American Film Institute’s AFI DWW+ Program Reveals Class of 2027

The American Film Institute has revealed the new class of filmmakers selected for its annual AFI DWW+ program, as IndieWire reveals. The program, running since 1974 out of the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles, is a tuition-free year-long workshop that supports emerging narrative filmmakers; open to all applicants, it traditionally supports women, non-binary, trans, and other underrepresented filmmakers. The AFI DWW+ provides a platform and support for the entire production cycle of a short film, with best-in-industry hands-on instruction. The work is eventually screened for agents, managers, producers, and executives at a spring showcase.

The artists selected for the AFI DWW+ class of 2027 are Sindha Agha, Mary Ann Anane, Arabella Anderson, Carolina Espiro, Anika Kan Grevstad, Christina YR Lim, Anna Remus, and Maaman Rezaee. (See the class of 2026 here.)

AFI also announced that award-winning filmmaker Lily Mariye (AFI DWW Class of 2000) has been named the AFI DWW+ guest artistic director for the Class of 2027.

“In this moment of evolution in the film and television industry, each of these candidates demonstrated the skill and tenacity to be selected through a rigorous application process,” said Susan Ruskin, dean of the AFI Conservatory and executive vice president of the American Film Institute. “The 50-year legacy of AFI DWW+ leverages a powerful reinforcing network effect to support this new talented cohort of directors. We look forward to working with them over the next 15 months under the guidance of our Guest Artistic Director, Lily Mariye.”

“The first time I ever called myself a director was in AFI’s DWW+. Walking the halls of AFI, surrounded by the rich history of filmmakers and mentors, gave me the validation to proudly announce it to the world,” said Mariye. “I am now a full-time working TV and film director. Today I am honored to be named this year’s Guest Artistic Director, to help guide this next group of amazingly gifted filmmakers.”

Mariye is a DGA nominee for Amazon’s “Just Add Magic” and has directed film and television, including “The Walking Dead,” “Godfather of Harlem,” “The Good Fight,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” and more.

Alums of the AFI DWW+ program include Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Neema Barnette, Pippa Bianco, Tessa Blake, Tricia Brock, Ellen Burstyn, Rebecca Cammisa, Dyan Cannon, Dime Davis, Jan Eliasberg, Naomi Foner, Jennifer Getzinger, Lesli Linka Glatter, Lyn Goldfarb, Randa Haines, Siân Heder, Victoria Hochberg, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Matia Karrell, Maggie Kiley, Lynne Littman, Nancy Malone, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, Becky Smith, Cicely Tyson, and Joanne Woodward.

Head to AFI’s website for more info about the program and participants.