Film School in Los Angeles CA, Best Film School Hollywood, AFI Conservatory

A Training Ground for Filmmakers

At the AFI Conservatory we believe in filmmaking first. Filmmakers come to AFI because they are guaranteed to make movies, and to master not only the tools, but also the art of storytelling. AFI isn’t like any other graduate film school in Los Angeles or the nation. Think of us like the most prolific content creators in Hollywood. Fellows collectively create up to 175 films a year across six disciplines in the master’s degree program: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting.

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A Bridge to the Film and TV Industry

As a top-ranked film school located in Los Angeles, the AFI Conservatory MFA program is more than an academic experience in the art of moviemaking — it’s about connecting you with influential artists in the field, and with key players in the industry, to get your career off the ground right after graduation. Through a carefully curated series of programs and opportunities that happen year-round right in the middle of Hollywood, you will have the best possible launchpad for success.

Scholarship Opportunities

The AFI Conservatory offers scholarships to help incoming and current AFI Fellows pay for their MFA film school education. Scholarships are based on merit and financial need. Several scholarships are available for Fellows from underrepresented communities, specific nationalities and Conservatory disciplines.

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Alumni Recognition

Last Five Years

After their MFA film school training, AFI Conservatory filmmakers go on to make enormous cultural impact that resonates and endures far beyond the halls of AFI.

Academy Awards^®

Nominations

Wins

Emmy Awards^®

Nominations

Wins

Major Festivals

350

Alumni on

481

Films

AFI DOCS, AFI FEST, Berlin, Cannes, London, New York, Sundance, SXSW, Telluride, Toronto, Tribeca and Venice

Festivals updated as of Jan. 1, 2024

Awards updated as of Mar. 11, 2024

Diversity at a Glance

The AFI Conservatory is committed to nurturing fresh perspectives from diverse voices.

“The AFI experience is transformational. This is a place where ideas of all sorts and all perspectives come to blossom. The relationships and the skills you foster here are the ones that will carry you throughout your entire career.”

–Joyce Liu-Countryman, AFI Producing Class of 2018

Of 277 Year 1 and Year 2 Fellows currently enrolled at the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles:

51%are women

40%of the domestic Fellows are filmmakers of color

49%are international

Updated as of Sep. 18, 2024

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The American Film Institute believes in the power of diverse voices to drive culture forward.

We strive to cultivate and sustain an inclusive environment at AFI that actively affirms and is respectful of the identities of all people across genders, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds and ideological perspectives – and one where self-reflection, honesty and accountability are practiced.

At AFI, we are responsible for the community we build and the stories we tell.

#AFICONSERVATORY

Join us on Saturday, November 9, at 11:00 a.m. PT for a FREE info session with an #AFIConservatory Admissions Counselor! Hear from recent alumni as they share their insights on applying to AFI, their experiences in the program, and what life is like after graduation. Plus, get all your questions answered in our Q&A session! RSVP now to secure your spot at link in bio. #FilmSchool #GraduateSchool

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Join us on Saturday, November 9, at 11:00 a.m. PT for a FREE info session with an #AFIConservatory Admissions Counselor! Hear from recent alumni as they share their insights on applying to AFI, their experiences in the program, and what life is like after graduation. Plus, get all your questions answered in our Q&A session! RSVP now to secure your spot at link in bio. #FilmSchool #GraduateSchool

🎬 Today at the #AFIConservatory, we’re thrilled to welcome director, actor and executive producer @annakendrick47 for an exclusive master seminar, featuring a screening of her directorial debut #WomanOfTheHour! After the screening, our Fellows will dive into an insightful conversation with Kendrick about this compelling thriller.

#FilmSchool #GuestLecture #AnnaKendrick

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🎬 Today at the #AFIConservatory, we’re thrilled to welcome director, actor and executive producer @annakendrick47 for an exclusive master seminar, featuring a screening of her directorial debut #WomanOfTheHour! After the screening, our Fellows will dive into an insightful conversation with Kendrick about this compelling thriller.

