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
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.
Assistant Professor and co-head of the TV Writing concentration, Blair Singer served as co-executive producer on the drama series Filthy Rich, which has been scheduled by Fox to premiere in September of this year.
Balk, a 2019 thesis film directed and co-written by alumnus Gabriel Wilson ’19, co-written by alumnus Ben Gottlieb ’19 and produced by alumna Jennifer Kaiser ’19, has been nominated for a College Television Award. Winners can expect a $3,000 cash prize and will be announced at the 40th edition of the event on May 30. The film had its premiere at last year’s Columbia University Film Festival.
Professor and Directing Concentration head, Tom Kalin will receive the Pride Award at this year’s Ashland Independent Film Festival in Oregon. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the festival will be held entirely online from May 22 to June 14.
Winners were announced online last week for the renowned Tribeca Film Festival that was canceled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Two Columbia films received recognition.
Diversity in Film is a bi-weekly series covering underrepresented groups in Film.
Becoming, a film following Michelle Obama by director Nadia Hallgren, was released on Netflix last week.
