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The American Film Institute (AFI) has unveiled the participants list for the Dww+ Class of 2024.

IndieWire exclusively reveals that the latest cast comprises Vanessa Beletic, Chloë de Carvalho, Desdemona Chiang, Naomi Iwamoto, Huriyyah Muhammad, Joanne Mony Park, Kerry O’Neill and Roxy Toporowych. Learn more about the new class and read their bios here.

The AFI Dww+ is a year-long directing workshop that supports women and traditionally underrepresented narrative filmmakers through the production cycle of a short film, providing hands-on instruction led by industry experts. The short films completed in the workshop will premiere at the annual Dww+ Showcase in Spring 2024.

“AFI Dww+ is integral to creating a pipeline of highly trained, diverse voices who have the power to drive culture forward and shape the future of the entertainment industry. We are thrilled to welcome this new class of accomplished artists to the AFI Dww+ program and guide them on their journey as directors and storytellers,...

After years of stubborn stagnation, the percentages of women working in key behind-the-scenes roles on independent films have finally budged.

In the period from July 2018 to June 2019, women comprised 33% of directors, up from 29% in 2017-18, and 32% of writers, up from 26% the previous year, according to the latest “Indie Women” study from the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University. Women made up 32% of executive producers, up from 26% in 2017-18, and 29% of editors, up from 27%. While the latest figures represent recent historic highs, men still outnumber women by more than 2 to 1.

The current gains are the result of decades-long efforts by advocates and activists determined to change the gender ratios in the industry. In the modern history of filmmaking, attempts to document and boost women’s employment can be traced to the creation of the DGA Women’s Steering Committee in 1979. In her excellent and deeply researched book,...

Where can you find films from directors like Chantal Akerman and Ida Lupino, paired off with masterworks from the likes of Jackie Chan and Rainer Werner Fassbinder? No, I’m not talking about your local library, instead that just happens to be four of the names attached to this year’s edition of To Save And Project, MoMA’s long running festival of newly preserved motion pictures.

Now in its 15th and arguably one of its strongest season, To Save and Project returns with a lineup that spans genres, decades and subjects. Running January 18-February 1, the festival focuses on newly restored films, with restorations come from MoMA themselves all the way to major studios like Paramount. Split between two theaters and running just about half a month, this lineup is dense and features some truly startling discoveries.

One of those discoveries comes from The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project...

While Iranian director Asghar Farhadi will not be attending the Academy Awards this year because of his protest of Donald Trump’s immigration ban, his film “The Salesman“ stands a good chance of taking the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. He recently sat down with notable TV director Victoria Hochberg (“Melrose Place“) to discuss his new film for a DGA podcast.

Continue reading 40-Minute Talk With Asghar Farhadi About His Oscar Nominated ‘The Salesman’ at The Playlist.

Los Angeles – DGA President Taylor Hackford today announced the results of a series of elections that took place at yesterday’s National Board Meeting. Former DGA President Michael Apted, who had been appointed to fill the position of Secretary-Treasurer when Gil Cates passed away last fall, was elected Secretary-Treasurer by the DGA’s National Board of Directors at the regularly-scheduled board meeting yesterday. Board Alternate Jon Favreau was elected to fill Apted’s board seat, and Todd Holland was elected to fill Favreau’s alternate board seat. After many years of Guild service, Ed Sherin, who was named DGA Honorary Life Member at Saturday’s DGA Awards, announced that he was resigning his seat on the National Board. Sherin served as National Vice President, Second Vice President and National Board Member for many years and dedicated himself to protecting and advocating on behalf of his fellow DGA members, especially those based on the East Coast.

Los Angeles – DGA President Taylor Hackford today announced the results of a series of elections that took place at yesterday’s National Board Meeting. Former DGA President Michael Apted, who had been appointed to fill the position of Secretary-Treasurer when Gil Cates passed away last fall, was elected Secretary-Treasurer by the DGA’s National Board of Directors at the regularly-scheduled board meeting yesterday. Board Alternate Jon Favreau was elected to fill Apted’s board seat, and Todd Holland was elected to fill Favreau’s alternate board seat. After many years of Guild service, Ed Sherin, who was named DGA Honorary Life Member at Saturday’s DGA Awards, announced that he was resigning his seat on the National Board. Sherin served as National Vice President, Second Vice President and National Board Member for many years and dedicated himself to protecting and advocating on behalf of his fellow DGA members, especially those based on the East Coast.

Los Angeles – Director Taylor Hackford was re-elected President of the Directors Guild of America by acclamation at the Guild’s National Biennial Convention held today at DGA National Headquarters in Los Angeles. Additionally, 140 delegates representing the 14,500 members of the DGA elected a new slate of officers and members of the National Board of Directors. Steven Soderbergh was re-elected National Vice President; Gilbert Cates, who formerly served two terms as DGA president, was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. Also elected were First Vice President Paris Barclay; Second Vice President William M. Brady; Third Vice President Betty Thomas; Fourth Vice President Gary Donatelli; Fifth Vice President Thomas Schlamme; Sixth Vice President Vincent Misiano; and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Scott Berger. A complete list of the new officers and board members is below. Complete List of DGA Officers and Board Members President - Taylor Hackford National Vice-President - Steven Soderbergh Secretary-Treasurer - Gilbert Cates Assistant Secretary-Treasurer - Scott Berger...

Taylor Hackford will succeed Michael Apted as president of the Directors Guild of America.

Hackford was chosen Saturday during the guild's biennial national convention at Directors Guild headquarters in Hollywood. Steven Soderbergh was re-elected national VP and Gilbert Cates was re-elected secretary-treasurer.

The 135 delegates on hand also elected members of a new national board of directors. The DGA includes more than 14,000 members.

After a year and a half of labor unrest, which included a four-month writers strike and a protracted stand-off for the actors union, Hackford faces the challenge of navigating the next round of contract negotiations looming in.

With new-media considerations dominating the previous round's contentious debates, the de facto collective bargaining that will materialize in early should prove once again to be a battle over the digital future and how the creative community should be compensated as content migrates to the Web.

Hackford also took aim at Internet...