Earlier this year Rachel Morrison made history as the first woman to receive an Oscar nomination for cinematography. The American Film Institute (AFI) is working to make the field more female-friendly and ensure that plenty of women follow in the “Mudbound” DP’s footsteps. To that end, AFI has announced two new programs: the AFI Cinematography Introductory Intensive for Women (CIIW) and the FOX DP Lab for AFI Conservatory Alumna.
Set to take place on the AFI Campus in LA August 3-6, 2018, the inaugural CIIW is a four-day, tuition-free program that will “introduce the fundamentals of visual storytelling to women who are interested in a career in cinematography.” The workshop will be led by AFI Cinematography faculty and master-level guests. Participants will attend production workshops, discussions, screenings of the work of female cinematographers, and more. CIIW has the support of The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and aims to increase the number of women working as DPs by encouraging participants “to continue their studies and become a working professional in the field.”
Submissions for CIIW are now open. The deadline to apply is June 15. Find more information about eligibility and requirements on the AFI’s website.
For cinematographers further along their journey, the Fox DP Lab will offer 10 to 15 recently graduated female cinematographers from the AFI Conservatory master classes intended to “demystify the hiring process. Participants will meet with executives responsible for recommending and approving cinematographers in film and television; they will see a studio film and/or Fox series in process; and have the opportunity to hear from fellow cinematographers working at Fox for career guidance.”
Only AFI Cinematography alumnae are eligible for the program, which will open in August 2018.
“Following our incredibly successful partnership with AFI to develop the Fox Filmmakers Lab, this new initiative to grow and develop female DPs is a natural extension of our ongoing efforts to diversify and strengthen the talent pool in this vital creative discipline,” said Stacey Snider, CEO and Chairman of Twentieth Century Fox Film. “Rachel Morrison’s recent Academy Award nomination should be the norm — not the exception — for female DPs, and our hope is that programs like the Fox DP Lab will create even more opportunities for the next generation of talented, up-and-coming female DPs throughout the entertainment industry.”
“Less than four percent of film and television programs have a female cinematographer. Even in an industry rife with gender discrimination, the lack of parity is striking,” said Stephen Lighthill, AFI Conservatory Cinematography Discipline Head. “The AFI Conservatory Cinematography program has been a leader in the field — and by piloting this initiative, which supports female cinematographers as they begin their exploration of the field, AFI and Fox will give diverse and deserving DPs greater opportunity to enter the industry.”
AFI Conservatory Cinematography program alumnae include Morrison, Melina Matsoukas (Beyoncé’s “Formation”), and Ava Berkofsky (“Insecure”).
