldblum, Neil Goldman, Brett Goldstein, Ariana Grande, David Greenbaum, Jennifer Grey, Jessica Gunning, Justin Halpern, Fred Hechinger, Ethan Herisse, Boyd Holbrook, Moeka Hoshi, Pearlena Igbokwe, Mark Indelicato, Sean ‘Dino’ Johnson, Rachel Kondo, Peter Kujawski, Greg Kwedar, John Landgraf, Donna Langley, Bill Lawrence, Issa López, Justine Lupe, Clarence Maclin, Leonard Maltin, James Mangold, Justin Marks, Nava Mau, Christopher McDonald, Ted McGinley, Yariv Milchan, Cristin Milioti, Hiro Murai, Edward Norton, Deirdre O’Connell, Adriana Paz, Marc Platt, Samantha Quan, Edgar Ramírez, Matt Reeves, Kali Reis, RaMell Ross, Zoe Saldaña, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ted Sarandos, Patrick Schumacker, Michael Schur, Jason Segel, Helen Shaver, Francesca Sloane, Megan Statler, George Stevens, Jr., Christopher Storer, Peter Straughan, Luke Tennie, Jackie Tohn, Vache Tovmasyan, Michael Urie, Jon-Adrian ‘JJ’ Velazquez, Denis Villeneuve, Jeremy Allen White, Jessica Williams, Brandon Wilson, Michelle Yeoh, David Zaslav and more.

 

AFI AWARDS 2024 OFFICIAL RATIONALES:

AFI MOTION PICTURES OF THE YEAR

ANORA fractures the modern fairy tale with an explosion of originality. Sean Baker continues his pursuit of the untold stories of America, driven forward with force by Mikey Madison’s Brooklyn sex worker. This breakout performance shatters stereotype in a complex embodiment of hilarity and heartbreak while providing a crisp look at the modern world’s obsession with money, class and power – and the elusive nature of happily ever after.

THE BRUTALIST forges an upside-down American dream on the layered foundations of love, class and the darkest pains of the past. Brady Corbet’s opus stands as a monument to the power of the art form – brilliantly manifesting the age-old clash between artistic expression and the greed inherent in capitalism. At the cornerstone of this epic tale are tour-de-force performances from Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce, who demand audiences answer the question: is the destination worth the journey?

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN enters the American cinematic songbook through the mind and music of Bob Dylan. At the heart and soul of James Mangold’s time capsule stands Timothée Chalamet, whose embodiment of Dylan’s superhuman genius – and his human frailties – brings electric life to an iconic enigma. Explosive inner conflicts are grounded in the masterful supporting performances of Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning, each of whom answer the question with their eyes – “How does it feel…to be on your own?”

CONCLAVE sends convention up in smoke in this pulse-pounding papal thriller. Edward Berger’s deft direction proves taut, smart and subversive, as Roman whispers drive this robe and dagger drama forward with force. Rare is the film that endlessly entertains while posing thorny theological questions about faith and doubt – delivered in powerhouse performances from the holy alliance of Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini.

DUNE: PART TWO unleashes all the powers of the art form to fulfill the prophecy of its predecessor. Denis Villeneuve’s peerless vision for the epic big screen provides an unparalleled immersive experience where audiences are first-hand witness to both pulse-pounding action and spell-binding artistry. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya lead the army of artists who imagine these worlds beyond spectacle and, perhaps most daringly, touch the heart of what is human.

EMILIA PÉREZ smashes the convention of the cinematic crime saga – with song and dance, murder and mayhem, and a thoughtful examination of gender and identity. Defying genre with every fresh step, Jacques Audiard’s stylishly provocative thriller continually explodes its narrative with powder keg performances from Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez – a true triple threat of today’s top talent.

NICKEL BOYS opens our eyes to America – both its capacity for cruelty and its strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. Adapting the acclaimed novel by Colson Whitehead with infinite intimacy, RaMell Ross shines a lyrical light on atrocities in the all-too-recent past. Experiencing the narrative through a floating, first-person lens proves a cinematic magic trick that both breaks and then remakes the rules of the art form – ultimately, illuminating the poetic power of movies as engines of empathy.

A REAL PAIN is a true joy – finding the power of family and friendship amongst the ruins of an inhuman past. Jesse Eisenberg presents this odd couple odyssey as a comic-tragic Kvetch-22, an emotionally impossible journey that finds its way forward through the wildly oscillating moods and manners of Kieran Culkin’s hilariously charismatic performance. Audiences will laugh aloud – and never forget.

SING SING sings a song of Shakespeare within the kingdom of incarceration – proving the capacity of creativity to restore and inspire those who suffer “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” Greg Kwedar unlocks the talents of an extraordinary cast, led by Colman Domingo and an unprecedented ensemble of professionals and ex-prisoners who remind audiences, most powerfully, that it is art that will set you free.

WICKED ~PART I~ soars into the stratosphere of cinema history – a modern classic born from an evergreen concoction of cultural landmarks. The screen has rarely seen – or heard – towering performances like those delivered by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, leaving audiences Oz-struck across generations. And with Jon M. Chu the wizard behind the curtain, a brilliant creative ensemble creates an immersive world where one fights for what is right while encouraging us to believe we all can fly beyond the rainbow.

 

AFI TELEVISION PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY graduates into its third year raising the curve for contemporary comedy. Quinta Brunson’s endearing series unites the most familial and familiar of quick-witted characters and also stands tall as a timely monument to public school teachers and their personal devotion to a brighter future.

THE BEAR earns another AFI star in a season marked by an ever-simmering, often scorching tension between families, finances and fine dining. As temperatures rise in the pursuit of perfection, Christopher Storer’s masterful series calls upon the talents of an extraordinary front and back-of house ensemble to prove the show’s place in the pantheon as a “non-negotiable.”

HACKS raises the curtain on its third year with an audacious ambition – to bring new challenges, new life and new laughter to comedic characters that had fully-evolved in their journey to success. The results are triumphant. Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky have created a combustible alchemy in the relationship between Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, who prove yet again that they’re stronger together, in spite of themselves.

