The American Film Institute now accepts applicants for their stored AFI DWW+ program for the class 2026-2027, as IndieWire exclusively parts.
The teaching -free, year -long director’s workshop is celebrating 51 years this year and will once again Herda underrepresented and new filmmakers through the production cycle for a short film. Since its launch, the program, which takes place in Los Angeles at AFI Campus, has trained more than 350 filmmakers and artists.
Alumni Include “Coda” Best Picture Winner Siân Honor, Ellen Borstyn, Dyan Cannon, Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glads, Lee Grant, Margot Kidder, “Wednesday” and “A Black” Agatha All Along “Directoral Gandja Montiro, Sketch Show ”Director and Executive Producer Dime Davi. Check out the latest class 2026 here.
The program accepts up to eight filmmakers with “a passion for visual story, the endurance of conducting a director’s career and a desire to learn and grow,” according to AFI. AFI DWW+ is taught by film and television professionals who are currently working in the industry, and the short films will premiere at an industry facing DWW+ exhibition in 2027.
The application period will be opened today, Monday 14 July, and will be closed on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. More information about the application process and the eligibility requirements are available https://conservatory.afi.com/dww-how–apply/.
Supporters of this year’s AFI DWW+ programs include the Golden Globes Foundation, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Walt Disney Company, Paramount Pictures, Semi Foundation and Valhalla Motion Pictures.
