by Jessica Ozar
AFI FEST Daily News

For Forest Whitaker it was RAISE THE RED LANTERN. Oliver Stone went with Costa-Gavras' Z.

Amy Heckerling chose MEAN STREETS, Dennis Hopper VIRIDIANA and John Landis THE WIZARD OF OZ.

And noted AFI alumni Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz went with John Huston's THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING.

One night each month, AFI asks filmmakers, "Who inspires you?" at the thought-provoking series, Cinema's Legacy.

Cinema's Legacy at Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles Robert Towne presents Jean Renoir's LA GRANDE ILLUSION Tuesday, November 14 7:30 PM Bill Condon presents Charles Vidor's LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME Tuesday, December 7 7:30 PM

This innovative program brings contemporary filmmakers to the Skirball Cultural Center to screen work they credit with encouraging and shaping their own art.

Conversations paired with these screenings engage audiences with an in-depth and often personal look at what inspires the creative process.

(Skirball Cultural Center also supports AFI FEST 2006 presented by Audi and the Tribute to Penélope Cruz, Thursday, November 2, 7:00 PM at the Cinerama Dome.)

This acclaimed Cinema's Legacy series has welcomed numerous notable filmmakers including Alec Baldwin, Roger Corman, Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, Andy Garcia, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Mira Nair, Rob Reiner, Harry Shearer, Jim Sheridan, Tom Tykwer and Wim Wenders.

Guests have screened a wide variety of influential films including BADLANDS, REPULSION, LA DOLCE VITA, MIDNIGHT COWBOY, THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, CHINATOWN and GROUNDHOG DAY.

Rounding out the 2006 season, the series is excited to host two prominent film artists.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Robert Towne (CHINATOWN) will screen Jean Renoir's masterpiece LA GRANDE ILLUSION on November 14.

And director Bill Condon (DREAMGIRLS) will screen Charles Vidor's musical LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME starring Doris Day on December 7.

For information on upcoming screenings, member discounts and more, visit AFI.com.