#FilmSchool #GuestLecture #AnnaKendrick

What a way to kick off awards season! Shoutout to AFI Alumni Azazel Jacobs (Class of 2001) who earned a Best Screenplay nomination for HIS THREE DAUGHTERS and Shuchi Talati (Class of 2011) who was nominated for Breakthrough Director for GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS! #AFIConservatory #IndieFilm #Awards

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What a way to kick off awards season! Shoutout to AFI Alumni Azazel Jacobs (Class of 2001) who earned a Best Screenplay nomination for HIS THREE DAUGHTERS and Shuchi Talati (Class of 2011) who was nominated for Breakthrough Director for GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS! #AFIConservatory #IndieFilm #Awards

From behind the camera to in front of the spotlight! Congratulations to AFI Alumni Veronica Bouza and Lauren Guiteras for making an impact as two of @variety’s Top 10 Cinematographers to Watch this year. #AFIConservatory #Cinematography

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From behind the camera to in front of the spotlight! Congratulations to AFI Alumni Veronica Bouza and Lauren Guiteras for making an impact as two of @variety’s Top 10 Cinematographers to Watch this year. #AFIConservatory #Cinematography

Today at the #AFIConservatory, we’re thrilled to welcome Academy Award winner Morgan Neville for an exclusive master seminar, featuring a screening of his @piecebypiecefilm! This unique animated documentary explores the life and career of @pharrell through the imaginative lens of @lego animation. Following the screening, Fellows will engage in an in-depth conversation with Neville.

#FilmSchool #GuestLecture #PieceByPiece #MorganNeville

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Today at the #AFIConservatory, we’re thrilled to welcome Academy Award winner Morgan Neville for an exclusive master seminar, featuring a screening of his @piecebypiecefilm! This unique animated documentary explores the life and career of @pharrell through the imaginative lens of @lego animation. Following the screening, Fellows will engage in an in-depth conversation with Neville.

#FilmSchool #GuestLecture #PieceByPiece #MorganNeville

🎥✨ A huge congrats to #AFIConservatory alum Joewi Verhoeven (AFI Class of 2023) on winning the prestigious John Bailey ASC Student Graduate Award for his #AFI thesis film, #Taha, presented to him by the incredible Ellen Kuras! Your dedication and talent are just the beginning—can`t wait to see where your journey leads next. #AFIAlumni #ASC #Cinematographer

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🎥✨ A huge congrats to #AFIConservatory alum Joewi Verhoeven (AFI Class of 2023) on winning the prestigious John Bailey ASC Student Graduate Award for his #AFI thesis film, #Taha, presented to him by the incredible Ellen Kuras! Your dedication and talent are just the beginning—can't wait to see where your journey leads next. #AFIAlumni #ASC #Cinematographer

Today, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples` Day with a compelling clip of director/producer @chris.eyre offering insights into Native Americans in cinema. Watch more of his exclusive conversation with #AFIConservatory Fellows at link in bio. ⁠
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#ChrisEyre #IndigenousPeoplesDay #NativeAmericans

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Today, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day with a compelling clip of director/producer @chris.eyre offering insights into Native Americans in cinema. Watch more of his exclusive conversation with #AFIConservatory Fellows at link in bio. ⁠
⁠
#ChrisEyre #IndigenousPeoplesDay #NativeAmericans

Today, we’re excited to welcome director, producer and writer @seanswang to the #AFIConservatory for an exclusive master seminar! AFI Fellows will enjoy a special screening of his directorial debut, @didithemovie, winner of the 2024 Sundance Audience Award, followed by a discussion on this coming-of-age movie and filmmaking. #FilmSchool #GuestLecture

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Today, we’re excited to welcome director, producer and writer @seanswang to the #AFIConservatory for an exclusive master seminar! AFI Fellows will enjoy a special screening of his directorial debut, @didithemovie, winner of the 2024 Sundance Audience Award, followed by a discussion on this coming-of-age movie and filmmaking. #FilmSchool #GuestLecture

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Cinematography

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AFI Conservatory Guests

AFI Conservatory News

Spotlight on THE PIANO LESSON Director and AFI Alum Malcolm Washington

AFI Conservatory Alumni Honored with 2024 Emmy Award Nominations

AFI FEST presented by Canva: AFI Conservatory Alumni Films

What to Watch: November 2024 | AFI Alumni Projects

An Exclusive Look at AFI Conservatory Sound Design Workshop with Oscar® Winner Richard King

THE DAUGHTER OF DAWN (1920) – AFI Catalog Spotlight

A Training Ground for Filmmakers

A Bridge to the Film and TV Industry

Scholarship Opportunities