Film News

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

Stay Awake, written and directed by alumnus Jamie Sisley '15 and produced by alumnus, Adjunct Professor and Senior Production Advisor Shrihari Sathe '09 received a special mention from the Generation 14plus youth jury.

The Directors Guild of America recently revealed this year’s TV nominees for the DGA Awards, and three Columbia filmmakers have received nominations.

Here, we talk with Adjunct Associate Professor of Film and alumnus Shrihari Sathe '09 about world cinema, what it takes to be a producer, and his directorial debut, Ek Hazarachi Note (1000 Rupee Note). 

Alumna Anya Meksin ’11 served as a staff writer for the debut season of In From The Cold, a new series from Netflix. 

In this series we feature the new mentorship program that connects recent alumni with industry professionals.

Two films from Columbia alumni have been nominated for 2022 BAFTA Awards.

The 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Seven films from Columbia filmmakers have received nominations. 

Alumna Ama Quao ’18 served as a staff writer on the debut seasons of Hulu’s How I Met Your Father and Freeform's Single Drunk Female.

Clara Sola, a feature film co-written and directed by alumna Nathalie Álvarez Mesén '19, was the big winner at the Guldbagge Awards from the Swedish Film Institute, taking home five awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Screenplay. 

Alumni Nicole Holofcener '88 and Ashley Lyle '07 ('02 CC) are among the honorees of the 2022 Final Draft Awards.

Miracle, written, directed, produced, and edited by Assistant Professor and Film Program alumnus Bogdan George Apetri '06, won the Don Quixote Prize at the 2022 Tromsø International Film Festival.

Columbia’s Digital Storytelling Lab, headed by Associate Professor of Professional Practice Lance Weiler, premieres its project Blockchain Fairy Tales at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival. Set up in collaboration with many co-creators and supported by the festival, Blockchain Fairy Tales (BFT) is a storytelling experience that ignites imaginations, the idea of speculative futures, and renders the sharing of resources and information as a tactile experience.

The Blue List

Columbia University Blue List Script Competition connects the Film Program’s most talented recent graduates with leading professionals in the world of film and television. The Blue List represents the most esteemed, un-produced screenplays and television pilots written by Film & Playwriting graduates of the Columbia University’s School of the Arts.

Student Series

Headshot of Angeline Dimambro
Life After Film School

by Angeline Dimambro

This series catches up with Columbia filmmakers who have recently graduated to discuss what they’re doing now and their goals for the future.

Headshot of Carlos Barragan
This is Who We Are

by Carlos Barragán

A series featuring Columbia School of the Arts’ professors, covering careers, pedagogy, and art-making.

Headshot of Felix van Kann
Columbia Filmmakers Connect

by Felix van Kann

Features the new mentorship program that connects recent alumni with industry professionals. 

Aisha Amin
Weekend Watchlist

by Aisha Amin

Features Columbia Film Professors, discussing their best film and TV recommendations for aspiring filmmakers.

Frozen poster

Writer and co-director: Jennifer Lee '05

Superbad poster

Writer-director: Greg Mottola '91

Zero Dark Thirty poster

Writer, director, producer: Kathryn Bigelow '79

Logan poster

Co-writer and director: James Mangold '99

Yellowjackets poster

Co-creator, executive producer, writer: Ashley Lyle '07

Shirkers poster

Writer-director: Sandi Tan '00