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
Down Dog, a short film directed by student Shae Xu, written by alumna Claire Brooks ’20 and produced by alumna Mackenzie Lyle '20 and student I-Hui Lee, was screened virtually at the Urbanworld Film Festival through September 27, and will screen at the NewFest New York LGBTQ + Film Festival from October 16-27. NewFest is New York’s largest presenter of LGBTQ film & media and the largest convener of LGBTQ audiences in the city.
Student Kevin Haefelin won the Maverick Award for Best Student Short Film at the Woodstock Film Festival 2020 for his film Trumpet. Written and directed by Haefelin, produced by Youmi Haefelin-Roch and with student Alex Yarber serving as Unit Production Manager, Trumpet took the edge over five other shorts in its section.
Film alumnus Kevin Lau ’13 writes for HBO’s Lovecraft Country. Lau co-wrote the show’s sixth episode, “Meet Me in Daegu,” with series creator Misha Green, and he is credited as story editor on all eight episodes.
To Sonny, written by alumna Maggie Briggs '19 and co-directed by Briggs and alumnus Federico Spiazzi '18, will screen at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, November 3-30.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the recipients of its 2020/21 scholarships program with three Columbia students included.
The documentary, Totally Under Control, chronicling the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, co-directed and produced by alumna Ophelia Harutyunyan ’15, with Alex Gibney and Suzanne Hillinger also directing, will be released by NEON this month.
The Catch, a short film directed by alumna Thais Drassinower '18 and written by alumna Camila Zavala '19, screened virtually at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles's (NFMLA) Latinx & Hispanic Cinema Festival. NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences teamed up for the annual NFMLA Film Festival InFocus: Latinx & Hispanic Cinema Festival, presented virtually, in collaboration with the streaming platform Seed&Spark.
I’m No Longer Here (Ya No Estoy Aquí), a film written and directed by alumnus Fernando Frías de la Parra '15 and produced by alumnus Gerry Kim '11 won big at the Ariel Awards for Mexican Cinema, sweeping the trophies in 10 categories including the Best Film and Best Director sections.
Beginning, a feature film written and directed by alumna Déa Kulumbegashvili '18 and produced by alumnus Ilan Amouyal '17, was the big winner at the 68th edition of the San Sebastián International Film Festival, winning the Golden Shell, the festival’s top prize. Kulumbegashvili’s debut film also secured the awards in the Best Director, Best Actress (Ia Sukhitashvili) and Best Screenplay (for Kulumbegashvili and Rati Oneli) categories.