A MAN ON THE INSIDE retires old notions about the elderly by injecting a mature mystery into the everyday of a senior living community. Ted Danson proves the value of vintage, bringing an easy, intoxicating charm to Michael Schur’s delightful caper – a wholesome whodunit both light-hearted and life-affirming.

MR. & MRS. SMITH is a killer romance. With domesticity as a false front for secrets and lies, Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover’s globe-trotting thriller celebrates the pulse-pounding similarities between murder and couples therapy. The chemistry between its stars – Glover and Maya Erskine – proves explosive and as the smoke clears, demands we ask how well we know those closest to us.

NOBODY WANTS THIS is just what the world needs most – a smart, clever, funny romantic comedy that serves as an optimistic inspiration for divided times. Erin Foster’s light-hearted love story imagines “a rabbi and an agnostic walk into a bar,” and what follows lifts audiences’ hearts with the undeniably effervescent chemistry of Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. Which begs a toast – “L’Chaim!”

THE PENGUIN elevates pulp comics to prestige drama. Lauren LeFranc’s layered storytelling frames gritty Gotham in shadow, a lawless landscape with mob families battling for power and redemption. Colin Farrell dominates the dark through the sheer power of presence, and with Cristin Milioti as his underworld rival, together they bring both fire and ice to the canon of gangster classics.

SHŌGUN commands an epic vision that sails beyond the boundaries of television. Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks breathe new life into the classic novel from James Clavell – expanding upon its subtleties with rich cultural authenticity. Standing tall at its center is Hiroyuki Sanada – around whose rising sun orbits a stellar ensemble that evokes emotion transcending the barriers of language as they question what it means to seize, wield and hold power.

SHRINKING delves into the complexities of everyday with a fearless smile. Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein’s series provides a couch for audiences to lie and laugh upon – encouraging self-reflection, inspiring discovery and, ultimately, embracing moments of unexpected joy. At the foundation of a brilliant acting ensemble stands Harrison Ford, who transcends his own blockbuster iconography to show it is his heart that has earned his place as an American icon.

TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY shines a blinding light on unknown terrors in the dark – and illuminates a cultural chasm that divides us. Issa López’s heart-pounding mystery makes masterful use of the unseen to immerse audiences in an other-worldly environment that haunts from within. Standing stalwart among the shadows are Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, whose powerhouse performances uncover the unembodied power of greed and its corrosion of the spirit, the soil and the soul.

 

AFI SPECIAL AWARD

BABY REINDEER proves unrelenting in its exploration of what is kind and what is crazy – and does so as one of the year’s most uncompromising entertainments. Richard Gadd’s searing autobiographical series masks the darkest of pain with the most uncomfortable of comedy, and his brilliant performance – alongside Jessica Gunning and Nava Mau – underscores the pathos by illuminating universally authentic emotions.

The 2024 recipients join a distinguished group of previous AFI AWARDS honorees whose works define the art form and contribute to our rich cultural legacy. View past AFI AWARDS honorees.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow  on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute, and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

Press contact:

American Film Institute

Shari Mesulam, Shari@themesulamgroup.com

#AFI, #AFIDOCS, television

Jimmy Carter, Rock and Roll President, Revisited

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

Another year has gone by, as another year has arrived offering promise and hope. As the late great Jimmy Carter has recently passed (December 29, 2024), I felt it apropos to revisit the 2020 AFI DOCS closing night film, Jimmy Carter, Rock and Roll President with hope and optimism for the coming year.

Jimmy Carter, left, and Willie Nelson

Jimmy Carter, Rock & Roll President featured testimonial interviews, poetry readings, and archival  performances from musical legends Bob Dylan, Nile Rodgers, Roseanne Cash, Chuck Leavell, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles, Mihaela Jackson, Tom T. Hall, Jimmy Buffet, Bono, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels, and Gregg Allman and the Allman Brothers Band. Moreover, Ambassadors to the United Nations, Madeline Albright and Andrew Young, as well as Special Assistants to the President, Jim Free and Tom Beard, shared their respect and admiration for President Carter with direct interviews. Chip Carter, son and Presidential driver, added verisimilitude to the film’s revelatory narrative.

Bob Dylan (center) and Jimmy Carter (right)

Jimmy Carter, Rock & Roll President, directed by Mary Wharton, provided an artistic view into the influence of music on Jimmy Carter’s upbringing and its influence on the Carter Presidency. The work also provides an intimate look inside the former United States President who made peace, human rights, and healing the nation a priority. Carter was swept into the Presidency after narrowly defeating Gerald Ford and Bob Dole and after  Richard M. Nixon disgraced himself and the country with the Watergate scandal. Carter brought a sense of morality while giving the nation a sense of hope for the future pardoning Vietnam draft evaders on his second day in office. Carter would go on to create a new national energy policy using new technologies, price controls and conservation while establishing the Department of Energy. Furthermore, Carter secured peace with his Camp David Accords and the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (nuclear non-proliferation between the United States and the Former Soviet Union).

The film’s producer, Chris Farrell, was researching and gathering artifacts for an Allman Brothers documentary, he was referred to a “bunch of guys” who began sharing stories of Gregg Allman and Jimmy Carter. Then Bob Dylan. Then Willie Nelson. And so it went. Ad Infinitum. Interestingly, Allman was the first guest of President Carter to dine in the White House. The two had become friends during Carter’s years as the Governor of the State of Georgia. In an archival interview, a clean and sober Allman tells the story of Jimmy coming out in front of a group of musicians  and claiming the Presidency was his for the winning. Mr. Allman claims the pronouncement came as the two heavyweights put a large dent in a bottle of J & B Scotch Whiskey. Carter contested Allman’s claim. Jimmy claimed to have limited himself to one drink a day at most!

