Applications For AFI's Class of 2028 DWW+ Directing Program Now Open

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Thursday, 16 July 2026 11:43

Written by Janet Walker

AFI has announced the AFI DWW+ program is now accepting applications for the Class of 2028. Now in its 52nd year, AFI DWW+ is a tuition-free year-long directing workshop that educates emerging narrative filmmakers through the production cycle.

As one of the longest-running and preeminent film and television workshops nationwide, DWW+ has trained nearly 350 filmmakers and industry trailblazers, including Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Hanelle M. Culpepper, Tessa Blake, Ellen Burstyn, Dyan Cannon, Lesli Linka Glatter, Lee Grant, Siân Heder, Margot Kidder, Jessie Maple, Gandja Monteiro and Cicely Tyson.

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"For over 50 years, AFI DWW+ has existed to meet the moment - and this year is no different," said Susan Ruskin, Dean and Executive Vice President, American Film Institute. "We invite filmmakers who are ready to be challenged, and to be surrounded by a community as committed to their vision as they are - built to champion the bold storytelling the world needs right now."

The program is open to all and accepts up to eight filmmakers who demonstrate a passion for visual storytelling, the tenacity to pursue a directorial career and a willingness to learn and grow, among other program requirements. DWW+ is taught by film and television professionals working at top levels within the industry, as well as experienced Faculty from the AFI Conservatory. At the culmination of the workshop, participants premiere their short films at the DWW+ Showcase in front of a wide network of industry professionals to celebrate their progress as artists.

The application period for the Class of 2028 opens July 13 and closes Wednesday, September 9, 2026. More information about the application process and eligibility requirements can be found on https://conservatory.afi.com/dww-how-to-apply/.

This year's AFI DWW+ program is generously supported by the Walt Disney Company, Paramount Pictures, NBCUniversal and the Golden Globe Foundation.

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AFI DWW+ is part of the AFI Conservatory's Department of Innovative Programs, which serves an inclusive community of aspiring visual storytellers to cultivate cutting-edge technological and media-making skills, bridging access to professional networks and place participants on an upward career trajectory. Learn more at Conservatory.AFI.com/Innovative-Programs/.

AFI is proud to announce the SEMI Foundation Grant, awarding between $10,000 and $20,000 to an AFI DWW+ film that explores the science, technology, innovation, or societal impact of semiconductors. Open to all genres, grant recipients will also be paired with an industry expert from the SEMI Foundation's global network — from physicists and nanotechnologists to data scientists and AI specialists — to support authenticity in their storytelling. The first-year grant recipient went to director Anika Kan Grevstad for her thought-provoking science fiction film, COPY CAT, which will be screened at the AFI DWW+ Showcase in March, 2027.

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About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film schools in America.

AFI's enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at elevating emerging storytellers and technology, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop.

Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm,

TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

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About the AFI Conservatory

The AFI Conservatory opened its doors in 1969 to an inaugural class that included Terrence Malick, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader. Today, the Conservatory offers a two-year MFA degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. In a collaborative production environment, AFI Fellows learn to master the art of storytelling, collectively creating up to 175 films a year. Fellows actively participate in the entire life cycle of a film, from development through production and exhibition.

Alumni of this elite program, ranging from modern masters to bold new voices defining the state of the art form, include Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Aster, Deniese Davis, Sam Esmail, Brad Falchuk, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Liz Hannah, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Polly Morgan, Rachel Morrison and Wally Pfister, among others.