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
Tres Noches Y Una Cabra (Three Nights and a Goat), directed by alumnus Nicolás Becerra '18, written by alumnus Ben Gottlieb '19 and produced by alumna Jennifer Sciarra '18, was selected to screen at the Panorama Colombia Film Festival in Germany, which has been postponed currently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Salt (Sabras), a feature film project written and to be directed by current student Sushma Khadepaun, has won a SFFILM's Spring 2020 Westridge Grant.
Something to Believe In (Algo en lo que creer), a short film written and directed by alumna Fany de la Chica '18 and produced by alumnus Luca Marcovici '18, screened at the Cinequest Film Festival in March as part of the Life Lessons program, and will be shown at the San Diego Latino Film Festival in October. The film will also be presented at the 4th edition of the Latino Film Market in New York from July 17 to August 2, 2020 in New York City.
Chosen, a pilot directed by alumnus Daniel Fermín Pfeffer '18, written and produced by alumnus Michael Goitanich '18, and produced by alumna Ewing Luo '18, was selected to screen as part of the Independent Pilot Competition at SeriesFest's Virtual Film Festival. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the festival has shifted to a virtual edition taking place from June 18 to June 24 2020.
True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality, the new documentary by Professor of Professional Practice Trey Ellis just won a Peabody Award.
Due to the global pandemic, the Cannes Film Festival did not take place under its usual conditions from May 12 to May 23 this year, but that didn’t stop the organizers from revealing its 2020 lineup. Four films by Columbia filmmakers are listed among the 56 movies chosen for the Official Selection picked out of a total of 2,067 feature films submitted.
Current film student Molly Evans launched a COVID-19 relief fundraiser called Rise Together, Sweat Together on May 17th.
Current Student Stephanie M. Falkeis has been awarded the Heldinnen in Serie Screenwriting Award and Development Grant for her project The Invisible Sister from FISA, the Film Industry Support of Austria.
On A Global Scale is a bi-weekly series about international co-productions by Columbia filmmakers.
Current Student Victoria Rivera was selected as a Film Independent Directing Lab Fellow with her feature film project Malpelo. Before Rivera’s Directing Lab Fellowship, she was previously chosen for Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab in February 2020. Malpelo is being produced by alumna Camila Zavala '19 who developed the project as part of last year’s Film Independent’s Producing Fellowship.
Alumnus Greg Mottola ’91 directed the first three episodes of Dave, an FX original comedy series which premiered in March. The show was recently renewed for a second season after becoming the network's most-watched comedy series ever after streaming on Hulu. Mottola also served as an executive producer on the show.
Trumpet by current student Kevin Haefelin, and Así en la Tierra by alumnus Joel Vázquez Cárdenas ’18 have both advanced to the shortlist of the prestigious 2020 BAFTA Student Film Awards held by The British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
