International Filmmakers
What We Do: Film and TV Workshops
Every year, AFS organizes dozens of professional development workshops around the world for emerging and mid-career international filmmakers. Many of those workshops are collaborations between AFS, an American Embassy, and a local organization, in service of a country’s filmmaking community. Other workshops are organized entirely by AFS, assembling international filmmakers in America or regionally abroad.
Weeklong Workshops
AFS’s weeklong workshops have focused on documentary filmmaking, editing, TV screenwriting, animation producing, cinematography, and more. AFS relies on its roster of award-winning American film and TV professionals who are eager to share best practices with international filmmakers.
AFS is part of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, giving us access to a wide professional network of people who represent every aspect of the American film and TV industry.
Contact the Public Affairs within your country’s U.S. Embassy or Consulate for more information.
Los Angeles-Based Residency
Our Los Angeles-based residency is an immersive two-week summer workshop that guides international documentary filmmakers through story development and pitching. Filmmakers are nominated by the U.S. Embassies in their respective countries.
After the residency, AFS continues that support through additional training and mentorship opportunities at film festivals.
For more information on educational and cultural exchange opportunities, contact the public diplomacy section at your country’s U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Film Festival Support
AFS supports the attendance of our international filmmaker alumni at U.S.-based and global film festivals. AFS organizes delegations for international filmmakers at film festivals so they can attend markets, pitches, labs, and fellowships.
The goal of this programming is to remove barriers to access for global filmmakers.
AFS has immensely impacted my career as a filmmaker. During the 2015 AFS Doc Residency in Los Angeles, I was able to shape my first feature film after years of uncertainty. In 2024, through the support of AFS, I won the L'Oeil d'Or prize for best documentary in Cannes for my film The Brink of Dreams, the first Egyptian documentary to win this award. My documentary itself was filmed using equipment purchased through an AFS grant.—Nada Riyadh, Director, Egypt