American Film Institute (AFI) Announces 2024 Cinematography Intensive for Women

Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced that it is accepting applications for the 2024 Cinematography Intensive for Women (CIW) presented by Panavision. The tuition-free, four-day workshop is designed for aspiring cinematographers who are committed to their journey toward a professional career as cinematographers and are looking for additional training to help them advance in their education, craft and career. Led by AFI Conservatory Cinematography Discipline Head Stephen Lighthill, ASC, the intensive will take place July 27-July 30 on the AFI Campus in Los Angeles.

“The AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women has proven to be a critical resource for aspiring cinematographers, providing unparalleled access to working cinematographers and hands-on learning environments that are crucial to finding success as a professional cinematographer,” said Lighthill. “We are proud to launch the fifth edition of this transformative workshop and look forward to welcoming the 2024 participants to the AFI Campus in July.”

Modeled after the AFI Conservatory curriculum, the core element of the CIW program is hands-on master classes in the fundamentals of cinematography, along with discussions about the current environment of the film industry and what it means to navigate such environments as women, nonbinary and historically underrepresented cinematographers.  

CIW was first launched in 2018 and has featured prominent cinematographers and AFI Conservatory Faculty and Alumni as guest lecturers and teachers, including Emmy nominee Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC (LOKI); Emmy nominee Ava Berkofsky (INSECURE); Natasha Braier, ASC, ADF (SHE SAID); AFI Conservatory Chair of Visual Storytelling Bill Dill, ASC (B.A.P.S., SOUL FOOD); Jih-E Peng (THE LIGHT AND THE LITTLE GIRL); Polly Morgan, ASC, BSC (THE WOMAN KING); Sandra Valde-Hansen, ASC (PLAN B, THE L WORD: GENERATION Q); and more. 

“We’re honored to return as the program sponsor for the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women,” said Panavision President and CEO Kim Snyder. “This program is an invaluable opportunity for its participants to simultaneously gain experience and build a network for both support and inspiration as they pursue their careers in the motion-picture industry. We look forward to working with and supporting the up-and-coming cinematographers who will participate this year.” 

Interested applicants can visit AFI.com to learn more about eligibility and application requirements. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.    

CIW is part of the AFI Conservatory’s Department of Innovative Programs, which also includes AFI DWW+. 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. Read more about Innovative Programs on Conservatory.AFI.com/Innovative-Programs/. 

The AFI Conservatory MFA program has propelled women and nonbinary cinematographers to great success, including Academy Award nominee Rachel Morrison (AFI Class of 2006, BLACK PANTHER, MUDBOUND), the first woman ever nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography, as well as three-time Emmy nominee Ava Berkofsky (AFI Class of 2013, INSECURE), Carolina Costa (AFI Class of 2013, HIGH SCHOOL, HALA), Emmy nominee Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC (AFI Class of 2009, LOKI, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER), Paula Huidobro (Academy Award Best Picture winner CODA), two-time Grammy Award winner Melina Matsoukas (AFI Class of 2005, Beyoncé’s “Formation,” INSECURE, as director), Polly Morgan, ASC, BSC (AFI Class of 2005, THE WOMAN KING) and Emmy winner Mimi Leder (AFI Class of 1973, THE MORNING SHOW, as director), among others. To learn more about the AFI Conservatory film school, visit AFI.edu.