And, Jimmy Carter did become President. The road wasn’t easy. He struggled immensely until musicians like the Allman Brothers and Jimmy Buffet put on concerts in Rhode Island and Oregon respectively, galvanizing the youth vote. Even gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson was impressed with Jimmy Carter. Thompson was covering Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy’s national campaign for the Democratic Party nomination when he witnessed the verve of Carter. Carter would go on to win the nomination and the election. Kennedy would go on to have one of the longest and most influential careers in the history of the United States Senate championing a wide-range of legislative issues including the civil rights of the disabled, immigration, education, and health care reform and would bear the moniker, Lion of the Senate, for his Senatorial prowess,

Once Jimmy Carter became President, White House Lawn gatherings became regular events organized by the First Lady Rosalynn Carter. And Wharton provides spot-on footage, voice-overs, and montages of stills photographs to perfection. Yet, all was not perfect in the Camelot of the South. The longtime U.S. friend and ally, the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, had been facing opposition demonstrations and civil resistance when he fled the country leaving the opposition party’s Prime Minister in charge.

The Shah of Iran had cancer and sought exile and treatment in the United States. This would become the defining moment of the Carter Administration. Carter, the humanitarian, allowed the Shah into the U.S. for treatment. The Iranian government fell and was taken over by the religious Grand Ayatollah Khomeini. The country quickly became an Islamic republic with a theocratic-republican constitution while student radicals took 52 American hostages at the US Embassy in Tehran. Former President Richard Nixon and Republican foreign policy hawks wanted swift military action against Iran. President Carter chose peace and dialogue in negotiating a release.

The U.S. economy had inflation, exorbitant interest rates, and gasoline shortages that resulted in huge lines at the pumps when gas was available. The country was in a spiritual malaise. Carter would lose his re-election bid in a landslide to Ronald Reagan, the movie actor, and Governor of California. Carter states on camera if he had it all to do over again, he’d do it the same way. The day Reagan was sworn in all the hostages were released after being held captive for 444 days. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter said their goodbyes, boarded Air Force One (where they received word of the hostages leaving Iranian airspace) and returned to small-town life in Plains, Georgia. The Carter Administration had significant foreign policy and domestic achievements with the Camp David Accords, the Panama Canal Treaties, humanitarian work around the world and the new energy policies at home, including environmental protection, and major educational programs under the new Department of Education.

Jimmy Carter, the Naval Officer, author, poet, a nuclear physicist, and a peanut farmer from small-town Plains, Georgia, would go on to lead a life of service negotiating peace deals (winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002), advocating for voter rights, and building homes for the less fortunate following his White House years. Carter was 100 years old, the oldest living President, and the longest-lived President at the time of his passing.

Jimmy Carter, Rock and Roll President, is highly recommended and currently streaming on MAX and is available to rent on Apple TV.

Until next time, I’ll see you at the cinema!

#AFI, #AFIFEST, television

AFI AWARDS 2024 HONOREES ANNOUNCED

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

AFI AWARDS 2024 HONOREES ANNOUNCED

Honorees to be Celebrated at Private Luncheon on January 10, 2025

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, December 5, 2024 – The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the AFI AWARDS 2024 honorees. The recipients include 10 outstanding motion pictures and 10 outstanding television programs deemed culturally and artistically representative of this year’s most significant achievements in the art of the moving image. An additional honoree was selected for an AFI Special Award, designated for works of excellence that fall outside of AFI AWARDS’ eligibility criteria.

 

AFI MOTION PICTURES OF THE YEAR

ANORA

THE BRUTALIST

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

CONCLAVE

DUNE: PART TWO

EMILIA PÉREZ

NICKEL BOYS

A REAL PAIN

SING SING

WICKED

 

AFI TELEVISION PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY

THE BEAR

HACKS

A MAN ON THE INSIDE

MR. & MRS. SMITH

NOBODY WANTS THIS

THE PENGUIN

SHŌGUN

SHRINKING

TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY

 

AFI SPECIAL AWARD

BABY REINDEER

 

“AFI AWARDS is never about competition, but community,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “We look forward to bringing these artists together as one and celebrating their collective power to drive culture forward.”

 

Honorees will gather on Friday, January 10, 2025, for recognition at the annual AFI AWARDS private luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills — an event favored by the entertainment community for its informal intimacy and its inclusive acknowledgement of excellence.

FIJI Water is returning as the Official Water Sponsor for the event.

AFI AWARDS celebrates film and television arts’ collaborative nature and is the only national program that honors creative teams as a whole, recognizing those in front of and behind the camera. All of the honored works advance the art of the moving image, inspire audiences and artists alike and enhance the rich cultural heritage of America’s art form. When placed in a historical context, these stories provide a complex and rich visual record of our modern world.

AFI AWARDS selections are made through a jury process where AFI Trustees, artists, critics and scholars determine the year’s most outstanding achievements and provide artistic and cultural context for the selection of each honoree.

This year’s juries — one for motion pictures and one for television — included artists Sterlin Harjo, Gale Anne Hurd, Charles Melton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Jane Seymour; scholars Mark Harris, Leonard Maltin and more from Syracuse University, the University of Southern California and the University of California, Santa Cruz; members of the AFI Board of Trustees; critics Ann Hornaday, Mary McNamara, Janet Maslin, Peter Travers and others from The New Yorker, NPR, TV Guide and more. The juries were chaired by AFI Board of Trustees member Jeanine Basinger (Chair Emerita and Founder of the Film Studies Department, Wesleyan University) and AFI Board of Trustees Vice Chair Richard Frank (former Chairman of Walt Disney Television, President of Walt Disney Studios, President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences).

The 2024 recipients join a distinguished group of previous AFI AWARDS honorees whose works define the art form and contribute to our rich cultural legacy. View past AFI AWARDS honorees.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

 

About FIJI Water

FIJI Water is the No. 1 premium imported water bottle brand in the U.S. and will keep luncheon honorees and attendees hydrated with Earth’s Finest, iconic 500mL bottles made from 100% recycled material (rPET). This, along with the 330mL, is part of the brand’s effort to shift the entire portfolio to recycled plastic bottles.

Press contact:

American Film Institute

Shari Mesulam, Shari@themesulamgroup.com

#AFI, American Film Institute

SHORTSTV PARTNERS WITH THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE (AFI) TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF THE DIRECTING WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN (DWW)

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

SHORTSTV PARTNERS WITH THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE (AFI) TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF THE DIRECTING WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN (DWW)

The AFI short film showcase will be available to watch weekly on the ShortsTV channel and to stream via the ShortsTV channel on Amazon Prime Video US and UK and on ShortsTV+ from November 10th.

