AFI 2024 - All Applicants

[Logan]

Hey guys I had my editing interview this morning, and the interviewers were very nice. The overall interview went smoothly. It's very lucky that most of the questions could be found in the AFI Editing database from previous years. I am very grateful for this platform and appreciate those who are willing to share their own interview experiences. I have uploaded the questions to my AFI Editing application page, hoping to help someone in need. Good luck everyone!

 

[Ares]

Hey guys I had my editing interview this morning, and the interviewers were very nice. The overall interview went smoothly. It's very lucky that most of the questions could be found in the AFI Editing database from previous years. I am very grateful for this platform and appreciate those who are willing to share their own interview experiences. I have uploaded the questions to my AFI Editing application page, hoping to help someone in need. Good luck everyone!

Congrats on the interview Who did you interview with?

 

[Chris W]

It's very lucky that most of the questions could be found in the AFI Editing database from previous years. I am very grateful for this platform and appreciate those who are willing to share their own interview experiences. I have uploaded the questions to my AFI Editing application page, hoping to help someone in need.

Really glad that you are finding the site helpful! It's awesome that your interview went well.

 

[Ares]

Congrats on the interview Who did you interview with?

Hey guys I had my editing interview this morning, and the interviewers were very nice. The overall interview went smoothly. It's very lucky that most of the questions could be found in the AFI Editing database from previous years. I am very grateful for this platform and appreciate those who are willing to share their own interview experiences. I have uploaded the questions to my AFI Editing application page, hoping to help someone in need. Good luck everyone!

"I have uploaded the questions to my AFI Editing application page, hoping to help someone in need."
I jumped the gun before I saw that part. Thank you for feeding my curiosity

 

[Logan]

Congrats on the interview Who did you interview with?

Interviewed with Robert Ivison and Christopher Cooke

"I have uploaded the questions to my AFI Editing application page, hoping to help someone in need."
I jumped the gun before I saw that part. Thank you for feeding my curiosity

The interview did not include a self-introduction part, and Robert asked most of the questions. The interview started by discussing the theme of the films I submitted, followed by some classic questions such as why AFI/Editing and what qualities an editor should possess.

The second part of the interview felt more "creative", as the interviewers wanted to know what I was experiencing. So, they asked about a collaboration that didn't go as planned and how I resolved through editing. They also asked about a happy moment (that could be unrelated to film.) The entire interview lasted about 25 minutes, and I found it to be a pleasant conversation. I hope my answers can feed your curiosity and help someone in need ~ Good luck!

 

[kingofsweaters]

Hello all! I’ve got my interview coming up on Tuesday. I’d seen elsewhere online people mentioning the interviewers asking about your plans to finance your studies. Was wondering if that were true for anyone who’s had their interview already?

Planning on chatting with a friend who just finished about her thoughts experiences and any tips and now also about this question. She got a full ride though so not sure if they would have asked her haha.

 

[joyfulleee]

Hello, does anyone have any updates on hearing back for interviews for directing? ;/

 

[bddub24]

Hello all! I’ve got my interview coming up on Tuesday. I’d seen elsewhere online people mentioning the interviewers asking about your plans to finance your studies. Was wondering if that were true for anyone who’s had their interview already?

Planning on chatting with a friend who just finished about her thoughts experiences and any tips and now also about this question. She got a full ride though so not sure if they would have asked her haha.

I interviewed earlier this month for screenwriting. I wasn't asked anything about how I was planning on financing my studies. Maybe that's a good sign for a coming scholarship? lol

But seriously, now sure if they ask it. I haven't heard of many asking as this question is asked in the scholarship form

 

[Xin Du]

Hi, everyone, I just finished my interview for directing program. The whole interview went about 40 minutes because I asked them some questions that took more time.

