Robert Cummings, Lizabeth Scott and Charlton Heston at the first AFI FEST.

20th Anniversary

AFI FEST emerged in 1987 when AFI adopted the venerated FILMEX: Los Angeles Film Exposition, which was founded in 1971 and dramatically expanded the audience for alternative film events in Los Angeles, becoming at its peak the largest public film event in the world and one of only a handful of film festivals in the United States.

In the past twenty years, technology has vastly increased access to all forms of the moving image, and film festivals have now firmly established themselves in communities across the United States and around the world.

In this exciting period, AFI FEST has grown into one of the most prominent and prestigious film festivals in North America, annually attracting thousands of film lovers and film industry professionals.

While recovered film clips, video footage, photographs, memorabilia, news articles and personal recollections will help us capture and recreate the countless priceless moments with our filmmakers that make AFI FEST so special, there is a broader mission at play in the 20th Anniversary celebrations of AFI FEST: to salute all film festivals for their efforts in providing to filmmakers and audiences the best possible environment to engage in the sacred communal activity of going to the movies.

Check back frequently for updates on our 20th Anniversary plans. We're excited!