LOS ANGELES --

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced that, in celebration of the 30th edition of AFI Fest, a trio of diverse female trailblazers will be featured in both the festival’s 2016 key art and programming lineup. AFI Fest will spotlight Dorothy Dandridge, the first African American nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award®; Ida Lupino, a pioneering director, writer, producer and actress who became the first woman to direct a film noir; and Anna May Wong, the first Chinese-American actress to rise to international prominence.

AFI Fest will screen three films featuring each artist in its expanded Cinema’s Legacy section that celebrates motion picture heritage and presents recent restorations of film classics and films about the history of cinema: Otto Preminger’s Carmen Jones (1954) starring Dandridge; the Lupino-directed The Hitch-Hiker (1953); and E.A. Dupont’s Piccadilly (1929) starring Wong.

“This year, AFI Fest continues its annual commemoration of influential women in film by reviving the contributions of these three screen legends,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, AFI Fest director. “The art work represents AFI’s mission to preserve cinema history and honor the artists who — to this day — continue to inspire filmmakers from around the world.”

AFI and Women Filmmakers
In addition to the spotlight on female pioneers at AFI FEST, as recently announced, AFI partnered with 20th Century Fox to help increase the number of female directors working on major studio films through an initiative that will provide alumnae of the AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women (DWW) — the American Film Institute’s unique female filmmaker training program — the opportunity to direct short films based on the Studio’s film franchises. AFI’s partnership with Fox builds upon its existing alliance with Lifetime, which, in December 2015, pledged to find job placement for graduates of DWW across A+E Networks. Alumnae of the DWW Class of 2015 have already been employed to shadow directors and to direct content. Meanwhile, nearly half of the AFI Conservatory Fellows in the Directing discipline are women — up more than 60% from three years ago — which is yet another opportunity to increase the number of working female directors in the entertainment community going forward.

As Previously Announced
The Opening Night Gala will be the World Premiere of Rules Don’t Apply (directed by Warren Beatty) on Thursday, November 10. The 30th edition of AFI FEST takes place November 10–17, 2016, in the heart of Hollywood. Screenings, Galas and other events will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre, the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and The Hollywood Roosevelt. The full festival lineup and schedule will be unveiled in October.

Audi is the exclusive presenting sponsor of AFI Fest 2016, once again championing innovative filmmakers from around the globe through its steadfast support of the festival and AFI’s mission.

Additional top sponsors include AT&T; American Airlines, the official airline of AFI; and Vizio, the official home theater sponsor of AFI.

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