Currently set to Index
Currently set to Follow
Γ—

Menu

Cinematography

Directing

Editing

Producing

Production Design

Screenwriting

AFI Conservatory Guests

Azazel Jacobs On HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
A Conversation with Azazel Jacobs on HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
A Conversation with JT Mollner & Giovanni Ribisi on STRANGE DARLING
RaMell Ross on the Friendship of the Characters in NICKEL BOYS
Malcolm Washington on his film THE PIANO LESSON
Sean Wang on his film DÌDI
Anna Kendrick Discusses Her Film WOMAN OF THE HOUR
In Conversation with THE SUBSTANCE Filmmaker Coralie Fargeat
Halfdan Ullmann TΓΈndell on ARMAND
Shuchi Talati Discusses her Film GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS
Shuchi Talati on GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS Star Preeti Panigrahi
In Conversation with ALIEN: ROMULUS Filmmaker Fede Alvarez
In Conversation with 3 BODY PROBLEM's David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Alexander Woo
In Conversation with THE FIRST OMEN's Arkasha Stevenson
In Conversation with DADDIO Filmmaker Christy Hall
Filmmakers Josh Margolin, ZoΓ« Worth and Chris Kaye Discuss Their New Film THELMA
In Conversation with EXPATS Filmmakers Lulu Wang and Yong Ok Lee
Steven Zaillian on his Netflix Series Ripley
Emma Seligman on BOTTOMS
TrαΊ§n Anh HΓΉng Discusses His Film THE TASTE OF THINGS
AFRICAN GIANTS Filmmakers at the AFI Conservatory
Juel Taylor and Franco-Giacomo Carbone on THEY CLONED TYRONE
Matteo Garrone Discusses His Film IO CAPITANO
Todd Haynes and Affonso Gonçalves on their film MAY DECEMBER
Mohamed Kordofani on the Inspiration Behind GOODBYE JULIA
Master Seminar with THE PERSIAN VERSION Writer/Director Maryam Keshavarz
Oscar Winner Cord Jefferson discusses his film AMERICAN FICTION
THE BROTHERS SUN Seminar at the AFI Conservatory
Master Seminar with Billy Luther on FRYBREAD FACE AND ME
PERFECT DAYS Writer/Director/Producer Wim Wenders in Conversation
MORE VIDEOS
previous arrow
next arrow
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.

LEARN MORE

Learn from Acclaimed Filmmakers

Led by Hollywood icon James L. Brooks as Artistic Director, AFI Conservatory Faculty and seminar guests are working filmmakers who bring decades of award-winning experience as real-world, professionals and transformative leaders in their field.

WATCH SEMINARS

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 β€” 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.

LEARN MORE

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®

15
Nominations

4
Wins

Emmy Awards®

87
Nominations
19
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.

β€œThe 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

Slide
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

🎬 Today at the #AFIConservatory, we’re excited to host actor, director, writer and producer Jesse Eisenberg for an exclusive master seminar. The event will feature a screening of his critically acclaimed comic-drama @arealpainfilm, an #AFIAWARD honoree now nominated for two Academy Awards. πŸ† Following the screening, our Fellows will engage in a conversation with Jesse about the art of filmmaking. 

#FilmSchool #GuestLecture #JesseEisenberg #ARealPain
This one is bursting with star power! Can’t wait to see the latest masterpiece from AFI Alum Ari Aster this summer. #AFIConservatory #AFIalumni #AriAster
πŸŽ₯ Congratulations to the #AFIConservatory alums behind #EastOfWall, which won the Audience Award: Next today at the #SundanceFilmFestival! πŸŽ‰ This honor celebrates bold, innovative filmmaking that pushes creative boundaries.

A huge shoutout to these alums:

🎬 Scott Frank (AFI Class of 1984), Executive Producer
🎬 @austinshelton.dp (AFI Class of 2018), Cinematographer
🎬 @melandzane (AFI Class of 2020), Co-producer
 
Your talent and hard work are truly inspiring! πŸ‘ #AFIAlumni #Sundance
πŸ‘ Congratulations to #AFIConservatory Screenwriting Faculty Member Matty Rich on his new film, BIRTH OF THE BLACK UNDERWORLD. The gripping period drama screens at #ThePanAfricanFilmFestival on February 13 at 7:00 p.m. in Culver City. Don’t miss the must-see film! 🎟️ Tickets now available at link in bio.
We couldn’t agree more, @Variety! 🎬 BLKNWS: TERMS AND CONDITIONS is definitely one of the most exciting films at this year’s #SundanceFilmFestival! Big congrats to AFI alum @anyanwu for producing this incredible project. πŸ‘ #AFIAlumni #AFIConservatory
Congratulations to #TheSubstance on its five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay! 🌟 We were thrilled to have first time nominee @coralie_fargeat on the AFI campus for an exclusive screening of the body horror film and a seminar on what makes her film a standout in the genre. Check out the full conversation at link in bio.
 
#AFIConservatory #FilmSchool #GuestLecture #oscarnoms #oscars #bestpicture @trythesubstance
πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘ Congratulations to writer and AFI alum Alex David on his #AcademyAward nomination for SEPTEMBER 5! 

#September5 #oscarnoms #afialumni #aficonservatory #oscars
Stay Connected - website leads - new 10/24
What do you want to study?

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER