General Information

AFI FEST spans 11 days each fall, featuring international films from emerging filmmakers, global showcases of the latest work from the great film masters, nightly special screenings and red-carpet gala premieres. Each year, AFI FEST presents international competitions of features, documentaries and shorts, as well as regional showcases as part of its broader World Cinema section.

Since 2000, the consumer audience at AFI FEST has tripled to over 65,000 attendees; the acquisition of feature films for global distribution has become routine during the event. In 2007, over 600 press representatives secured accreditation to the festival, with combined media impressions in excess of 1.6 billion worldwide.

Audiences turned out in force to attend screenings of 148 films from 37 countries as well as a multitude of panels, receptions and special events.

The Festival launched with the North American Premiere of Robert Redford's LIONS FOR LAMBS with Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Redford in attendance. Other highlights of the Festival included the Centerpiece Gala, JUNO, directed by Jason Reitman and attended by cast members including Ellen Page and Jason Bateman; Tributes to Laura Linney and Catherine Deneuve; the addition of the discussion forum TALK/SHOW, with participants such as Werner Herzog, Vilmos Zsigmond, Paprika Steen, Arthur Dong, John Landis, Kevin Wall, Nigel Lythgoe, Steve Golin, Hector Elizondo, James Ellroy and Bruce Wagner; the inclusion of the AFI Digital Content Lab's DIGIFEST to the 11 day event; and screenings attended by such personalities as John Sayles, Alex Cox, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Malcolm McDowell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Noah Baumbach, Jack Black, Don Rickles, Roger Corman, Carl Reiner and Orlando Bloom, among many, many others.

Other programming highlights of the festival included such notable titles as THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, BODY OF WAR, THE BAND'S VISIT, PERSEPOLIS, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING, SOUTHLAND TALES, HONEYDRIPPER, 4 MONTHS 3 WEEKS 2 DAYS, CARAMEL, THE COUNTERFEITER, SECRET SUNSHINE and SILENT LIGHT.

The American Film Market (AFM), November 5 - 12, 2008 is the market partner of AFI FEST. Since its formation in 2004, this strategic partnership has grown into the largest gathering of film professionals in North America. The association between the two events connects art and commerce, broadening the opportunities for all participants. A total of 36 films selected for last year's AFI FEST were also represented at the 2007 AFM.

In 2007, 23 AFI FEST selections secured US distribution, locked up foreign territories or sold remake rights, including CHRIS & DON: A LOVE STORY, CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO, HECKLER, IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS, SILENT LIGHT and THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS among others, involving companies including Cineclick, IFC Entertainment, Seville Pictures, Tartan Films, THINKFilm, The Weinstein Company and Zeitgeist.

AFI FEST is the only film festival in the United States to hold the prestigious FIAPF accreditation (www.FIAPF.org), 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.

Overall, AFI FEST 2007 showcased 97 features, 51 shorts and eight video art works for a total of 148 films representing 37 countries.

In 2008, the 22nd edition of AFI FEST presented by Audi will run from October 30 - November 9.