EXCLUSIVE: The American Movie Institute on Tuesday introduced the launch of a multifaceted partnership with the graphic design platform Canva, which can look to bolster rising filmmakers and enhance entry to the instruments and abilities vital to appreciate their visions.

The flagship initiative below this partnership is The Canva Fellowship, which as of this yr will start offering annual scholarships to Fellows on the AFI Conservatory, based mostly on advantage and monetary want. Moreover, Canva will present Canva Professional subscriptions to 250 AFI Fellows and 1,000 AFI Conservatory Alumni, together with in-depth design coaching and workshops.

The recipients of the inaugural Canva Fellowship for 2023-2024 are AFI First 12 months Fellows Alex Bush (Directing), Hayoun Kim (Manufacturing Design), Dominika Podczaska (Cinematography), He “Shirley” Sui (Producing), Sydney Sullivan (Modifying) and Darcy Wytko (Screenwriting), who will begin the MFA filmmaking program on AFI’s Los Angeles campus in August.

“The AFI and Canva collaboration embodies the forward-thinking partnerships that are critical in supporting rising filmmakers,” stated Susan Ruskin, who serves as Dean of the AFI Conservatory and Government Vice President of the American Movie Institute. “By breaking down barriers to education and technology and giving underrepresented filmmakers the opportunity to tell their stories, we are creating a pathway to a more diverse and inclusive industry.”

Added Canva’s Head of World Model Advertising, Natalie Schwartz, “We’re delighted to partner with AFI to support the goals of the next generation of filmmakers in such a meaningful way. Canva’s mission is to democratize design and creativity so that anyone can bring what’s in their mind’s eye to life. We’re thrilled to play a part in the journey of so many talented students, so they can build out their ideas and tell their stories in visually rich ways.”

Extra details about the primary batch of Canva Fellows might be discovered under.

Alex Bush – Directing Fellow

Alex Bush (they/them) is a storyteller and director whose work is anxious with transformation, transcendence, intimacy and ecstasy amongst different themes. Their movie THAW had its world premiere in competitors on the 2023 Tribeca Pageant. Japanese Oregon Filmmaker Residency, 2023. They obtained their BFA from NYU Tisch Faculty of the Arts, the place they studied theatrical course. Theatrical directorial work with Ars Nova, The PUBLIC and Musical Theater Manufacturing unit. Music visible collaborations with Madeline, Caitlin Cobb-Vialet, Laura Galindo and extra.

Hayoun Kim – Manufacturing Design Fellow

Hayoun Kim is a latest graduate of Sungkyunkwan College in Korea, incomes a Bachelor of High quality Arts diploma. She additionally studied scenic design by way of Theater Artwork Seminar in 2019 and Spacial Design and Pc Graphics in 2023 through the Korean Authorities Coaching Program. Final summer season, she served as a manufacturing designer on an unbiased musical movie, HOMELESS KWON JENNY.

Dominika Podczaska – Cinematography Fellow 

Born in Poland, Dominika Podczaska earned a Bachelor of Arts in Documentary Storytelling and a Grasp of Arts in American Research. She can also be an alumna of Laboratory of Reportage, Wajda Movie Faculty and World Cinematography Institute in Los Angeles. She has been working as a cinematographer in documentary movies, music movies and commercials for greater than 10 years. In 2018, she targeted on brief movies, together with FOR I AM DEAD which gained greater than 20 awards for cinematography throughout the U.S. and Europe. Her debut characteristic movie ALGORYTHMICS premiered on the 2022 Polish Movie Pageant. In 2023, Podczaska turned an official member of Polish Society of Cinematographers.

He “Shirley” Sui – Producing Fellow

He “Shirley” Sui 隋和 is a latest graduate of NYU Tisch Faculty of the Arts with a BFA in Movie and TV. She has lived in Tsingdao, Shanghai, California and, most lately, New York Metropolis. She produced 4 brief movies in highschool and 12 brief movies throughout her undergraduate years at NYU. She has additionally directed seven brief movies of her personal. She gained the 2021-22 Akhtar-Bhutta Fund for Pupil Producers Award at NYU and her brief movie PLEASE was screened on the Chinese language Theatre and AMC Empire. Her newest movie, AMERICAN DREAM, is at present in post-production. She additionally interned at Atlantic Photos.

Sydney Sullivan – Modifying Fellow

Sydney Sullivan graduated with a level in Movie Manufacturing and Digital Media from Loyola College Chicago. Her work is deeply related to the Chicago arts group – collaborating with arts organizations, theater teams and unbiased performing artists together with The Walder Basis, Asian Improv Arts Midwest, Movement Photos / Dance Undertaking and Hubbard Avenue Dance Firm. This previous summer season she labored because the assistant editor on THE REAL DANCE, an online collection commissioned by Pivot Arts, and editor for THE SEEING PLACE, an experimental movie proven at IN / MOTION Movie Pageant and Display screen Dance Worldwide Movie Pageant.

Darcy Wytko – Screenwriting Fellow

Darcy Wytko is a Seattle-based filmmaker, competition programmer, award-winning burlesque artist and former video retailer worker who was raised in rodeo. She is a graduate of Circle within the Sq. Theater’s appearing conservatory on Broadway and co-founder of Blonde Ambition Burlesque, serving as a producer and performer. She has a mushy spot for child goats, Al Pacino, the Velvet Underground and all movies rock’n’roll, indie and arthouse. At the moment she is a programmer for the Seattle Queer Movie Pageant and Seattle Worldwide Movie Pageant. Her brief movie MILLER PARK, which she has written and can direct, begins manufacturing this summer season.