Celebrating a Legacy of Trailblazing Filmmakers

The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced the selected directors for the 2027 class of the AFI DWW+ program, a renowned year-long, tuition-free directing workshop originally founded as the Directing Workshop for Women in 1974. The initiative offers emerging narrative filmmakers hands-on training throughout the short film production cycle, guided by acclaimed industry professionals. Upon completion, participants’ works are showcased in Los Angeles at the DWW+ Showcase in Spring 2027, attended by agents, managers, producers, and other industry leaders.

This year’s talented group of directors includes Sindha Agha, Mary Ann Anane, Arabella Anderson, Carolina Espiro, Anika Kan Grevstad, Christina YR Lim, Anna Remus, and Maaman Rezaee. AFI also revealed that acclaimed filmmaker Lily Mariye (AFI DWW Class of 2000) will serve as Guest Artistic Director for the Class of 2027, providing mentorship and leading the artistic curriculum.

“As the film and television industry evolves, these candidates stood out for their exceptional skill and perseverance during AFI’s rigorous selection process,” said Susan Ruskin, Dean of the AFI Conservatory and Executive Vice President of AFI. “With a 50-year legacy, AFI DWW+ continues to foster a thriving network that supports each new generation of directors. We are excited to collaborate with this remarkable group under Lily Mariye’s guidance over the next 15 months.”

Lily Mariye reflected on her journey: “AFI’s DWW+ was where I first embraced my identity as a director. The rich history within AFI empowered me to claim it with pride. Today, as a full-time film and television director, I’m honored to mentor this next wave of extraordinary filmmakers as Guest Artistic Director.”

Mariye is celebrated for her directing work on series such as AMC’s The Walking Dead, The Terror: Infamy; MGM+/Hulu’s Godfather of Harlem; Paramount+’s The Good Fight; Netflix’s Partner Track; ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder; NBC’s Chicago PD; and CBS’ Elsbeth and NCIS: Los Angeles, among many others. Her feature debut, Model Minority, earned 11 international festival awards and has garnered over 1,000,000 online views since its release. Mariye’s acclaimed short, The Shangri-La Cafe, has screened at more than 25 festivals, winning multiple awards. She’s been recognized by PBS and the National Organization for Women, and as a writer, has been a finalist for the Nicholl Fellowship and the Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship. Additionally, Mariye is an accomplished actress, best known for her 15-season role on ER, and an award-winning theatre performer. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from UCLA and resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Grammy-nominated saxophonist Boney James.

Throughout the program, Mariye will mentor DWW+ participants, overseeing the artistic curriculum taught by leading industry professionals and AFI Conservatory faculty.

AFI DWW+ stands as one of the nation’s premier and longest-running directing workshops, with hundreds of alumni whose work has shaped global entertainment and culture. Notable graduates 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. The full list of over 350 DWW alumni is available online.

Meet the AFI DWW+ Class of 2027

  • Sindha Agha: BAFTA-winning, Emmy-nominated director and writer, known for her impactful documentaries and work featured in major festivals and educational institutions worldwide.
  • Mary Ann Anane: Ghanaian-born, New Jersey-raised filmmaker, recipient of multiple fellowships and grants, whose debut short The Daughter premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2025.
  • Arabella Anderson: Peabody Award-winning, WGA-nominated writer/director based in Los Angeles, with credits on Riverdale, Star, and Transparent, focusing on women, gender, and class.
  • Carolina Espiro: Award-winning Chilean-American director and actor, recognized for her directorial debut The Avon Lady and for directing music videos and theatre productions.
  • Anika Kan Grevstad: Los Angeles-based biracial director whose narrative and documentary shorts have won accolades at Oscar-qualifying festivals; she brings a holistic approach to filmmaking.
  • Christina YR Lim: Korean-American writer/director with a background in theater, recognized for genre-bending stories and successful scripts selected for prestigious residencies and festivals.
  • Anna Remus: Director and writer from International Falls, Minnesota, with work rooted in transformation and emotion, recognized by Sundance and Stowe Story Labs, and for her feature script Shed.
  • Maaman Rezaee: Iranian filmmaker and writer based in Los Angeles, whose work explores memory and political inheritance; winner of the 2024 Slamdance Screenwriting Competition, with multiple festival accolades.

For more details, visit Conservatory.AFI.com/Innovative-Programs.

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit dedicated to elevating the moving image as an art form. Founded in 1967, AFI played a pivotal role in American film preservation and education, launching the AFI Conservatory in 1969. The Conservatory is now recognized as one of the nation’s top film schools, with alumni including Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, and Rachel Morrison. AFI’s legacy includes the AFI Life Achievement Award, AFI AWARDS, and scholarly initiatives like the AFI Catalog and Archive. The organization hosts annual events such as AFI FEST and ongoing exhibitions at the AFI Silver Theatre in Maryland, along with innovative programs for emerging storytellers. Learn more at AFI.com and follow AFI on social media.

Since its inception in 1969, the AFI Conservatory has offered a two-year MFA in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design, and Screenwriting. Fellows collaborate to produce up to 175 films annually, participating in every stage of filmmaking. Alumni have shaped the art of cinema, including Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Aster, Deniese Davis, Sam Esmail, Brad Falchuk, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Liz Hannah, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Polly Morgan, Rachel Morrison, and Wally Pfister.