M A S T E R O F F I N E A R TS

The AFI Conservatory is a world-renowned,

graduate level film school where Fellows learn
hands-on filmmaking with masters in the art
form in the movie-making capital of the world.

PROFESSIONAL FILMMAKERS AS FACULTY

Led by Artistic Director, James L. Brooks, the AFI Conservatory faculty is
comprised of working filmmakers with decades of experience, including
the Dean, Robert Mandel.

LUMINARIES AS GUEST LECTURERS

A few of the guest lecturers to speak with AFI Conservatory Fellows in the past
year include: Roger Birnbaum; Leos Carax; Jay L. Cassidy; Bryan Cranston;
Caleb Deschanel, ASC; Ava DuVernay; Robert Elswit, ASC; Gale Anne Hurd;

Rian Johnson; Janusz Kaminski;

Alex Kurtzman; Jonathan Levine; Sam Mendes;
Roberto Orci and Seth Rogen.

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGIES
Full access to cutting-edge equipment, facilities, mentors (Second Year mentor,
faculty mentor, alumni mentor), production coordinators, faculty and an alumni
network everything you need to succeed during and after your time at the
AFI Conservatory.

UNPARALLELED ALUMNI
Join an alumni roster that includes Darren Aronofsky; Zal Batmanglij; Jay L. Cassidy;
Todd Cherniawsky; Caleb Deschanel, ASC; Drake Doremus; Bill Duke; Brad Falchuk;
Scott Frank; Carl Franklin; Rodrigo Garca; Anne Garefino; Joseph Garrity; Affonso
Gonalves; Susannah Grant; Amy Heckerling; Patty Jenkins; Janusz Kaminski; Mimi Leder;
Jonathan Levine; Heidi Levitt; Matthew Libatique, ASC; David Lynch; Terrence Malick;
Wally Pfister, ASC; Gideon Raff; Steven A. Rasch; Robert Richardson, ASC; Sharon
Seymour; Scott Silver; Masanobu Takayanagi; Amy Vincent, ASC; Nicole Yorkin; Ed Zwick
and many more.

LE A RN B Y DO I NG
D ur ing the co ur se of two years, Fellows team with
c l assmate s to wr it e, produce, desig n, direct, shoot
a nd e d it fo ur to ten films addin g up to 120 short
narratives produced at the AFI Conservatory each year.
F i r st Ye ar
AFI Conservatory Fellows attend classes, screenings and special seminars in their first year. The core of the
curriculum is Cycle projects: a series of three narrative exercises shot on digital media that have been
developed and produced in a collaborative process mirroring that of the professional film community.
Production teams are composed of one member from each discipline. Twenty-eight teams create three
short films a year. These films are screened for the entire First Year class with a faculty moderator in
Narrative Workshop where Fellows receive invaluable feedback from all disciplines.

SECOND YEAR
Fellows work on their thesis films in addition to attending classes, special seminars and screenings, and
participate in internships. Every AFI Conservatory Fellow is given an opportunity to write and submit
a script for thesis consideration. Twenty-eight of the submitted scripts are selected and teams form around
the scripts. AFI Conservatory thesis films have received many accolades, including recognition at film
festivals around the world and honors such as Student Academy Awards.
Directing and Producing Fellows are offered development classes in which they can write a featurelength screenplay. Screenwriters are required to complete two feature-length screenplays or one
screenplay and a TV pilot.

C I NEM A T OGR A PHY

Encompassing training from pre-visualization to advanced image manipulation and
control, Fellows develop their storytelling skills using formats ranging from digital
video to 16mm and 35mm film cameras to the most cutting-edge cameras on the market.
The Conservatory accepts 28 Cinematography Fellows per year.
AFI was my laboratory, a place where I was able to experiment with light and
camera movement and a place where I got my first taste of dramatic story structure.
My years there mean a great deal to me and were certainly the foundation for the
success that followed.
Wally Pfister, ASC | AFI CLASS OF 1988 | THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

D I RE C T I NG
With a focus on narrative filmmaking, AFI Directing Fellows learn diverse directing
styles, techniques and strategies as they gain a thorough understanding of the
production process, script to screen. The Conservatory accepts 28 Directing Fellows
per year.
I remember coming...to visit the school...and they were doing a Narrative Workshop
and, God, I was so blown awayI was like please let me into this place. I want to
be part of this group.
Zal Batmanglij | AFI CLASS OF 2006 | THE EAST

ED I T I NG
Fellows master the skills to be editors, assistant editors and post-production producers
while learning the technical, aesthetic and collaborative aspects of post-production
with a primary focus on storytelling. The Conservatory accepts 14 Editing Fellows
per year.
A FI let me learn from the best in the field and put me alongside gifted peers
with an incredible work ethic.
Affonso Gonalves | AFI CLASS OF 1993 | Beasts of the Southern Wild

