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.
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Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Film Jack Lechner about his diverse career, the innovative web series Group, and helping students unlock a story’s full potential.
Alumnus Roberto Bentivegna ’10 co-wrote the screenplay for House of Gucci (2021).
Alumna Deborah Chow '03 currently directs the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series for Disney+.
Alumna Jasmin Freitas Tenucci '20 has been named Best Director at the Rio De Janeiro short film festival for her thesis film August Sky.
The Conference of the Birds, a feature film directed and edited by alumnus Kevin Contento '18, won the Feature Narrative Jury Award at the 2021 New Orleans Film Festival.
Several Columbia filmmakers are featured as part of the Criterion Channel’s current 2021 lineup.
Alumnae So Young Shelly Yo '18 and Ellie Foumbi ’17 were both chosen to participate in Tribeca’s 2021 Writing in Unreal Program.
Film student Cecilia Otero was accepted into the 2021 Film Independent Producing Lab.
Works by Columbia filmmakers Maggie Gyllenhaal ’99 (CC), Professor of Professional Practice Tom Kalin, Jessica Kingdon ’09 (CC) and Julia Ducournau have been honored at this year’s Gotham Awards in New York City.
Four films by Columbia filmmakers are set to screen at the 12th edition of the DOC NYC film festival between November 10 and November 18, 2021.
Adjunct Professor Rich Perello currently produces the feature film Quasi, a new comedy which offers a satirical look at the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Two Columbia alumni have been recognized by the Sundance Institute. They are: Lauren López de Victoria ’19, named as an inaugural Sundance Producers Intensive Fellow, and Cyril Aris ’17, whose project Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano was selected to receive a Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program Grant.
