AFI Directing 2022

[cmin123]

I got an invite to the interview too! And I'm crying with you all! Good luck to everyone! I cant even function today because I'm already extremly nervous omgggg

 

[Bergmanbaby]

Who is everyone interviewing with? Also would love if people could share feedback on their interviews if they go first

 

[lalalind]

Is anyone else really nervous because they haven't gotten an interview notification?

I'm definitely getting a bit self conscious about my decision to apply but I did the best I could

 

[catapultbaby]

The amount of times I have checked my video views and refreshed my email and this damn page dont worry, I'm with you there

 

[lalalind]

The amount of times I have checked my video views and refreshed my email and this damn page dont worry, I'm with you there

SAME the amount I check this can't be healthy

 

[Chris W]

SAME the amount I check this can't be healthy

See this thread:

How is everyone coping with result anxiety ?

Hello all, Hope you all are doing well. Just curious to know how is everyone coping with "waiting for the result" anxiety ? Sharing my strategy 1. Lifestyle - Good sleep, limited social media, exercise and good food. 2. Writing to all the film schools I have applied to ask them the...

www.filmschool.org

BTW I'm thinking of making a new forum and dropping the FREAKING OUT prefix in the lounge and just make a forum called "The Waiting Game" or something like that for people to post threads to help them get through this time.

Would people be down for something like that?

 

[mandrewvi]

Is anyone else really nervous because they haven't gotten an interview notification?

I'm definitely getting a bit self conscious about my decision to apply but I did the best I could

I'm super nervous as well! Just remember that even if they say no, that doesn't mean you are any less talented. The fact that you applied is already a huge accomplishment.

I hope we are considered, best of luck!

 

[Chris W]

BTW I'm thinking of making a new forum and dropping the FREAKING OUT prefix in the lounge and just make a forum called "The Waiting Game" or something like that for people to post threads to help them get through this time.

This has been done.

See the new forum here:

The Waiting Game

Support and blowing off steam while you wait for the decision

www.filmschool.org

 

[user1234]

Is anyone else really nervous because they haven't gotten an interview notification?

I'm definitely getting a bit self conscious about my decision to apply but I did the best I could

Definitely don’t be nervous! They are still sending them out all throughout February as well from threads in past years!

 

[Average Alex]

Congrats on those who got the interview!! It's definitely a huge accomplishment and I bet many of you're feeling anxious about the upcoming interviews like what's going to be asked or how long it will last. Last year, I applied for AFI directing program and DoP program and got interviews for both programs. Hope my experience can help you a little!

For the directing program, I was interviewed by Anna Proulx: a passionate filmmaker and a wonderful human being. One of the graduated fellows was also in the interview and she was there to take my general questions about the programs. The interview lasted about 45 minutes. We talked about my film and how she loved it. The conversation went quite casual but after the discussion of my application films, she threw some quite challenging questions, specifically about collaboration with other crew members like screenwriter, DoP or PD. And among all the questions, I found this one particularly tough to answer: "how do you normally spend your budget? " And the interview pretty much ends there except I asked them a few questions about the campus and program. Overall, I'd say it's definitely not an easy conversation and don't be deceived by the "casual mood", you have to be knowledgeable and confident in order to be casual and engaged in this conversation. So try to do a mock interview with families or friends, which will tremendously help you cope with anxiety. Forgot to mentioned that right before we hung up, Anna said you will be happy to work with the SAG (professional actor union) when you come down here, which gave me a lot of hope.

The waiting was killing me. After countless sleepless nights, the final judgment day is here! The decision was released on Mar, 15th, around 11 am. I remembered I was listing to Scarborough Fair when I clicked on the email. The directing waitlisted me and DoP rejected me.

I was devasted because let me tell you there's nothing worse than being waitlisted by your dream school. Every day I opened my Gmail hoping to see that letter starts with the word Congraution. Meanwhile, I started to volunteer in the AFI project to have a better understanding of the program itself. I have to say it was a blast. Once you can overcome the fatigued state of going to set almost every weekend, AFI is a theme park for passionate filmmakers. Of course, still, some admitted fellows don't really enjoy the program much. But most of them do as long as you're passionate about what you are doing. Every set you would meet cool people. You become friends with them. You shoot movies with them. I mean, what more you can ask? But nothing is perfect and AFI does have one disadvantage compared to other schools, that's this program will keep you as busy as you can. I heard a joke about the DoP program is that on the first day of the class, the teacher told them, if you're in a relationship or worse, in a marriage, go tell your partner that you'll disappear for two years. And it was not joking: one of the fellows nearly lost his wife because of the loss of commitment in his marriage. But if your partners are ok with this, AFI is the best place you can be.