LONDON (November 7, 2024) – ShortsTV, the world’s leading network dedicated to short films, has announced an exciting partnership with the American Film Institute (AFI) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women (AFI DWW) initiative. This groundbreaking, tuition-free program has paved the way for traditionally underrepresented filmmakers, championing their voices in the industry since its inception. Among its esteemed alumni are Emmy Award-nominated director Dime Davis and DGA President and Emmy Award-nominated director Lesli Linka Glatter.

Beginning Sunday, November 10th, ShortsTV viewers can tune in every Sunday night at 9pm ET/6pm PT to watch a selection of short films created by talented DWW+ alumni as part of the initiative, including:

– Picture Day directed by Kelly Pike

– Some Boys Don’t Leave directed by Maggie Kiley

– Wild Horses directed by Stephanie Martin

– Zelos directed by Thoranna Sigurdardottir

This celebration will go on to feature a wider AFI showcase to close out the year, spotlighting the remarkable contributions of other talented AFI filmmakers. ShortsTV subscribers via Amazon Prime Video in the UK and the US will be able to enjoy a hand-picked selection of DWW films compiled in two exclusive film collections from November 1st. Additionally, ShortsTV+ subscribers will have full access to all available DWW+ and AFI films via the app.

As part of this collaboration, audiences will also have the opportunity to engage with exclusive interviews featuring prominent AFI DWW+ alumni, including Kelly Pike, director of the award-winning short Picture Day which premieres on Sunday November 17th. The film is about an Asian American tomboy growing up on military bases struggling to fit in at a new school. When she decides to assert control over her life, one small act of rebellion sparks trouble at home, forcing her to face harsh realities about gender, power, and finding one’s place in the world. The film won Best Live Action Short at the Warsaw Film Festival, the Young Cineaste Award at Palm Springs International ShortFest and is Oscar qualified. These insightful conversations will provide a deeper understanding of the journeys and experiences of these talented directors.

Join us in celebrating diversity, creativity, and empowerment in filmmaking as we honor the legacy of the AFI DWW+ initiative.

ShortsTV CEO and Founder Carter Pilcher says “We are thrilled to partner with the American Film Institute to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Directing Workshop for Women. This collaboration not only honors the pioneering women who have shaped the industry but also empowers a new generation of filmmakers. At ShortsTV, we believe in the power of diverse voices and storytelling, and we are excited to highlight these incredible short films that inspire and elevate underrepresented talent in cinema.”

Director of Programming Jade Tan says, “At ShortsTV, we are dedicated to highlighting the amazing and trailblazing work of the American Film Institute and their Directing Workshop for Women initiative. This program has been instrumental in nurturing the talent of underrepresented filmmakers, and we are proud to give a platform to their compelling stories. Supporting underrepresented groups lies at the heart of our mission, and we believe that by amplifying these voices, we can enrich the cinematic landscape for all audiences.”

For more information, please contact:

Jade Tan ,Director of Programming

ShortsTV , j.tan@shorts.tv

 

About AFI DWW+

The AFI DWW+ is a tuition-free program at the AFI Conservatory that educates traditionally underrepresented filmmakers through the production cycle of a short film, providing hands-on instruction led by industry experts. Participants leave the program with the knowledge and tools necessary to best leverage their creative talents and achieve their career goals. Participants receive full AFI Alumni benefits, and their completed projects are screened at the DWW+ Showcase in front of a wide network of industry professionals to celebrate their progress as artists and continue the longstanding tradition of DWW+ supporting inclusive and transformative storytelling.

The AFI DWW+ was launched in 1974 as the Directing Workshop for Women (DWW), one of the first gender impact programs of its kind in the cinematic arts, as well as one of the longest-running and preeminent film and television workshops nationwide. Among its earliest participants were such imperative creative voices as Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Lee Grant, Jessie Maple, Cicely Tyson and many more. Since the program’s inception, DWW+ has trained over 350 filmmakers who give voice to historically underrepresented perspectives.

About the AFI Conservatory

The AFI Conservatory opened its doors in 1969 to an inaugural class that included Terrence Malick, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader. Today, the Conservatory offers a two-year MFA degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. In a collaborative production environment, AFI Fellows learn to master the art of storytelling, collectively creating up to 175 films a year. Fellows actively participate in the entire life cycle of a film, from development through production and exhibition.

Alumni of this elite program, ranging from modern masters to bold new voices defining the state of the art form, include Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Aster, Deniese Davis, Sam Esmail, Brad Falchuk, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Liz Hannah, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Polly Morgan, Rachel Morrison and Wally Pfister, among others.

About ShortsTV

ShortsTV is the first and leading 24/7, linear and OTT HD TV channel dedicated to short form video entertainment, including movies and series. ShortsTV has the largest catalog of quality short form video entertainment, including award-winning and star-studded live action, animated and documentary shorts from filmmakers around the globe. Distributed globally, the channel is available in over 100 million homes across the US, India, Europe, and Latin America (where it’s known as TVCortos).  It is available across the US on DirecTV (channel 573), AT&T U-Verse (channel 1789), AT&T TV NOW, Google Fiber (channel 603) and Hotwire (channel 560). ShortsTV also operates an advertising-supported connected TV channel called ‘Shorts’, which acts as a gateway to the exciting world of short films and an introduction to the premium ShortsTV service. It is available in the UK on Rakuten TV.

Online, ShortsTV offers hundreds of the world’s best independent shorts for download from stores in over 90 countries, including iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon, as well as a subscription on-demand service on Amazon Prime Video Channels in the US, UK, Netherlands, Italy, France, Belgium, Sweden, India and Spain (where it’s known as TVCortos). Since 2006, ShortsTV has been the only presenter of the ‘Oscar Nominated Short Films’ theatrical release in cinemas across the US and Canada, South America, Europe, India, Australia and South Africa.

ShortsTV is owned by Shorts International Ltd, is headquartered in London, England and is represented in the United States by Shorts Entertainment Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary located in Los Angeles. The company is led by Chief Executive Carter Pilcher and is majority owned by Shorts Entertainment Holdings with AMC Networks a significant minority shareholder.

