Welcome

Welcome to the AFI FEST 2005 presented by Audi Press Room, where you can find links to the latest Festival news, press releases, press accreditation and press contact information.

Now in its 19th year as a program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST presented by Audi spans 10 days each November, featuring international films from emerging filmmakers, global showcases of the latest work from the great film masters and nightly red-carpet gala premieres. With its positioning at the beginning of the awards season and its setting in the film capital of the world, the Festival's programs and partnerships all serve to position AFI FEST as one of the pre-eminent international film festivals in North America.

AFI FEST 2005 runs November 3-13, 2005. To order advance tickets, call 866.AFI.FEST or order online at www.AFI.com.

AFI FEST annually presents an international competition of features, documentaries and shorts, as well as ambitious global cinema showcases including Asian New Classics, European Film Showcase, Latin Cinema Series and American Directions. Also returning are the popular Made in Germany series and the Filmmaker Tribute and Retrospective.

Films that have premiered at AFI FEST include AMORES PERROS; BEFORE NIGHT FALLS; THE CIDER HOUSE RULES; CITY OF GOD; DARK WATER; HOTEL RWANDA; HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG; LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL; MONSTER; MONSTER'S BALL; NOWHERE IN AFRICA; NO MAN'S LAND; OSAMA; O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?; THE QUIET AMERICA; THE SEA INSIDE; and TALK TO HER.

New to AFI FEST 2005 are:

• THE NEW YORK TIMES TIMESTALKS SPEAKER SERIES
TimesTalks is the acclaimed speaker series presented by The New York Times at which New York Times critics, reporters and editors moderate conversations and panel discussions with noted talent and thinkers of our time. As a celebration of The New York Times Magazine Hollywood Issue, AFI FEST 2005 will host the Los Angeles launch of The New York Times TimesTalks Hollywood Issue series, with three events currently slated to be held onsite during the Festival. Moderators and guests will be announced in the coming weeks.

Other highlights include:

AFI FEST 2005/2005 AMERICAN FILM MARKET ALLIANCE
The second year of the AFI FEST 2005 (November 3-13) and the 2005 American Film Market (November 2-9) alliance will again join forces in marketing, sponsorship, scheduling and a variety of other initiatives. Each event will continue to be managed separately, with the collaboration resulting in a unified market and festival combining commerce and culture. For more information on each event, please visit www.AFI.com/AFIFEST or http://www.ifta-online.org/afm/home.asp

NEW FACES IN EUROPEAN CINEMA
The NEW FACES IN EUROPEAN CINEMA program is made possible through an alliance between the European Film Promotion and EFP member organizations. Launched in 2004, NEW FACES IN EUROPEAN CINEMA is a tailored series of initiatives during AFI FEST designed to showcase Europe's emerging directing talent and up-and-coming new stars. NEW FACES IN EUROPEAN CINEMA is presented in cooperation with the European Film Promotion with support from the MEDIA program of the European Union and by a consortium of European consulates in Los Angeles.

We hope you will take advantage of all AFI FEST 2005 has to offer. We look forward to working with you!

Best,
THE AFI FEST 2005 PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT