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.
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.
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.
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.
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
–Joyce Liu-Countryman, AFI Producing Class of 2018
Of 285 Year 1 and Year 2 Fellows currently enrolled at the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles:
56% are women 45% of the domestic Fellows are filmmakers of color 47% are internationalUpdated as of Oct. 15, 2023
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.
Applications for the #AFIConservatory are open! Want to learn more about each of the disciplines at #AFI? Hear directly from the AFI Discipline Heads in a free virtual info session on Saturday, September 28, at 11am PT. RSVP now at link in bio. #FilmSchool #Apply #GraduateSchool
🌟🎥 Exciting news from the #AFIConservatory! Our 2021 Thesis Films are now streaming for FREE. Explore new talent—start watching now at Watch.AFI.com.
💙💛 A special thanks to director, writer, and executive producer Megan Park, cinematographer Kristen Correll (AFI Class of 2016) and executive producer Bronte Payne (AFI Class of 2017) for joining our #AFIConservatory Fellows during a Master Seminar on their new film #MyOldAss. We were treated to incredible insights and an exclusive screening of the comedy drama before it hit theaters today. Check out the full conversation at the link in bio. #filmschool #guestlecture @cinebront
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, BEETLEJUICE! 🖤💚 Huge congrats to #AFIConservatory alum and cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (AFI Class of 1994), who helped bring this spooky sequel to life and took the box office by storm. 🎥👻 #AFIAlumni #BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice
Thrilled that these #AFIAlumni brought home a Creative Arts Emmy this weekend! 🏆🎉 Your incredible talent and dedication continue to make us proud. #afi #aficonservatory #creativeartsemmys #awards
🏆 Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
🎥 RIPLEY, “V Lucio”
⭐ @robertelswit, ASC, (AFI Class of 1977), Cinematographer
🏆 Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode
🎥 RIPLEY, “III Sommerso”
⭐ Maricel Pagulayan (AFI Class of 1991), Visual Effects Producer
🏆 Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured Reality or Competition Program
🎥 THE VOICE, Series Body of Work
⭐ John M. Larson, ACE, (AFI Class of 2001), Supervising Editor
⭐ John Homesley (AFI Class of 2000), Editor
🎉 Congrats to the #AFIConservatory alumni whose films took home awards at the #VeniceFilmFestival! Your talent shines on the world stage! 🌟🏆 #AFIAlumni #venicebiennale
🏆Silver Lion Award
THE BRUTALIST
🎥 Aaron Himmel (AFI Class of 2011)
Executive Producer
🏆 Luigi de Laurentiis Award
FAMILIAR TOUCH
🎥 @yi.ming.z (AFI Class of 2020)
Art Director
Congrats to these talented #AFIConservatory alums from AFI’s Class of 2023, whose thesis films have been selected for @WME’s 2024 Student Short Film Showcase, Futurefest—an event spotlighting diverse filmmakers. 🎥✨ Celebrate their creativity and vision!
🎬 THE BULLFIGHTER
⭐️@locanilla, director/co-writer
⭐️Cesar Jaramillo, co-writer
⭐️PColt Kozal, @steven_zhang_wuliang, producers
⭐️@sharonpulwer, cinematographer
⭐️@alearmiijo, editor
⭐️@efigstein, production designer
🎬MIS-ALIGNMENT
⭐️@pabloriesgo, director/co-writer
⭐️@lucymastrullo, co-writer
⭐️@santika.film, producer
⭐️@audrey_biche, cinematographer
⭐️Joseph Murphy, editor
⭐️@armaan.pujani, production designer
🎥✨Applications to the #AFIConservatory are now open! Don`t miss your chance to become part of the next generation of filmmakers—apply now at the link in our bio. #AFI #FilmSchool
