Film News

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

Five Columbia alumni and their projects have been chosen to participate in Cine Qua Non Lab's Storylines Lab. 

Registering "On Campus" status for Fundamentals of Directing

The last two years have been busy for Film alumnus and novelist Garth Stein ’90. Last summer, the movie The Art of Racing in the Rain based on Stein’s best-selling 2008 novel of the same name, was released by 20th Century Fox/Disney.

The Nashville Film Festival’s Screenwriting Competition is underway with Has Been Beauty Queen, a script co-written by alumna Jennifer Gerber '13, reaching the final round in the Feature Film section of the festival. 

Adjunct Assistant Professor Richard Dresser's debut novel, It Happened Here was released this month by Brown Books Publishing Group. 

Four Columbia films have been selected to show at the 58th New York Film Festival from September 17 to October 11.

The Telluride Film Festival released the official program selections to its 47th edition with two films by Columbia filmmakers on the list. Both Silento, written and directed by alumnus Esteban Garcia Vernaza '20 and produced by alumna Susie Jean Kim '19, and Something to Believe In (Algo en lo que creer), written and directed by alumna Fany de la Chica '18 and produced by alumnus Luca Marcovici '18, were chosen to compete in the Student Prints category alongside six other student short films.

The oldest film festival in the world, the Venice International Film Festival, returns for its 77th edition from September 2 to September 12, 2020 with three Columbia films in its lineup.

We are pleased to announce an option for MFA students to complete production during the pandemic. 

Inez, Doug and Kira, a feature film written and directed by alumna Julia Kots '08, was acquired by 1091 Pictures for worldwide distribution.

The Blue List

Columbia University Blue List Script Competition connects the Film Program’s most talented recent graduates with leading professionals in the world of film and television. The Blue List represents the most esteemed, un-produced screenplays and television pilots written by Film & Playwriting graduates of the Columbia University’s School of the Arts.

Student Series

Headshot of Angeline Dimambro
Life After Film School

by Angeline Dimambro

This series catches up with Columbia filmmakers who have recently graduated to discuss what they’re doing now and their goals for the future.

Headshot of Carlos Barragan
This is Who We Are

by Carlos Barragán

A series featuring Columbia School of the Arts’ professors, covering careers, pedagogy, and art-making.

Headshot of Felix van Kann
Columbia Filmmakers Connect

by Felix van Kann

Features the new mentorship program that connects recent alumni with industry professionals. 

Aisha Amin
Weekend Watchlist

by Aisha Amin

Features Columbia Film Professors, discussing their best film and TV recommendations for aspiring filmmakers.

Frozen poster

Writer and co-director: Jennifer Lee '05

Superbad poster

Writer-director: Greg Mottola '91

Zero Dark Thirty poster

Writer, director, producer: Kathryn Bigelow '79

Logan poster

Co-writer and director: James Mangold '99

Yellowjackets poster

Co-creator, executive producer, writer: Ashley Lyle '07

Shirkers poster

Writer-director: Sandi Tan '00