The Legacy of Milos Forman
In 1978, esteemed director Milos Forman and his Screenwriting mentor Frank Daniel were appointed co-chairs of the Film Program. Under their leadership, the program flourished and became the world-renowned institution of film education that it is today. In many ways, Forman was the "creative founder" of Columbia Film, having shaped and refined its commitment to narrative filmmaking anchored in strong screenplays. He gave it a character as distinct as his own—original, passionate, intelligent, and international.
News
An interview with producer and Undergraduate Film alum Gabriel Mayers (CC '17).
The Son-in-Law (El yerno), produced and co-written by Professor of Professional Practice in Film and Media Studies James Schamus, hit Netflix on May 1, 2026.
A slate of Columbia Film alums and faculty are screening their feature and short films at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, which will take place in theaters across lower Manhattan from June 3-14, 2026.
May 12 through 23 is an exciting time for the Film Program. It might mark the last weeks of spring before summer unofficially takes hold, but for a few lucky filmmakers, it means the 2026 Cannes Film Festival is underway.
Is God Is, a Southern Gothic Western produced by Undergraduate Film and Media Studies alum Kishori Rajan (CC '08), is set for theatrical release on May 15, 2026 from distributor Orion Pictures.
Swapped, a new animated feature written by Christian Magalhaes '10, Robert Snow '10 and Johan Whittington, enjoyed its Netflix premiere on May 1, 2026.
Silent Voices, a short film directed and produced by Film students Nadine Jin and Yuwen Zhang respectively, has been accepted into the prestigious La Cinef short film competition at the 79th Festival de Cannes.
Neighbors, a new series story-produced by Max McGillivray '21, is now streaming on HBO.
Film alum Nayantara 'Tara' Roy '17 is set to release her second novel, Sisters of a Halved Heart, this June with Algonquin Books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
Top Awards at this year’s Miami Film Festival went to Columbia filmmakers, former Film student David Pablos and MFA Film alum Kali Kahn '25.
Remarkably Bright Creatures, the newest feature film from Olivia Newman '12, will premiere on Netflix on May 8, 2026.
When the screenwriter and producer was asked to adapt a military memoir into a TV series, the project struck a personal chord. Read more from Columbia Magazine.