#AFI, AFI Life Achievement Award, American Film Institute

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA TO RECEIVE 50TH AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA TO RECEIVE 50TH AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

America’s Highest Honor For A Career In Film

To Be Presented

On April 26, 2025, At Gala Tribute

To Benefit AFI’s Education And Arts Initiatives

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, October 29, 2024 – The American Film Institute (AFI) Board of Trustees announced today that Francis Ford Coppola will be the 50th recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award, America’s highest honor for a career in film. The award will be presented to Coppola at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 26, 2025.

Francis Ford Coppola will be the 50th recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award.

“Francis Ford Coppola is a peerless artist – one who has created seminal works in the canon of American film, and has also inspired generations of filmmakers who now embody his artistry and his independent spirit,” said Kathleen Kennedy, Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees. “AFI is honored to present him with the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award.”

Coppola’s THE GODFATHER, THE GODFATHER PART II and APOCALYPSE NOW are ranked among history’s greatest films in AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies list. He is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of our time; a six-time Academy Award®-winning (including the Board of Governors’ Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award) director, writer and producer of such films as PATTON, THE GODFATHER TRILOGY, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, THE CONVERSATION, APOCALYPSE NOW, THE OUTSIDERS, BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA and his latest epic, MEGALOPOLIS.

As the co-founder of American Zoetrope with George Lucas, Coppola initiated and nourished the careers of talents such as Carroll Ballard, John Milius, Sofia Coppola, and actors Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfus, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Matt Dillon and Diane Lane. As a writer, director, producer and technological pioneer, he created a body of work that has helped shape contemporary American cinema. Coppola’s latest film MEGALOPOLIS is a Roman epic set in modern times with an all-star cast including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne and Aubrey Plaza. This year, the film made its world premiere to a 10-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, and was released theatrically and in IMAX globally earlier this fall.

The AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute special will return for its 10th year with Turner Broadcasting to air on TNT, followed by encore presentations on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

The American Film Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. All proceeds from the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute Gala support AFI’s education and arts initiatives. Learn more about AFI at AFI.com.

AFI Life Achievement Award Recipients

The 50th AFI Life Achievement Award Honoree joins an esteemed group of individuals who have been chosen for this distinguished honor since its inception.

1973   John Ford

1974   James Cagney

1975   Orson Welles

1976   William Wyler

1977   Bette Davis

1978   Henry Fonda

1979   Alfred Hitchcock

1980   James Stewart

1981   Fred Astaire

1982   Frank Capra

1983   John Huston

1984   Lillian Gish

1985   Gene Kelly

1986   Billy Wilder

1987   Barbara Stanwyck

1988   Jack Lemmon

1989   Gregory Peck

1990   David Lean

1991   Kirk Douglas

1992   Sidney Poitier

1993   Elizabeth Taylor

1994   Jack Nicholson

1995   Steven Spielberg

1996   Clint Eastwood

1997   Martin Scorsese

1998   Robert Wise

1999   Dustin Hoffman

2000   Harrison Ford

2001   Barbra Streisand

2002   Tom Hanks

2003   Robert De Niro

2004   Meryl Streep

2005   George Lucas

2006   Sean Connery

2007   Al Pacino

2008   Warren Beatty

2009   Michael Douglas

2010   Mike Nichols

2011   Morgan Freeman

2012   Shirley MacLaine

2013   Mel Brooks

2014   Jane Fonda

2015   Steve Martin

2016   John Williams

2017   Diane Keaton

2018   George Clooney

2019   Denzel Washington

2022   Julie Andrews

2024   Nicole Kidman

About the AFI Life Achievement Award

The highest honor given for a career in film, the AFI Board of Trustees established the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1973. It is presented to a single honoree each year based on the following criteria as mandated through a resolution passed by the AFI Board of Trustees: “The recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time.”

Most recently, AFI presented the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award to Nicole Kidman on Saturday, April 27, at a Gala Tribute in Hollywood. Lee Daniels, Ava DuVernay, Zac Efron, Cynthia Erivo, Morgan Freeman, Barry Jenkins, David E. Kelley, Joey King, Mimi Leder, Mike Myers, Edward James Olmos, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jane Seymour, Meryl Streep, Brian Tee, Miles Teller, Lulu Wang, Naomi Watts and more filled the Dolby Theatre to celebrate Kidman’s award-winning career and her indelible impact on the moving arts. The event also featured tributes honoring Kidman, including speeches from Zoe Saldaña, Aaron Sorkin, Keith Urban, Reese Witherspoon, among others and taped messages from Hugh Jackman, Jane Campion, Jimmy Fallon, Cate Blanchett, George Miller, Baz Luhrmann and Russell Crowe.

 

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, Twitter.com/AmericanFilm and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

 

About TNT

TNT, a Warner Bros. Discovery brand, is watched by more people than any other cable network and known for big, lean-forward television that takes viewers on a thrill ride of electrifying stories, dynamic characters and premium events. TNT is home to some of television’s most popular sports franchises and unscripted and scripted originals including “AEW: Rampage,” “Rich & Shameless,” and “The Lazarus Project”. TNT also presents primetime specials and sports coverage, including the NHL, NBA and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships. Website: www.tntdrama.com

 

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting “where then meets now.” TCM features the insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With more than two decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise. In addition, TCM produces the wildly successful podcast “The Plot Thickens,” which has had more than 9 million downloads to date. TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the TCM hub on Max.

 

Press contact:

American Film Institute

Shari Mesulam, Shari@themesulamgroup.com

#AFI, #AFIFEST, AFI FEST

AFI FEST 2024 PRESENTED BY CANVA ANNOUNCES GRAND JURY AWARD WINNERS

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

AFI FEST 2024 PRESENTED BY CANVA ANNOUNCES

GRAND JURY AWARD WINNERS

Winners for Live Action Short, Documentary Short and Animated Short

Qualify for Academy Award® Consideration

Festival Confirms Record High Attendance with

Over 30% Increase in Ticket and Pass Sales

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Los Angeles, CA, October 28, 2024 — The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the Grand Jury Award winners and Special Mentions for AFI FEST 2024 presented by Canva. The Grand Jury Award winners for Live Action Short, Documentary Short and Animated Short will be eligible for the 2024 Best Live Action Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short Academy Awards®. This year’s jury was comprised of Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison, film programmer Nora Bernard and comedian, actor, filmmaker, podcaster and author Paul Scheer.

