The American Film Institute revealed its list of eight women selected for this year’s Directing Workshop for Women on Tuesday. The participants will take part in a year-long, tuition-free film production course, culminating with each of them directing a short film that will premiere in Los Angeles in 2020.
The eight participants are Robin Cloud, Revati Dhomse, Ashley Eakin, Tiffany Frances, Marie Jamora, Bridget Moloney, Lara Panah-Izadi and Nicole Taylor-Roberts. Their bios can be read here.
“AFI has led the conversation about the need for more female directors since the Directing Workshop for Women opened its doors over 40 years ago,” said Lauren Ludwig, director, AFI DWW. “The rising filmmakers in this program embody the Institute’s active, enduring steps to create change, and we are excited to see the stories from this year’s class come alive on the screen.”
AFI’s filmmaker training program launched in 1974.
Past participants in DWW have gone on to release their own feature films and have taken on directing roles in television. DWW’s alumni include “Queen Sugar” director Neema Barnette and “Homeland” executive producer/director Lesli Linka Glatter.