AFI Applicants 2026 - Who's applying?

[Chris W]

For those who are waitlisted or denied know this: stick with it. Last year, I didn’t get a single interview. I worked hard and changed my process - and this year I got interviews at four schools and accepted to two (so far).

This is great advice and true! Eventually the new fields that track times applied, newness of portfolio etc, will show this in data as well. We're almost at 200 applications logged this cycle - which is less than last year but lets keep logging to improve the data.

Massive upgrade to the statistics pages coming soon btw.

 

[Duke2001]

Has anyone gotten a rejection? I'm still waiting ...

 

[elenadarling_]

Has anyone gotten a rejection? I'm still waiting ...

I haven't heard anything yet either, applied for production design discipline. Have any PD candidates heard back?

 

[Pryde Pierce]

Has anyone gotten a rejection? I'm still waiting ...

I got my rejection letter for Directing. They offered to not charge the application fee if I applied for Editing.

 

[ljz]

I haven't heard anything yet either, applied for production design discipline. Have any PD candidates heard back?

I got the email around 14:30

 

[MatthewCG]

I got my rejection letter for Directing. They offered to not charge the application fee if I applied for Editing.

Same here. Can't decide if I want to apply for editing though. Editing isn't really my primary focus, but AFI is AFI. Most likely I'm going to just apply for directing again in the fall, or just focus on getting my feature film off the ground. What's your plan?

Congrats to everyone who has been accepted! Hit me up if you need an actor or AD on any of your future AFI projects. I posted my acting reel before, but here it is again. I'm also going to be making two new shorts this summer if anyone wants a gig. I have a team I tend to work with, but I do need a new AD and maybe editor.

 

[Pryde Pierce]

Same here. Can't decide if I want to apply for editing though. Editing isn't really my primary focus, but AFI is AFI. Most likely I'm going to just apply for directing again in the fall, or just focus on getting my feature film off the ground. What's your plan?

Congrats to everyone who has been accepted! Hit me up if you need an actor or AD on any of your future AFI projects. I posted my acting reel before, but here it is again. I'm also going to be making two new shorts this summer if anyone wants a gig. I have a team I tend to work with, but I do need a new AD and maybe editor.

I hear you. Most of my client work is either shooting or editing and my psuedo joke is I can't wait for the day when I never have to edit again and just work with editors. That said, agreed.....it is AFI. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I've just spent about an hour and a half reading up on the editing program and watching videos on it.

But we see this similarly. Even though the knowledge and connections would be nice, editing for me is more of a chore of necessity than a love. I'll most likely see if anything comes of this wait list. If not I'll probably apply to an MFA that gives full rides next year while continuing on my filmmaking journey.

I actually made an indy feature during 2020 but haven't released it yet due to it being set during Covid and feeling like it may feel dated...my other producers have been patient but I may just polish it up and get it out there and move on to the next feature idea I have. And I have a YouTube channel I've been slowly building that I can focus more on (with the goal of it one day being my version of Disneyland - as far as its purpose....to paraphrase Walt - "We have Disneyland so we can make movies).

 

[RPA]

I haven't heard anything yet either, applied for production design discipline. Have any PD candidates heard back?

I haven't heard anything too. Interviewed for Directing. I dono why they release decisions in erratic phases.

 

[RPA]

I just got my reject. Congrats to all who got their admits !! Have funnn!

 

[mgm0286]

Waitlisted! I think I would be more sad if I hadn't already gotten into Columbia. Still disappointed though

 

[JaredFilms378]

Seems like less people applied this year, so seems like it was easier to get in? At least for cinematography. Does anyone know if that’s true

 

[Pryde Pierce]

Seems like less people applied this year, so seems like it was easier to get in? At least for cinematography. Does anyone know if that’s true

Probably no way to ever tell, though with some of the disciplines re-opening up that may be true for some of them (or they just didn't feel they had enough candidates they wanted to offer spots to out of the previous pools). I know in my Screenwriting Waitlist email they stated it was "one of the strongest applicant pools in the AFI Conservatory history." I figure they have no reason to say that unless they feel that way. *shrug*

