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MillimeterThe Next Generation of Filmmakers Graduates from the American Film Institute Conservatory
Jun 9, 2005 10:48 AM
American Film Institute (AFI) honored the future of the moving image at its commencement ceremony for the AFI Conservatory. AFI Director and CEO Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI Board of Trustees chair Sir Howard Stringer and Board of Directors chair Jon Avnet participated in congratulating the 110 cinematographers, directors, editors, producers, production designers, and screenwriters at the ceremony on AFI's Campus in the hills above Hollywood.
Honorary Degrees were presented to award-winning reporter, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, producer, and director Nora Ephron; television pioneer Fred Pierce; and Oscar and Tony Award-nominated producer David Brown. Distinguished participants in the ceremony included Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO, Sony Corporation of America, who presented Nora Ephron with her honor. Robert Iger, President and COO, The Walt Disney Company presented Fred Pierce with his honorary degree. David Brown was presented his honor by acclaimed writer and AFI trustee Fay Kanin.
As part of The Sherrill C. Corwin Scholarship Program, Travis Peterson was awarded the Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award for his thesis film Indio, USA, and Jonathan Levine was given The Richard P. Rogers Spirit of Excellence Award for his thesis Shards. Graduating Fellow Chris Ranta was chosen by his peers to speak at the ceremony.
Among the previous recipients of AFI honorary degrees are Robert Altman, Maya Angelou, Michelangelo Antonioni, Steven Bochco, Roger Corman, Robert Daly, Lee Grant, Ray Harryhausen, Chuck Jones, John Lasseter, Karl Malden, Gena Rowlands, Thelma Schoonmaker, Jack Valenti, Haskell Wexler, and Alfre Woodard.
Established in 1969, the AFI Conservatory is dedicated to identifying and nurturing future leaders of the moving image arts and profession through its five-semester, fully-accredited, Master of Fine Arts degree program that trains talented and aspiring filmmakers using a hands-on curriculum focusing on narrative storytelling.
The Sherrill C. Corwin Scholarship Program was established in honor of Sherrill C. Corwin, a founding AFI trustee as well as an exceptional friend and supporter of AFI. A number of scholarships have been established under this program, including the three given out today.
Director Peterson received The Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award of $10,000 and a trip to the Sundance Film Festival for his thesis production, Indio, USA. The Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award was established in 1991, by Jean Schaffner in honor of her husband Franklin J. Schaffner, a longtime champion of AFI and chair of the AFI Conservatory Advisory Committee and is presented to an outstanding Directing Fellow as selected by a panel of distinguished jurors from the artistic community.
Director Levine was given The Richard P. Rogers Spirit of Excellence Award of $10,000 for Shards, his thesis production. Awarded in memory of Richard P. Rogers—filmmaker, teacher, mentor, and friend—who died in 2001 at the age of 57, this honor is conferred on a graduating Directing Fellow whose commitment to excellence and whose contribution to the class best exemplifies Rogers' spirit.
Continue the discussion on “Crosstalk” the Millimeter Forum.