Grand Jury Prize – Live Action Short

TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA (DEUX PERSONNES ÉCHANGEANT DE LA SALIVE) (DIR Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh)

Jury Statement: “At a commendable 36 minutes, this film illustrates how desire and yearning can clash in a capitalistic society while showcasing queerness as commonplace.”

Grand Jury Prize – Documentary Short

LAND OF LOST TOYS (DIR Nicholas Stachurski)

Jury Statement: “This revealing documentary challenges our conceptions and explores the humanity of a group of people in Detroit who fight not only for their survival but also for companions who can’t on their own.”

Grand Jury Prize – Animated Short

HUMANTIS (DIR Paris Baillie)

Jury Statement: “HUMANTIS is a stunning work of art that delves into the complexities and challenges of change and the unexpected beauty that emerges from self-transformation and acceptance. The stop motion breathes new life into an otherworldly visual narrative, showcasing the depths of a vibrant imagination and skillful craftsmanship.”

Special Jury Mentions

Special Jury Mention for Freedom and Expression – Live Action Short

A SHORT FILM ABOUT KIDS (DIR Ibrahim Handal)

Jury Statement: “Through a breezy style and cinematic language, we were drawn into a world where, with a little ingenuity, burdened youth can experience joy and self-determination.”

Special Jury Mention for New Voice – Documentary Short

YOU’RE TOO SENSITIVE (DIR Dan Chen)

Jury Statement: “YOU’RE TOO SENSITIVE receives a special mention for its unique approach to reimagining home movies, not only as documentation of what we wish to be seen and remembered but also reveals the private moments that speak to the complexities of family dynamics. “

Special Jury Mention for Craft – Animated Short

SILENT PANORAMA (DIR Nicolas Piret)

Jury Statement: “The jury would like to acknowledge SILENT PANORAMA with a special mention for artistic craftsmanship as this subtle and immersive story comes to life beautifully and meticulously on a single sheet of paper.”

This year’s festival welcomed a record number of attendees with ticket and pass sales reaching 30% higher than the previous year.

The festival lineup included 6 Red Carpet Premieres, 13 Special Screenings, 13 Luminaries selections, 15 Discovery films, 12 World Cinema selections, 14 Documentaries, 4 After Dark titles, 54 films in the Short Film Competition, and 28 films from the AFI Conservatory Showcase presented by AMC Networks. Of the official selections 48% were directed by women and non-binary filmmakers and 26% were directed by BIPOC filmmakers. There were 4 World Premieres, 6 North American Premieres and 7 U.S. Premieres. The program represented 44 countries and included 9 Best International Feature Oscar® submissions, including DAHOMEY (Senegal), GRAND TOUR (Portugal), I’M STILL HERE (Brazil), SANTOSH (UK), THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG (Germany), SUJO (Mexico), UNDER THE VOLCANO (Poland), UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE (Canada) and VERMIGLIO (Italy). The festival also presented two special events: Directors Spotlight: Robert Zemeckis in Conversation with Tom Hanks and Pitch Perfect: Crafting Impactful Visual Decks from a Storyteller’s Perspective

AFI Conservatory Alumni with films at AFI FEST included Andrea Arnold, Carolina Costa, Amanda Freedman, Affonso Gonçalves, Heidi Levitt, Charlie McDowell, Rachel Morrison, Samir Oliveros and Paul Schrader.

Returning filmmakers included Andrea Arnold, Maura Delpero, Mati Diop, Jeanne Drouet, Miguel Gomes, Alain Guiraudie, Damian Kocur, Philippe Lesage, Rungano Nyoni, Jeanne Paturle, Alex Ross Perry, Mohammad Rasoulof, Cecile Rousset, Hong Sang-soo, Paul Schrader, Chris Smith, Faye Tsakas and Jia Zhang-Ke.

Guests at the festival included Pam Abdy, JJ Abrams, Amy Adams, Sophia Nahli Allison, Fred Armisen, Glen Ballard, Lance Bangs, Scott Beck, Alan Bergman, Nora Bernard, Paul Bettany, Leslie Bibb, Jacqueline Bisset, Laurent Bouzereau, Gerald Casale, Samantha Casiano, Ben Chaplin, Tommy Chong, Glenn Close, Toni Collette, Jennifer Connelly, Ryan Coogler, Merlin Crossingham, Maisie Crow, Ted Danson, Dr. Austin Dennard, Julie Delpy, Zoey Deutch, Michelle Dockery, Molly Duane, Gustavo Dudamel, Chloe East, Francesca Eastwood, Jean Picker Firstenberg, William Goldenberg, Hugh Grant, Tom Hanks, John Hillcoat, Nicholas Hoult, Thomas Hooten, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ron Howard, Jon Huertas, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Barry Jenkins, Jharrel Jerome, Angelina Jolie, Caleb Landry Jones, Spike Jonze, Kathleen Kennedy, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Ed Lachman, Jennifer Lawrence, Pablo Larraín, Philippe Lesage, Jennifer Lopez, Leonard Maltin, Cheech Marin, Frank Marshall, Charlie McDowell, Malcolm McDowell, Selton Mello, Logan Miller, Rachel Morrison, Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Mothersbaugh, Oscar Nuñez, Elizabeth Olsen, Nick Park, Noah Parker, Dylan Penn, Abbie Perault, Andrea Riseborough, Anthony Robles, Judy Robles, Sam Rockwell, RaMell Ross, Eric Roth, Tom Rothman, Santigold, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Scheer, Paul Schrader, Alan Silvestri, Lawrence Sher, Stacey Sher, Jurnee Smollett, Steven Spielberg, Mary Steenburgen, George Stevens, Jr., Sharon Stone, Sophie Thatcher, Fernanda Torres, John Turturro, Milo Ventimiglia, Lulu Wang, Diane Warren, Matthew Weiner, Nat Wolff, Bryan Woods, Robin Wright, Cedric Yarbrough, Robert Zemeckis, Amy Ziering, Amanda Zurawski, and Wallace & Gromit.