Finally, a week before school started, I got that email. The class was full and those who waitlisted will no longer be considered. Turns out, last year was unprecedentedly competitive in terms of the number and quality of the applicants. Moreover, some of the seats were already taken by the previous year's applicant who got affected by Covid. Anyway, I still benefited tremendously from being a volunteer on set.

For those of you who got the interview, you have already stepped one foot into AFI because as far as I know, they usually don't take a lot of interviewees. Plus all the seats are open and not taken by those who defer their decisions in the last year. I'd say most of you will get admitted, small chance you will get waitlisted (don't give up!!!) and a very small chance you will be rejected.

Hope my experience can help you. Wish you all a very successful future!!! YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!

 

[mekasian]

are people who haven't gotten an interview getting views or nah?

 

[mandrewvi]

are people who haven't gotten an interview getting views or nah?

Nope I’ve been checking like crazy—both my videos were viewed once on January 7th and no views since then.

 

[123321]

Nope I’ve been checking like crazy—both my videos were viewed once on January 7th and no views since then.

I think they view videos through a third party platform so it's possible there is no views even if they have already watched. Go check this article How to Get Into AFI: Exclusive Advice From the Admissions Office (Part 1)

 

[123321]

I've just checked the database of past years and found AFI sent out most of the interview requests in one round from Jan 11-18. It's not likely they going to send out the second round. I guess for those who didn't get the interview (including me) we are pretty much rejected. It's fine for me tho, still got some other schools to wait on.

 

[lalalind]

I've just checked the database of past years and found AFI sent out most of the interview requests in one round from Jan 11-18. It's not likely they going to send out the second round. I guess for those who didn't get the interview (including me) we are pretty much rejected. It's fine for me tho, still got some other schools to wait on.

What makes you say it’s not likely they’ll do the second round?

 

[123321]

It’s based on the stats collected by this website. From 2017-2021, most interviewees ( directing) got notified within a period of three days. No more interview requests sent after that. But of course I can be wrong. Not all applicants register their stats on this site. Don’t lose hope. I just want to say don’t go too hard on yourselves if you don’t get in. I’ve heard that some of the students in AFI already had finished their own feature works before getting in. (That’s ironic to me cuz most filmschool teachers don’t even have a feature)

 

[Cocoliso97]

It’s based on the stats collected by this website. From 2017-2021, most interviewees ( directing) got notified within a period of three days. No more interview requests sent after that. But of course I can be wrong. Not all applicants register their stats on this site. Don’t lose hope. I just want to say don’t go too hard on yourselves if you don’t get in. I’ve heard that some of the students in AFI already had finished their own feature works before getting in. (That’s ironic to me cuz most filmschool teachers don’t even have a feature)

Not really I have seen a lot of directing applicants who got notified from the 25th of January to the 8th of February, so there is still chance.
I say we should be patient for at least 2 more weeks, if after 2 weeks they don’t notify, then you can start making conclusions…. But again, never lose hope, some applicants are accepted without interviews.

 

[LIN CINDY]

Not really I have seen a lot of directing applicants who got notified from the 25th of January to the 8th of February, so there is still chance.
I say we should be patient for at least 2 more weeks, if after 2 weeks they don’t notify, then you can start making conclusions…. But again, never lose hope, some applicants are accepted without interviews.

I thought the interview session includes the entire February.

 

[Cocoliso97]

I thought the interview session includes the entire February.

I guess interviews are held all February, but notifications are probably sent before the interviews. Anyway, what I am trying to say is, they are still sending out notifications, and I am sure many others will receive a notification in about one or two weeks... and yes maybe even in three weeks, who knows... It's just a matter of patience... Nothing is decided yet.

 

[mandrewvi]

Not really I have seen a lot of directing applicants who got notified from the 25th of January to the 8th of February, so there is still chance.
I say we should be patient for at least 2 more weeks, if after 2 weeks they don’t notify, then you can start making conclusions…. But again, never lose hope, some applicants are accepted without interviews.

Thanks for saying this! You just gave me a bit of hope.