On June 12–13, more than 200 directors, filmmakers, executives, and creative collaborators gathered at Woodbury University in Burbank for BACK TO SET: Working Directors Intensive 2026, the Alliance of Women Directors’ annual event dedicated to strengthening the craft, careers, and community of working directors.
Featuring 36 speakers across two days of programming and support from more than a dozen sponsors and partners, BACK TO SET brought together established industry leaders and emerging voices for candid conversations about the realities of building a sustainable directing career in today’s evolving entertainment landscape.
The weekend began with a VIP Preview Night featuring a live recording of AWD’s Icon-versations podcast in collaboration with The Next Film podcast, featuring acclaimed directors and AWD Icons Kelly Park and Bethany Rooney in conversation with host Jessica Michael Davis. Before the recording, attendees were welcomed by Burbank City Councilmember Konstantine Anthony, who spoke about the importance of keeping production local and investing in the creative workforce that fuels Burbank’s economy. The evening was also attended by Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian and California State Representative Nick Schultz, who joined the event in support of programs that strengthen opportunities for filmmakers and help bolster Southern California’s creative economy.
The conversation with Park and Rooney set the tone for a weekend centered on mentorship, resilience, and the power of creative community. Throughout the intensive, attendees participated in workshops, panels, networking events, and keynote conversations that explored every stage of the directing journey—from pitching and prep to leadership, collaboration, technology, and career longevity.
One of the weekend’s most anticipated moments was a keynote conversation on Friday with acclaimed filmmaker Katie Aselton. Speaking candidly about creativity and growth, Aselton encouraged directors to embrace experimentation and failure as essential parts of the artistic process.
“I would say: Fail. And fail and fail again—cheaply, and without harming your finances, and without going in the hole on it. In doing that, that is how you become better. That is how you learn. That is how you find your voice.”
Her message resonated deeply with attendees navigating an industry that often demands perfection before experience.
Later that day, acclaimed writer, director, and producer Paul Feig joined Richard Rushfield, founder of The Ankler, for a wide-ranging conversation about sustaining a long-term career. Among his many insights, Feig emphasized the importance of test screenings and sharing work beyond trusted friends and family in order to better understand how audiences actually experience a film.
A major highlight of the weekend was the STARZ Creative Leadership Lab presentation. Karen Bailey, Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Head of Production at STARZ, joined director Aemilia Scott to discuss leadership behind the camera and the impact of the STARZ #TakeTheLead x AWD Fellowship. The session concluded with the introduction of the inaugural cohort of directors selected for the 2026 STARZ x AWD Creative Leadership Lab, celebrating the next generation of television directors as they begin the program.
Saturday’s programming opened with a passionate welcome from AWD Founder and Board Chair Jennifer Warren. Reflecting on the organization’s nearly 30-year history, Warren spoke about the enduring importance of the female gaze in storytelling and reminded attendees that AWD’s mission to advance women and gender-expansive directors remains just as vital today as it was when the organization was founded in 1997.
Day 2’s programming continued with conversations on casting, action directing, episodic television, independent filmmaking, microdramas, and the future of entertainment. Directors explored practical strategies for navigating emerging formats while remaining grounded in the fundamentals of storytelling and leadership.
A standout session featured a surprise keynote appearance by filmmaker, actor, writer, and director Bella Thorne. In a candid conversation about perseverance, reinvention, and creative resilience, Thorne shared a message that quickly became one of the most quoted moments of the event:
“If you get up every time someone puts you down, that’s longevity. No one can beat you at your best self.”
For many attendees, the sentiment perfectly captured the spirit of BACK TO SET itself: a gathering built around resilience, growth, and the determination to keep creating despite the inevitable challenges of the industry.
The weekend concluded with director Rachel Goldberg, whose credits include Avatar: The Last Airbender, Agatha All Along, Gen V, and A Friend of the Family. Goldberg reflected on the critical role that fellowships, mentorship, and professional community have played throughout her career, encouraging attendees to actively seek out opportunities to learn from and support one another.
Beyond the keynote conversations, attendees participated in hands-on workshops and practical discussions covering elevator pitching, episodic television prep, casting, director-cinematographer collaboration, independent filmmaking, action directing, vertical storytelling, and emerging technologies. Sessions were intentionally designed to provide tangible tools, real-world strategies, and honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing working directors today.
The event also reinforced the importance of investing in both creative talent and the local production ecosystem. As Los Angeles continues to navigate industry contraction and production flight, BACK TO SET served as a reminder that strengthening career pathways, fostering professional community, and supporting working filmmakers are essential to keeping Hollywood—and the people who power it—thriving.
BACK TO SET 2026 was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and partners. Special thanks to STARZ #TakeTheLead, IMGN.AI, First Entertainment Credit Union, ShotDeck, Scriptation, and Shamel Studio. We are also grateful to our event partners and in-kind supporters, including Front Row Insurance Entertainment Specialists, Cinapse.io, Arrow Studios, The Black List, Saturation.io, and Keslow Camera.
Most importantly, thank you to the 200 attendees, 36 speakers, volunteers, sponsors, board members, staff, and supporters who helped make this year’s event possible.
Together, we spent two days exploring what it means to build a directing career today—and left reminded that while the path may not always be easy, none of us have to navigate it alone.
We look forward to seeing you at BACK TO SET 2027.