Canva was the exclusive Presenting Sponsor of AFI FEST. FIJI Water was the festival’s Official Water Sponsor. Corporate Partners for AFI FEST 2024 included Premium Sponsor Apple Original Films, AMC Networks, First Entertainment Credit Union, Amazon MGM Studios and Netflix. The Envelope by The Los Angeles Times was the festival’s Primary Media Partner. Official Media Partners are The Wall Street Journal, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and ABC7 On the Red Carpet. Affiliate Media Partners include TheWrap, IndieWire, Screen International and KCRW.

To learn more about AFI FEST, visit FEST.AFI.com

AFI is a nonprofit, donor-powered organization. Join AFI’s Premiere Circle to support the American Film Institute and enjoy access to exclusive one-of-a-kind opportunities at AFI events. To learn more, email Advancement@AFI.com.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

 

About AFI FEST presented by Canva
Now in its 38th year, AFI FEST presented by Canva is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe. This year’s edition takes place in Los Angeles from October 23-27, 2024. With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST presented by Canva includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for movie fans. Additional information is available at FEST.AFI.com. Connect with AFI’s film festival at Facebook.com/AFIFEST, Twitter.com/AFIFEST, Instagram/AmericanFilmInstitute, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute and YouTube.com/AFI.

 

About Canva

Launched in 2013, Canva is a free online visual communications and collaboration platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design. Featuring a simple drag-and-drop user interface and a vast range of templates ranging from presentations, documents, websites, social media graphics, posters, apparel to videos, plus a huge library of fonts, stock photography, illustrations, video footage, and audio clips, anyone can take an idea and create something beautiful. Entertainment professionals can access resources to help them express their ideas, pitch film and TV projects, plan shoots and beyond at canva.com/entertainment.

Until next time….I’ll see you at the movies!

 

HollywoodGlee celebrating the start of the 2019 AFI FEST. (Photo credit: Larry Gleeson)

 

Press contact:

American Film Institute: Shari Mesulam, shari@themesulamgroup.com

 

#AFI, #AFIFEST, American Film Institute, TCL Chinese Theatre

FILM REVIEW: The Shrouds (David Cronenberg): 2024

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

David Cronenberg

Canadian Auteur Director David Cronenberg’s latest fare, The Shrouds, debuted in competition at Cannes, made its LA Premiere during the American Film Institute’s 2024 AFI FEST in Hollywood, Calif., Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the TCL Chinese Theatres. AFI FEST Programmer Malkin Kahn thanked the AFI FEST sponsors, community partners, the audience, festival volunteers, and “Elma” before introducing the film. Kahn eloquently delivered a few intimate details of the film such as Cronenberg’s impetus was John Donne’s poem, “A Valediction: of Weeping.”

According to the Poetry Foundation) “…Donne’s predilection for intricate rhetorical figures, paradoxes, surprising swerves in tone, associative leaps, and ingenious conceits can make them feel artificial, or made of artifice.” Cronenberg’s The Shrouds, follows a similar arc vacillating between the real and the surreal, swerving in tone with associative leaps and his use of ingenious conceits, that not only makes it feel artificial (futuristic) but deeply visceral.

Cronenberg opens the film with an ethereal prologue of an image of some sort of protoplasm floating in the ether. From a brilliantly executed match cut leads the viewer into the real world of Karsh (Vincent Cassel), the film’s protagonist, and his mouth. Karsh is in the dental chair. His dentist has diagnosed Karsh with tooth decay caused by grief. The empathic dentist fixes Karsh up on a blind date with an attractive woman who closely resembles his deceased wife. His date is mortified when Karsh meets his date at a restaurant in the cemetery next to the Grave Tech burial plots. Karsh feels the need to take his date outside for a private viewing of his Grave Tech creation. These early events set the tone of the film and the audience reaction almost overwhelmingly energetic.

Vincent Cassel and Diane Kruger

The film’s plot revolves around Karsh – a likely stand-in for Cronenberg himself. Karsh is a prominent businessman, inconsolable since the death of his loving wife (Diane Kruger). Karsh’s invention of Grave Tech, a revolutionary and controversial technology enables the living to monitor their dear departed on a live-stream feed via a radioactive shroud that could have been designed by YSL. One-night, multiple graves at the Grave Tech burial grounds, including that of Karsh’s wife (Diane Kruger), are desecrated.

The grave crime sets in motion the theoretical details present In “The becoming-body of David Cronenberg’s characters,” published by Editor da PUCRS, Rosangela Fachel de Medeiros, describes “the extreme and visceral way…David Cronenberg, a Canadian filmmaker,  presents and investigates, in his films, the human body and the sexuality, and what social, cultural and artistic issues involved in this representation as evidence of the potential transformation of the body resulting from biotech advents and interaction with other bodies through violence or sex.”

Vincent Cassel and Sandrine Holt

Naturally, any thriller needs conspiracies, and The Shrouds has several involving the Russians, the Chinese, Karsh’s techie brother-in-law (played by Guy Pearce), the environmental movement based out of Iceland, his wife’s physician who also was his wife’s ex-beau, and the role of an angel Hungarian investor and his incredibly seductive wife (portrayed by Sandrine Holt. However, one conspiracy involving Maury and his wife leads to a desperate and wanton coupling between Karsh and Maury’s wife who is also Karsh’s dead wife’s sister (also portrayed by Kruger). This is where the plot really heats up, literally and figuratively, and begins reconciling the film’s various themes of grief, religion, technology, espionage, capitalism, and environmentalism.

Vincent Cassel and Diane Kruger

With an enthralling runtime of one hour and fifty-six minutes, The Shrouds is a wild ride steeped in absurdist, wet-dream-like surrealism. The film boasts a formidable and talented cast with Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce and Sandrine Holt, reinforcing Cronenberg’s cinematic vision. Howard Shore’s musical score brings the film home.