 

[tylerrjenkins]

I got in for directing! Very thankful for the opportunity. I also got in at UCLA, USC, and Chapman (Chris I promise I'll log my applications soon, sorry!) so I'll have to decide between those. Honestly the only one I"m considering besides AFI is UCLA just cause of the cost, and I'll have to be 100% the AFI environment is right for me. But to be honest I'll probably end up at AFI; the opportunity is hard to turn down. This is my 2nd year applying, and last year I was rejected, not waitlisted, so to those who got rejected this year, don't lose hope about going to AFI if you feel that it's right for you down the line. Cheers.

 

[Pryde Pierce]

I got in for directing! Very thankful for the opportunity. I also got in at UCLA, USC, and Chapman (Chris I promise I'll log my applications soon, sorry!) so I'll have to decide between those. Honestly the only one I"m considering besides AFI is UCLA just cause of the cost, and I'll have to be 100% the AFI environment is right for me. But to be honest I'll probably end up at AFI; the opportunity is hard to turn down. This is my 2nd year applying, and last year I was rejected, not waitlisted, so to those who got rejected this year, don't lose hope about going to AFI if you feel that it's right for you down the line. Cheers.

Congrats! And thanks for the encouraging words!

 

[David Shotwell]

Waitlist is not a rejection. Screenwriting does not waitlist ANYONE who they wouldnt be excited about workshopping features with. It’s just a tiny cohort. Straight from the Screenwriting head’s mouth. One of my best professors was waitlisted. Some excellent members of my cohort were waitlisted. Spots open. But it can take months. So, now that you’ve all been frothing for a hard date…you gotta let it go. Assume it’s a no and move on. But be ready when they call. It happens every year. But you can’t hyper focus on it like you (undoubtedly and understandably!) have been. Now is the time to work on the next thing.

For those who were accepted, the best thing you can do is generate ideas. In screenwriting, you’re gonna want to come in with 10+ feature, 5+ pilot, and 5+ short film ideas that you are EXCITED about. They don’t need to be indepth. But you need to LOVE your logline and/or you protagonist. In every class in screenwriting, they want you to pitch 3 NEW ideas. As in, ones that weren’t pitched in any other class. If you have your own development list ready, you will be way ahead of the game.

 

[Chris W]

One of my best professors was waitlisted. Some excellent members of my cohort were waitlisted. Spots open

Wait... You're at AFI now? Neat..how are you liking it? We only have 2 reviews so far and we should definitely have more so it would be super helpful if you could write a review. It can be an anonymous reviews...Page to review is below:

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[Pryde Pierce]

Waitlist is not a rejection. Screenwriting does not waitlist ANYONE who they wouldnt be excited about workshopping features with. It’s just a tiny cohort. Straight from the Screenwriting head’s mouth. One of my best professors was waitlisted. Some excellent members of my cohort were waitlisted. Spots open. But it can take months. So, now that you’ve all been frothing for a hard date…you gotta let it go. Assume it’s a no and move on. But be ready when they call. It happens every year. But you can’t hyper focus on it like you (undoubtedly and understandably!) have been. Now is the time to work on the next thing.

For those who were accepted, the best thing you can do is generate ideas. In screenwriting, you’re gonna want to come in with 10+ feature, 5+ pilot, and 5+ short film ideas that you are EXCITED about. They don’t need to be indepth. But you need to LOVE your logline and/or you protagonist. In every class in screenwriting, they want you to pitch 3 NEW ideas. As in, ones that weren’t pitched in any other class. If you have your own development list ready, you will be way ahead of the game.

Thanks for that insight David!

 

[JaredFilms378]

Got scholarship, did anyone else get anything?

 

[luckylayda]

I also got into directing! But unfortunately, I didn't receive a scholarship. I don't know if I will be able to attend. Does anyone know if they offer additional scholarships?

 

[Arbyrnes]

No scholarship for me. Wah wah wah. I think the only two other scholarships of which I am aware is the Sloan scholarship and the Canva scholarship. Unclear how the latter is awarded.