They firstly let me introduce myself and asked me some general questions like why AFI, what my thoughts about collaborating with different crew members if we have some different ideas during shooting, and what I want to learn from AFI. And some questions about my future plan as a filmmaker and what my thoughts about my feature film (I mentioned it at my narrative statement). Then, they asked me some very specific questions about my visual submissions (the whole interview was basically focusing on it). I was very nervous because there were a lot I wanted to say and my visual submissions are different from mainstream films. I don’t know whether I can get into the program, but I tried my best.

The interviewers are very nice and patient. I would not think too much before the interview if I have another chance. I recommend you guys to relax and mainly focus on preparing some questions your visual submissions. Good luck!

 

[hkim133]

Hi, everyone, I just finished my interview for directing program. The whole interview went about 40 minutes because I asked them some questions that took more time.

They firstly let me introduce myself and asked me some general questions like why AFI, what my thoughts about collaborating with different crew members if we have some different ideas during shooting, and what I want to learn from AFI. And some questions about my future plan as a filmmaker and what my thoughts about my feature film (I mentioned it at my narrative statement). Then, they asked me some very specific questions about my visual submissions (the whole interview was basically focusing on it). I was very nervous because there were a lot I wanted to say and my visual submissions are different from mainstream films. I don’t know whether I can get into the program, but I tried my best.

The interviewers are very nice and patient. I would not think too much before the interview if I have another chance. I recommend you guys to relax and mainly focus on preparing some questions your visual submissions. Good luck!

Good luck !
Who were your interviewers?

 

[joyfulleee]

Hi, everyone, I just finished my interview for directing program. The whole interview went about 40 minutes because I asked them some questions that took more time.

They firstly let me introduce myself and asked me some general questions like why AFI, what my thoughts about collaborating with different crew members if we have some different ideas during shooting, and what I want to learn from AFI. And some questions about my future plan as a filmmaker and what my thoughts about my feature film (I mentioned it at my narrative statement). Then, they asked me some very specific questions about my visual submissions (the whole interview was basically focusing on it). I was very nervous because there were a lot I wanted to say and my visual submissions are different from mainstream films. I don’t know whether I can get into the program, but I tried my best.

The interviewers are very nice and patient. I would not think too much before the interview if I have another chance. I recommend you guys to relax and mainly focus on preparing some questions your visual submissions. Good luck!

Hello Xin,

First off congrats, when did you receive the invite for the interview?

At this point, I guess I'm assuming all invites are probably all out.

Thank you so much for sharing your interview details

Best,
Joy

 

[Xin Du]

Hello Xin,

First off congrats, when did you receive the invite for the interview?

At this point, I guess I'm assuming all invites are probably all out.

Thank you so much for sharing your interview details

Best,
Joy

Hello Joy, I received my invitation of interview from AFI at Jan 23rd. And unfortunately I feel they probably had already sent all of invitation at that time, at least for the first batch. But I don’t know their specific admission process or whether there is another chance because this is my first time apply. Hope it can help you!

 

[kingofsweaters]

I just finished my interview for screenwriting. Still buzzing with energy and processing everything. It truly was very casual and felt like a conversation and less like an interview. I think it went reasonably well. They were both very nice. They told me they really loved my writing samples and Luisa Leschin told me that she really loved my philosophy on building story and character and that it was absolutely right. I fully flubbed a question on my background as a fine artist in the past. They wanted to know who inspired me at that time and truly every name of every artist left my brain but the conversation quickly recovered. So, now we wait until March

 

[bddub24]

I just finished my interview for screenwriting. Still buzzing with energy and processing everything. It truly was very casual and felt like a conversation and less like an interview. I think it went reasonably well. They were both very nice. They told me they really loved my writing samples and Luisa Leschin told me that she really loved my philosophy on building story and character and that it was absolutely right. I fully flubbed a question on my background as a fine artist in the past. They wanted to know who inspired me at that time and truly every name of every artist left my brain but the conversation quickly recovered. So, now we wait until March

By this point I feel like flubbing a question is a rite of passage for everyone who's interviewed. congrats!

