AFI Conservatory Alumna Rachel Morrison Becomes First Woman Ever Nominated For Cinematography Academy Award®

AFI Conservatory alumna Rachel Morrison (AFI Class of 2006) has made history as the first woman ever nominated for an Academy Award® in the Cinematography category, for the human drama MUDBOUND. Alumnus Scott Frank Receives Screenwriting Nomination for LOGAN.

Scott Frank (AFI Class of 1984) received a nomination for Adapted Screenplay for LOGAN. This is his second Oscar® nomination. LOGAN is the first superhero film ever to receive a nomination in this category.

Nominees for the 90th annual Academy Awards® were announced on Tuesday morning.

The AFI Conservatory has a proud legacy with cinematographers recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — including AFI graduates Caleb Deschanel (AFI Class of 1969, five nominations), Robert Elswit (AFI Class of 1977, winner for THERE WILL BE BLOOD and two-time nominee), Janusz Kamiński (AFI Class of 1987, winner for SAVING  PRIVATE RYAN and SCHINDLER'S LIST, and six-time nominee), Matthew Libatique (AFI Class of 1992, one nomination), Wally Pfister (AFI Class of 1991, winner for INCEPTION and four-time nominee) and Robert Richardson (AFI Class of 1979, winner for THE AVIATOR, HUGO and JFK, and nine-time nominee).

With this year's nominations, alumni have throughout history received a total of 151 Academy Award® nominations, with 30 wins.


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81% of AFI Conservatory alumni report that they are working — and at prestigious, award-winning and record-breaking levels. In the 2017-2018 awards season, AFI Conservatory alumni awards have included: 30 alumni recognized across AFI AWARDS 2017; seven Writers Guild of America Award nominations and the WGA West’s 2018 Paul Selvin Award; five American Society of Cinematographers Award nominations; four Directors Guild of America Award nominations; four Producers Guild nominations and one win; three Golden Globe nominations; three Primetime Emmy® wins; two ACE Eddie Award nominations; and much more.

About the AFI Conservatory
The AFI Conservatory offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. Aspiring artists learn from the masters in a collaborative, hands-on production environment with an emphasis on storytelling. AFI Conservatory alumni have been consistently recognized with all of the major industry awards — Academy Awards®, Emmy® Awards and guild awards — as well as Tony Awards® and Grammy Awards®. Esteemed director, producer and screenwriter James L. Brooks serves as Artistic Director of the AFI Conservatory, providing creative leadership for the elite film program. Proud supporters of the AFI Conservatory are American Airlines, the official airline of AFI; and VIZIO, the official home theater sponsor of AFI.

About the American Film Institute
Celebrating its golden milestone, the American Film Institute began its mission on June 5, 1967 — to preserve the heritage of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. Established by Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential mandate in the White House Rose Garden, AFI is America's promise to educate today's audiences and tomorrow's artists. The Institute was anchored by a foundation of luminaries from the film community including Gregory Peck as Chair, Sidney Poitier as Vice Chair, George Stevens, Jr., as Director and CEO with board members Francis Ford Coppola, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and Jack Valenti.


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In 1969, AFI opened the Center for Advanced Film Studies, now called the AFI Conservatory, an elite MFA program whose inaugural class included Terrence Malik, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader.  The program's acclaimed film and television alumni include Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Julie Dash, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, David Lynch and Robert Richardson, among others.

In addition to the AFI Conservatory, AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film; AFI AWARDS, honoring the most outstanding movies and TV series of the year; AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI FEST presented by Audi, AFI DOCS and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center.  For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilmfacebook.com/AmericanFilmInstituteinstagram.com/AmericanFilmInstituteand youtube.com/AFI.

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