The continuous lack of female directors in Hollywood should come as no surprise. The numbers have, more or less, remained the same over the past 10 years. Slowly but surely, AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women (DWW) is trying to change that. Per its website, DWW is committed to “educating and mentoring female filmmakers to increase the number of [female] directors and showrunners.” This 43-year-old program is now on the lookout for its next class of upcoming women directors.
This year-long intensive program offers guided instruction on a short film or new media project. DWW is open to women with a minimum of three years’ experience, and up to eight projects are accepted each year. The program is tuition-free, but each participant must raise their own project funds.
Participants will receive roughly four months of mentorship with some of DWW’s distinguished faculty. Its list of mentors include, but is not limited to, Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”), Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry”), Jill Soloway (“Transparent”), and Issa Rae (“Insecure”).
The workshop guides participants through the entire filmmaking process, from production to picture-lock to post-production. Projects then are screened in an annual Showcase attended by agents, managers, producers, and executives.
DWW alumnae include Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, and Ellen Burstyn.
Applications cost $125 and will be accepted until August 31. Visit AFI’s DWW page to apply for the workshop or to find out more.