Fans of Cronenberg’s work will know how fortunate they all are to have the 81-year-old filmmaker making a second film after his “retirement” announcement at Cannes in 2014. Saint Laurent, the production arm of Yves Saint Laurent, financed and co-produced this riveting flick with SBS Productions, and Prospero Pictures. Other notable Cronenberg films include, The Fly (1986), Crash (1996), A History of Violence (2005), Eastern Promises (2007), Maps to the Stars (2014), and Crimes of the Future (2022).

Highly recommended viewing. The Shrouds is slated for a Spring 2025 theatrical release – no pun intended.

 

HollywoodGlee celebrating the start of the 2019 AFI FEST presented by Audi. (Photo credit: Larry Gleeson)
#AFI, #AFIFEST, Hollywood, TCL Chinese Theatre

AFI FEST 2024 PRESENTED BY CANVA ANNOUNCES SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

AFI FEST 2024 PRESENTED BY CANVA

ANNOUNCES SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

FESTIVAL TO PRESENT OVER 150 FILMS
OPENS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

Tickets and Passes Available Online and at AFI FEST Box Office During Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Los Angeles, CA, October 21, 2024 — The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the sponsors and partners for AFI FEST 2024 presented by Canva. This year’s festival runs from October 23 through October 27 in Hollywood and the festival lineup includes 6 Red Carpet Premieres, 12 Special Screenings, 13 Luminaries selections, 15 Discovery films, 12 World Cinema selections, 14 Documentaries, 4 After Dark titles, 54 films in the Short Film Competition, and 28 films from the AFI Conservatory Showcase. There are 4 World Premieres, 6 North American Premieres and 7 U.S. Premieres.

Passes and tickets are available at FEST.AFI.com and at the AFI FEST Box Office located inside the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres Lobby during the festival. Sold-out screenings, including Red Carpet Premieres, will have a rush line.

Canva is this year’s Presenting Sponsor and additional Corporate Partners for AFI FEST 2024 presented by Canva are Official Water Partner FIJI Water, Premium Sponsor Apple Original Films, AMC Networks, First Entertainment Credit Union, Amazon MGM Studios and Netflix. AMC Networks is presenting this year’s AFI Conservatory Showcase scheduled for October 25.

This year’s In-Kind Sponsors include Panavision, Illuminar, Eventive, Ovation Hollywood, TCL Chinese Theatres, US Blanks, Cinegear and SirReel.

The Envelope by The Los Angeles Times is back as the festival’s Primary Media Partner and the Red Carpet Premieres Media Partner.

The Wall Street Journal, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and ABC7 On the Red Carpet are Official Media Partners.

Affiliate Media Partners include TheWrap, IndieWire, Screen International and KCRW.

The Official Media Partners and Affiliate Media Partners will each be presenting a dedicated Special Screening. The Wall Street Journal will present THE ORDER, Variety will present THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, The Hollywood Reporter will present SEPTEMBER 5, ABC7 On the Red Carpet will present NIGHTBITCH, TheWrap will present THE FIRE INSIDE, IndieWire will present I’M STILL HERE, Screen International will present BIRD and KCRW will present NICKEL BOYS.

This year’s Cultural Supporters include the European Languages and Movies in America (ELMA), SAGindie, Farhang Foundation, Japan House LA, Quebec Government Office, Spain Arts Villa Albertine, Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, Istituto Luce Cinecittà, Instituto Italiano de Cultura LA, Consulate General of Italy, Italian Trade Agency and Embassy of Spain.

This year’s Community Partners are African American Film Critics Association, Amoeba Music, Armenian Film Society, Asian American Media Alliance, Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience, Black Film Space, CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), Canadians Abroad, Cervantes of Los Angeles, Embassy of Spain, Film Fatales, Ghetto Film School, Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Association, Gold House, Greek LA Film Festival, Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, International Documentary Association, Japan Consulate, LA Filmforum, Lobos Boxing Club, Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition, NALIP (National Association of Latino Producers), New Filmmakers of LA, Queer Film LA, Rumble Boxing Gym West Hollywood, Science & Entertainment Exchange, South East European Film Festival, Trans Film Center, USC Center for Enthographic Media Arts, USC Women of Cinematic Arts, Visual Communications Media (VC Media) and Women in Film.

As previously announced, the festival will open with the World Premiere of MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS and close with the World Premiere of Clint Eastwood’s JUROR #2. Other Red Carpet Premieres section highlights include HERETIC starring Hugh Grant, the World Premiere of Robert Zemeckis’ HERE as the Centerpiece Screening, MARIA starring Angelina Jolie and the World Premiere of WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL. On Thursday, October 24, AFI will honor Robert Zemeckis with a Directors Spotlight, featuring an in-depth conversation between Zemeckis and Tom Hanks about his illustrious career. This event is free and open to the public subject to availability. Tickets must be reserved in advance and seating is not guaranteed.

To learn more about AFI FEST and to view the full festival lineup visit FEST.AFI.com

AFI is a nonprofit, donor-powered organization. Join AFI’s Premiere Circle to support the American Film Institute and enjoy access to FEST passes and exclusive one-of-a-kind opportunities at AFI FEST. To learn more, email Advancement@AFI.com.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film school in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

About AFI FEST presented by Canva
Now in its 38th year, AFI FEST presented by Canva is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe. This year’s edition takes place in Los Angeles from October 23-27, 2024. With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST presented by Canva includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for movie fans. Additional information is available at FEST.AFI.com. Connect with AFI’s film festival at Facebook.com/AFIFEST, Twitter.com/AFIFEST, Instagram/AmericanFilmInstitute, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute and YouTube.com/AFI.

About Canva 

Launched in 2013, Canva is a free online visual communications and collaboration platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design. Featuring a simple drag-and-drop user interface and a vast range of templates ranging from presentations, documents, websites, social media graphics, posters, apparel to videos, plus a huge library of fonts, stock photography, illustrations, video footage, and audio clips, anyone can take an idea and create something beautiful. Entertainment professionals can access resources to help them express their ideas, pitch film and TV projects, plan shoots and beyond at canva.com/entertainment.

 

Press contact: American Film Institute

Shari Mesulam: shari@themesulamgroup.com