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
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.
Paint, co-produced by film alumnus Gabriel Wilson ’19, won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature at Dances with Films this past August. Must Love Pie, written and directed by film alumnus Patrick Clement ’20, and Diabla, produced by film alumna Maya Korn ’19, were also featured at the festival.
Four Columbia alumni had their films screened at the Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF & ASIA) in Tokyo. Greenhouse, a short film written & directed by Xixi Wang '19 and produced by Haichao Fang '19, screened on Monday.