PRODU C I NG
AFI Fellows study all aspects of creative, entrepreneurial production while
developing and producing a minimum of three short films in their first year
and a thesis film in their second year. The Conservatory accepts 28 Producing
Fellows per year.
F or me it was about meeting like-minded spirits with whom you wanted
to go on a journey...and do it with passion, commitment, love and
mutual respect.
Pieter Jan Brugge | AFI CLASS OF 1979 | THE INSIDER

PRODU C T I ON DES I GN
Attracting artists from architecture, interior design, theater design and other
related fields, the Production Design curriculum focuses on the creative process
of visually and physically developing cinematic environments. The Conservatory
accepts 14 Production Design Fellows per year.
My education at AFI reinforced the necessity of good storytelling and
collaboration as critical to designing a film. Living in Los Angeles and
interacting with industry professionals was invaluable.
Sharon Seymour | AFI CLASS OF 1985 | ARGO

S C REENWR I T I NG
AFI Fellows conceive and write multiple projects in features, short films, long
and short-form TV drama and comedy as well as webisodes and other Internet
innovations. Fellows learn to collaborate with Directing and Producing classmates
to bring their stories to the screen. The Conservatory accepts 28 Screenwriting
Fellows per year.
I remember Ed Zwick, Sydney Pollack and Randall Wallace. Those three all
gave me such specific things in here that changed everything. Its where
I found my voice.
Brad Falchuk | AFI CLASS OF 1996 | AMERICAN HORROR STORY

B R I DGE T O T HE PRO F ESS I ON

T h e A F I C o n s e r vat o r y i s
dedicated to preparing Fellows
f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l ca r e e r s .
Thesis Showcase
Selected thesis productions premiere for the professional
community at the Directors Guild.

Production Design Showcase

First and Second Year Production Design Fellows exhibit their
work in a gallery setting on campus to invited leaders of the
professional design community.

Screenwriting Showcase
Graduating Screenwriting Fellows pitch their scripts and television
projects to representatives from the entertainment community, including
top agencies, management companies and production companies.

Cinematography Visual Essay

First and Second Year Cinematography Fellows screen their 35mm
and 16mm visual essays for the entertainment community.

Professional Internship Programs

The AFI Conservatory coordinates internships in the entertainment
community for Fellows to help them garner valuable experience and
professional relationships.

Alumni
After graduation, Fellows not only receive an alumni mentor, but join the
vast AFI Conservatory alumni network.

A MER I C A N F I LM I NS T I T U T E B O A RD O F T RUS T EES

AFI BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
CHAIR
Sir Howard Stringer*
AFI BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
CHAIR
Robert A. Daly*
Rulemaker, Inc.
AFI BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
VICE CHAIRS
Jon Avnet*
Brooklyn Films
Richard Frank*
Prospect Park

Bob Bennett
Bennett Productions, Inc.
Gary Birkenbeuel*
Ernst & Young LLP
Roger Birnbaum
Roger Birnbaum
Productions
Todd Bradley
Hewlett-Packard
Development
Company, L.P.
Richard Brandt*
Jim Breyer
Accel Partners
James L. Brooks
Gracie Films

Gene F. Jankowski*
Jankowski
Communications
System, Inc.
Kathleen Kennedy
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Scott Keogh
Audi of America, Inc.

Bruce Rosenblum
Academy of Television
Arts and Sciences
Rich Ross
Shine America

PRESIDENT EMERITA
Jean Picker Firstenberg*

Jill Sackler*
AMS Foundation
for the Arts, Sciences
& Humanities

PRESIDENT & CEO

Bob Gazzale*

Christopher Keyser
Writers Guild of America Chris Silbermann
ICM Partners
Donna Langley
Universal Pictures
Steven Spielberg
Lorie Lee
AT&T

Bryan Lourd
Creative Artists Agency

DreamWorks SKG
Anne Sweeney
Disney/ABC
Television Group

Christopher J. Dodd
Michael Lynton
Motion Picture Association Sony Corporation
of America
Lori McCreary
Tracey Edmonds
Revelations Entertainment
Our Stories Films/Alright TV Ron Meyer

Robert A. Toohey
Verizon

Roger Enrico*

NBCUniversal

Thomas Tull
Legendary Pictures

Ed Zwick*
The Bedford
Falls Company

Moctesuma Esparza
Maya Cinemas

Jonathan Miller
Fuel Media Capital

Todd Wagner*
2929 Entertainment

TRUSTEES
Gilbert Amelio
Sienna Ventures

Nancy Fisher*
Collins-Fisher Foundation

Jim Moffatt
Deloitte Consulting LLP

Michael Wright
Turner Entertainment

Christopher Forman
Phil Molyneux
The Decurion Corporation Sony Electronics
Brad Grey
Leslie Moonves
Paramount Pictures
CBS Corporation
John Hendricks
Wendi Murdoch
Discovery
Big Feet Productions
Communications, Inc.
Frederick S. Pierce*

Marshall Herskovitz*
The Bedford
Falls Company
Tom Pollock*
The Montecito
Picture Company

Brad Anderson
AFI National Council
Lisa Arpey
Neal Baer
Baer Bones, Inc.