 

[Migun]

I just finished my interview for screenwriting. Still buzzing with energy and processing everything. It truly was very casual and felt like a conversation and less like an interview. I think it went reasonably well. They were both very nice. They told me they really loved my writing samples and Luisa Leschin told me that she really loved my philosophy on building story and character and that it was absolutely right. I fully flubbed a question on my background as a fine artist in the past. They wanted to know who inspired me at that time and truly every name of every artist left my brain but the conversation quickly recovered. So, now we wait until March

Memory left the chat

 

[mandaa]

Hi, everyone, I just finished my interview for directing program. The whole interview went about 40 minutes because I asked them some questions that took more time.

They firstly let me introduce myself and asked me some general questions like why AFI, what my thoughts about collaborating with different crew members if we have some different ideas during shooting, and what I want to learn from AFI. And some questions about my future plan as a filmmaker and what my thoughts about my feature film (I mentioned it at my narrative statement). Then, they asked me some very specific questions about my visual submissions (the whole interview was basically focusing on it). I was very nervous because there were a lot I wanted to say and my visual submissions are different from mainstream films. I don’t know whether I can get into the program, but I tried my best.

The interviewers are very nice and patient. I would not think too much before the interview if I have another chance. I recommend you guys to relax and mainly focus on preparing some questions your visual submissions. Good luck!

thanks a lot for sharing. Who were the interviewers?

 

[mandaa]

I'm close friends with someone who got into the cinematography track last year, and he's connected me with other people at AFI and here's what I've gleaned from those conversations:

• Very few (if any) applicants who get an interview aren't accepted or at least waitlisted. Seems that it's more of a "vibe check" than a competitive advancing round. So if you've scheduled an interview, that's really good news
• There's always a good number of applicants who are accepted but don't end up attending (can't afford, don't want to take out student loans, get accepted to two tracks and have to pick one, decide to go somewhere else, etc.) That's what the waitlist and later interviews are for. The money really seems to be the big issue for most people who rescind their acceptance
• About 1/3 of the student body is American, 1/3 is Chinese, and 1/3 is from any other country. Do with that info what you will
• Every track does their application/ interview/ acceptance process separately. So if you apply for directing and screenwriting, for example, they won't know. They also send them out and schedule the interviews separately. So it won't hurt your chances to apply for more than one track. In fact, a lot of this year's Editing students actually want to be directors but took what they got accepted for, and I guess that's caused a lot of issues lol

That's about the main takeaways for the application/interview section. I've got more info about how the school actually works once you get in, if anyone is interested.

hello, thanks a lot sharing. Yes, please if you can share about how the school work. Although not even interviewed yet lol...

 

[Chris W]

The new graph of Admissions Statistics makes it seem like it fell off a cliff.

AFI Conservatory Acceptance Rate (All Programs/All Years)

41%

Admitted

212 out of 517

13.7%

Waitlisted

71 out of 517

45.3%

Not Admitted

234 out of 517

Awaiting Results Admitted Waitlisted Denied

Click here for our full Admission Statistics for this program including interview and acceptance notification dates, accepted GPAs, waitlist acceptance rate, demographics of accepted applicants, $ amount of scholarship awarded, and more...

But that's because 2024 decisions aren't out yet obviously. An application is marked "Not Admitted" if the prefix isn't changed to admitted or waitlisted so the applications submitted this year are all currently "Not Admitted" and red in the 2024 line of that graph.

Everyone be sure to log your application if you haven't already.

Good luck everyone!

Application Database

A database of thousands of film school applications to calculate acceptance rates to film programs and the minimum GPAs, minimum SAT and GRE scores, experience of accepted applicants, and much more....

www.filmschool.org

 

[bddub24]

Watching the time tick away every day til next friday:

 

[itcomesatnight]

Watching the time tick away every day til next friday:

View attachment 3773

I could've sworn someone was admitted when I saw the notification, haha