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
Between Two Dawns, written, directed and produced by current student Selman Nacar, was acquired for distribution by Paris-based sales company Luxbox Films.
Unorthodox, a mini series created by alumna Anna Winger (CC '93), and Immigration Nation, executive produced by non-degree alumnus Dan Cogan '96, both won awards at the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
The 33rd Columbia University Film Festival (CUFF) concluded on May 3 with its annual Awards Night ceremony.
'La Bailarina', a short film written and directed by alumnus Samuel Harwood '19 and produced by alumna Arlene Fernandez '19, runs virtually at the New York International Film Festival from April 21 to May 5 2021.
Eyimofe (This is My Desire), a feature film co-directed and co-written by alumnus Arie Esiri '19 and edited by alumnus Andrew Stephen Lee '18, will screen virtually from May 7 to 12, 2021 as part of the Museum of Modern Art and Film at Lincoln Center's New Directors/New Films series. The film, which Esiri co-directed with his brother Chuko, previously premiered at the Berlinale Forum in 2020.
Behind the D4 is an interview series about the D4 films made by Film MFA Program students.
Alumna Marie Jamora '05 is set to direct a forthcoming episode of the sixth season of the show Queen Sugar, which will premiere on OWN this fall.
On A Global Scale is a bi-weekly series about international co-productions by Columbia filmmakers.
The Columbia University Film Festival (CUFF) will present its annual Andrew Sarris Award to Palestian-American filmmaker and Film Program alumna Cherien Dabis ’04.
Starz is developing Professor Jamal Joseph’s memoir, Panther Baby, into a drama.
Beauty Marks, a short film directed by alumna Gina Hackett '20, co-written by Hackett and alumnus Waleed Alqahtani '20, produced by alumna Christina Wood '20, and edited by alumnus Cameron Bruce Nelson '20, had its world premiere at the RapidLion - South African International Film Festival in Johannesburg on April 9. Beauty Marks ran in the Student Short program and will soon also screen at the Columbia University Film Festival.
