The American Film Institute’s AFI DWW+ Program Opens Call for Applicants

The American Film Institute has opened applications for its celebrated AFI DWW+ program for participants interested in joining the class of 2025-2026. The year-long directing workshop educates underrepresented narrative filmmakers, taking them through the complete production cycle of a short film — and with hands-on guidance from leading industry experts. Notable past participants include Best Picture-winning “CODA” filmmaker Sian Heder , DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter, and “A Black Lady Sketch Show” director and executive producer Dime Davis.

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Applications open today, August 12, and will close September 13. More info on deadlines and requirements to apply is available via the American Film Institute’s website . See the DWW+ Class of 2024-2025 here .

The program, first launched in 1974 as the Directing Workshop for Women, will also celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall. With early participants including Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Lee Grant, Jessie Maple, and Cicely Tyson, the workshop has trained more than 350 filmmakers.

The program will accept up to eight outstanding candidates looking to pursue a directing career. At the end of the workshop, films will be premiered at the DWW+ Showcase in Los Angeles in front of an audience of industry professionals.

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“AFI DWW+ is an imperative force for creating change in the entertainment industry. We are thrilled to be celebrating 50 years of impact and championing gender parity in the director’s chair,” said Susan Ruskin, dean of the AFI Conservatory and executive vice president of the American Film Institute. “We look forward to expanding opportunities for emerging directors whose voices might otherwise go unheard and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers.”

The DWW 50th anniversary committee includes Neema Barnette, Tessa Blake, Ellen Burstyn, Ava DuVernay, Jean Picker Firstenberg, Sherry Lansing, Eva Longoria, Gale Anne Hurd, and Chloé Zhao. More activities celebrating the 50th milestone will be announced soon.

The AFI Conservatory MFA program recently held its commencement in Los Angeles, bestowing Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis with an honorary doctorate given to her by “Halloween” director John Carpenter .