Daily News

Day 3 was the day to see AFI FEST at its finest, as fest-goers settled in for a full day's line-up of extraordinary films and not-to-miss Q and A's with filmmakers from around the world.

The evening started in the Cinema Lounge with a fete to celebrate SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival, AFI's documentary incarnation, based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Nearly all of the weekend's documentary filmmakers were on-hand, including Bobbi Jo Krals and Abbey Jo Neidek of SHE GOT GAME, Ron Mann of GO FURTHER, Robert Fischer of FASSBINDER IN HOLLYWOOD, Paul Kell of FIVES SIDES OF A COIN, and members of documentary juries from this year and previous years. But the real star, although he would deny it, was BRIGHT LEAVES' Ross McElwee, whom numerous documentary filmmakers ogled from across the room, as they consulted with AFI FEST staff on how to best approach the celebrated filmmaker.

Meanwhile, fest-goers lined up to see the Los Angeles premiere of Denys Arcand's THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS, the new film from the celebrated director of JESUS OF MONTREAL and LOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS. In a thoughtful, revealing Q & A following the screening, Arcand spoke about his inspirations for the film-growing old, the loss of parents, teacher and friends, and, particularly, the wave of threats that rattle the gates of our own security and faith in humankind. After the Q & A, the audience rose and gave Arcand and the film a standing ovation.

Later, fest-goers, filmmakers and a caravan of press greeted the stars and friends from SPIN, James Redford's feature debut; HAPPY HOUR, Mike Bencivenga's film starring Anthony LaPaglia and Eric Stoltz; and SHE GOT GAME, Krals and Neidek's inside look at the world of women's tennis. It might have been the first and only opportunity to catch Stoltz and LaPaglia under the same roof with top 10 tennis star Chanda Rubin and Jennifer Capriati's mom, Denise-not to mention the proud father of the director of SPIN, Robert Redford, who spoke with AFI FEST Director Christian Gaines near the concession stand. Reached by phone the next morning, Gaines said that Redford was very impressed with the ArcLight, particularly with the beauty and comfort of the theaters.