"AFI Fest in 2008 has adopted a festival-of-festivals approach, resulting in its strongest lineup in at least 20 years."
—Variety 2008
"In a press release issued this morning, the American Film Institute announced that tickets to all film screenings at this year's AFI Fest (October 30-November 7) will be made free to the public...This decision, unprecedented for a festival of AFI Fest's size...is the latest sign of the renaissance the city’s longest-running festival has been enjoying..."
—LA Weekly (2009)
AFI FEST presented by Audi will celebrate its 23rd year with the theme "SEE A FILM ON US". In the spirit of "giving back" to our community and to promote philanthropy through film, AFI FEST will offer complimentary individual tickets to all screenings, including a limited number of seats to the galas.
The festival headquarters will be at the historic Mann's Chinese Theaters between October 30th and November 5th, and then move to the seaside for screening in Santa Monica presented in association with the American Film Market (AFM). The Hollywood Roosevelt returns as the festival's host hotel.
Each fall, AFI FEST presents a survey of the year's most significant films. Featuring international work from emerging filmmakers, global showcases of films from the great masters and red-carpet gala premieres, AFI FEST brings world cinema to the heart of Hollywood.
Artists in attendance last year included Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Michelle Williams, Evan Rachel Wood, Amy Adams, Joaquin Phoenix, Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Orlando Bloom, David Fincher, Arnaud Desplechin, Jacqueline Bisset, Elijah Wood, Ryan Gosling, Billy Zane, Mark Ruffalo, Julia Ormond, Sally Hawkins, Gotz Spielmann, Diego Luna, Paul Schrader, Jeff Goldblum, John Singleton, Spike Jonze, Arthur Dong, John Patrick Shanley, Amber Tamblyn, Seymour Cassel, Jennifer Morrison, Joanna Cassidy, Tilda Swinton, Danny Boyle, Bai Ling, Russell Wong, Kate Del Castillo, Rodrigo Santoro, Jason Statham, Jason Priestly, Michael Cimino, Kelly Lynch, Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Amil Kapoor, Haskell Wexler, Kevin McKidd, Edward Asner, Ellen Page, Emily Blunt, Matt Dillon, Fred Ward, Diane Farr, Stephen Collins, Kimora Lee Simmons, Liev Schrieber, Jamie Bell, Vanessa Redgrave, Djimon Hounsou, John Singleton, Steven Soderbergh and Benicio Del Toro.
For more than 10 years, top-tier working professionals from across the digital entertainment spectrum have come together under the banner of the AFI Digital Content Lab to brainstorm and incubate cutting-edge solutions that set a standard for innovation, inspirations and value. As part of AFI FEST, DIGIFEST will present new work from AFI Digital Content Lab at AFI FEST on November 4th and 5th.
Another key festival program, AFI PROJECT: 20/20 is an unprecedented collaboration between the American Film Institute, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH). Drawing on the joint resources and expertise of these supporters, AFI PROJECT: 20/20 connects audiences with global filmmakers to advance cultural exchange.
AFI FEST presented by Audi is the only film festival in the United States to hold the prestigious FIAPF accreditation, assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards.