The American Film Institute has announced a half million-dollar grant from the Time Warner Foundation to create five full scholarships to the AFI Conservatory for applicants from communities traditionally under-represented in film and television. The scholarships, named as Time Warner Fellowships, are part of the AFI Conservatory’s notable increase in scholarship opportunities for both current and incoming Fellows. As previously announced, more than $6.2 million has been raised for the select program of approximately 260 Fellows.
“Diversity is often the essential spark that catalyzes the creative process," said Bob Gazzale, president and CEO of the American Film Institute. "We are honored that Time Warner has chosen the AFI Conservatory as the place to illustrate their global commitment to ensuring new voices in America's art form."
The first of these five scholarships was issued this fall to Adriana González-Vega, a first-year AFI Directing Fellow. She received a BFA in Film from Syracuse University. She also studied abroad at the Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in the Czech Republic where she directed a 35mm narrative short film. González-Vega lists her influences among a wide range of filmmakers such as Luis Buñuel, Satyajit Ray, Pedro Almodóvar and Sally Potter.