2021

In 2021, RFI founder and president Regan Humphrey was teaching at a traditional film school when she uncovered a series of significant challenges facing aspiring filmmakers:

1. Film schools are scarce and often highly competitive, accepting only a small percentage of applicants.

2. Most film schools are located in some of the world’s most expensive cities, such as Los Angeles and New York, requiring students to relocate at great expense.

3. Traditional film schools often focus on replicating the work of past filmmakers, perpetuating outdated, narrow, and exclusionary approaches rather than preparing students to create innovative films for the future.

4. For those unable to gain admission or afford relocation, there are few, if any, accessible options for high-quality screenwriting education.

2022

Recognizing these barriers, Regan Humphrey founded the Regan Film Institute, a fully online international screenwriting conservatory, to bridge the gap between emerging storytellers and accessible, high-quality screenwriting education.

2023

In 2023, the Regan Film Institute hosted its inaugural Disrupt Industry Screenwriting Conference in Cascais, Portugal. This groundbreaking event marked the first international screenwriting conference in the nation, bringing together filmmakers and industry professionals from around the globe to mentor and inspire a new generation of storytellers during a three-day event.

2024

Building on this momentum, RFI established an Advisory Board in 2024, comprised of educators and industry insiders committed to guiding the institute toward even brighter horizons. Among these is the second installment of the biennial Disrupt Industry Screenwriting Conference, set to take place in fall 2025.