Paris Barclay
Directors Guild
of America
Jeanine Basinger*
Wesleyan University
Katherine J. Bayne
Coca -Cola
North America

Lawrence Herbert*
The Lawrence Herbert
Foundation

FOUNDING DIRECTOR
George Stevens, Jr.*

Kevin Tsujihara
Warner Bros.

HONORARY TRUSTEE
Mel Brooks
AFI Chairs emeriti
Gregory Peck
Roger L. Stevens
Charlton Heston
Richard Brandt
Bonita Granville Wrather
Gene F. Jankowski
Frederick S. Pierce
Tom Pollock
Jon Avnet
John F. Cooke
EAST COAST COUNSEL
& SECRETARY
Howell Begle
COUNSEL & ASSISTANT
SECRETARIES
P. John Burke
Ray Barry
GENERAL COUNSEL
Akin, Gump, Strauss,
Hauer & Feld, LLP

Frederick S. Pierce
Company

Alan Horn*
The Walt Disney Studios

Cecilia DeMille Presley

Cecil B.DeMille
Foundation

Ken Howard
SAG-AFTRA

Shonda Rhimes
Shondaland

Cheryl Boone Isaacs

Jay Roach
Academy of Motion
Everyman Pictures
Picture Arts and Sciences
*AFI Board of Directors

A F I C ONSERVA T ORY LE A DERSH I P DONORS

THE AFI CONSERVATORY RELIES ON THE GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT
OF DONORS TO PROVIDE VITAL FUNDING FOR ITS PROGRAMS.

The AFI Board of Trustees gratefully acknowledges Sony Corporation of America for
its leadership providing AFI Fellows with todays advanced filmmaking tools.

OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF AFI

Adobe Systems, Inc.

Eastman Kodak Company

Kino Flo

Karen Schneider

Sheila Allen

Roger and Rosemary Enrico

Nancy Fisher

Andrew La Marca
Memorial Scholarship

Tony Scott Memorial Fund

Brad and Janet Anderson

Arriflex Corp.

Chris Forman

Bandito Bros.

FotoKem

Robert and Marjie Bennett

Richard Frank

The Boyle Family Trust

The Geffen Foundation

Bridges/Larson Foundation

The Green Foundation

Canon

Mosie Hackett Endowed

Fellowship

Cinelease
Clairmont Camera
Robert Daly and
Carole Bayer Sager
Deluxe Laboratories
Dante Di Loreto
The Walt Disney Company

Hewlett-Packard Co.
Hollywood Foreign Press
Association
Alan and Cindy Horn
J.L. Fisher, Inc.
Keycode Media

Levi Strauss & Co.

Lesley and Keith Marvin
Microsoft
Mole-Richardson Co.
Jack Oakie and Victoria
Horne Oakie Charitable
Foundation Trust
Panavision
Dorothea and Daniel M. Petrie
Frederick and Marion Pierce
Nancy Stephens and
Rick Rosenthal
The Franklin and
Jean Schaffner Foundation

Jane and Terry Semel

The Adrienne Shelly Foundation
Chris Silbermann
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Soundelux
Sir Howard Stringer and
Jennifer Patterson
TCL Chinese Theatres
Technicolor Film Services
Universal Studios Props
Kim and Alessandro Uzielli
The Gary Winick Foundation
Tom Yoda
Zacuto

NOW SEEKING THE NEXT

GENERATION OF STORYTELLERS

NOW SEEKING THE NEXT

GENER AT I ON O F S T ORY T ELLERS

AF I lo o k s fo r filmmakers with u nique voic es from a l l

bac k gr o und s and walks of life w ho wan t to make t h e
m o ving I MAGE their lifes work.
Successful applicants typically have an undergraduate degree, several years of experience in the
entertainment field and a passion for visual storytelling.
The AFI Conservatory is excited to announce a significant increase in scholarship funds for
First and Second Year Fellows at the AFI Conservatory in 2013 and beyond.
To learn more:
AFI.edu | Admissions@AFI.com | 323.856.7740 |

@AFIConservatory |

/AFIConservatory

American Film Institute | 2021 North Western Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90027

The AFI Conservatory is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501,
510.748.9001. The AFI Conservatory is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), 11205 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190, 703.437.0700. This school
is authorized under federal law to enroll non immigrant alien students. These approvals are available for review in the Registrars Office (Warner Bros. Building, Room 214) during regular business hours.