AFI Fest Opens Tonight: President & CEO Bob Gazzale On Why It Matters In The Oscar-Season Deluge Of Film Festivals — SkimNews
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- AFI Fest opens October 21–25 at TCL Chinese Theatre, marking its 40th anniversary with 157 films, including five red carpet premieres and 10 official Oscar International Feature submissions.
- Bob Gazzale emphasized AFI Fest’s mission to showcase the year’s best films rather than the first, positioning it as L.A.’s hometown festival amid a crowded awards-season calendar.
- Phil Lord and Chris Miller serve as guest artistic directors, curating screenings including 2001: A Space Odyssey in IMAX, Harold and Maude, and The Muppet Movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
- Siân Heder's Apple documentary Being Heumann closes the festival, highlighting AFI’s alumni network; Heder is a graduate of AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women.
- Caleb Deschanel, an AFI Conservatory alum, shot the opening-night film Wildwood, reinforcing the festival’s role in celebrating AFI-trained talent across generations.
- Quentin Tarantino appears for a Q&A on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, ahead of Netflix’s upcoming release of The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth, starring Brad Pitt.
Why it matters: AFI Fest’s 40th edition strengthens its unique position as a hometown festival that elevates AFI alumni and curates prestige cinema without chasing premiere status, drawing filmmakers and audiences back to theaters in a post-COVID era where shared cinematic experiences are regaining cultural traction.
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