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
Troublemaker, a short film written and directed by student Olive Nwosu, is making waves on the festival circuit.
Mizaru, a short film written, directed and edited by alumnus Sudarshan Suresh '18, screened as part of the Dharamshala International Film Festival 2020. It ran in the Shorts section of the 9th edition of the festival from October 29 to November 4.
When alumnus Kai Gero Lenke ’15 remembers his time at Columbia, it is with great fondness. “It’s a creative space you will miss for the rest of your life when you’re out,” he told me. “For a long time, you will work with people in the industry who have just not studied film aesthetics in the same way. At Columbia, we watched Tarkovsky, Bergman, Truffaut, and we did shot for shot analysis of their works. Then you realize all this love for film that exists in this space in New York just doesn’t exist in most parts of your future work life. It’s also not demanded by anyone.”
Out of the Past, Into the Future is a bi-weekly series that aims to chronicle a limitless scope of work by Columbia filmmaker’s representative of the past, present, and future.
The Big D, a drama series co-written and co-directed by alumni Samantha Buck '16 and Marie Schlingmann '16, is being developed by HBO.
Pillars, a short film written and directed by alumnus Cameron Bruce Nelson '20 and produced by alumna Chloe Sarbib '20, continues its successful festival run.
Girl Friend, a short film written and directed by alumna Chloe Sarbib '20, produced by student Gina Hackett and co-produced by alumna Lauren López de Victoria '19, is now available on the Directors Notes website alongside an interview with Sarbib about the making of the film.
Two Columbia filmmakers have been selected to participate in this year’s Cine Qua Non Lab’s Script Revision Labs.
Filmmaker Magazine has named Columbia Alumnae Victoria Rivera ‘20 and Moara Passoni ‘20 to The 25 New Faces of Independent Film 2020.
Happily, a short film co-written and directed by alumnus Aaron David DeFazio '15, screened in the Drama section of the 24th Los Angeles International Film Festival last month.
