General Information

AFI FEST presented by Audi is the longest-running film festival in Los Angeles and one of the most influential film festivals in North America. Each year the Festival presents one of the world's most anticipated showcases of international film, demonstrating AFI's commitment to celebrating the art form.

AFI FEST emerged in 1987 when the American Film Institute adopted the venerated FILMEX: Los Angeles International Film Exposition. Founded in 1971, FILMEX dramatically expanded the audience for alternative film events in Los Angeles, becoming at its peak in the mid-'70s the largest public film event in the world and one of only a handful of film festivals in the United States. FILMEX is still venerated for its range of films and all-encompassing and ambitious aesthetic.

ARTISTS
Today, AFI FEST spans 10 days each November, featuring international competitions of new films from emerging filmmakers, as well as global showcases of the latest work from great film masters and nightly red-carpet gala premieres. Kicking off the awards season each year, AFI FEST offers a crucial avenue of exposure to the entertainment community while providing appreciative audiences with a festive atmosphere and the very best of world film, right in the film capital of the world.

AFI FEST 2006 showcased a total of 111 features (91 narrative and 20 documentary) and 36 shorts (33 narrative and three documentary) for a total of 147 films from 45 different countries. Of these films, 22 were World Premieres, 30 were North American Premieres and 28 were US Premieres.

Luminaries from around the globe have attended AFI FEST. Recent guests include: Pedro Almodovar, Alejandro Amenabar, Javier Bardem, Gael Garcia Bernal, Orlando Bloom, Kate Bosworth, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Kevin Costner, Marcia Cross, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp, Fergie (Black Eyed Peas), Joseph Fiennes, Flea, Jodie Foster, Andy Garcia, Cuba Gooding Jr., Teri Hatcher, Anthony Hopkins, Felicity Huffman, Wyclef Jean, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Scarlett Johansson, Tommy Lee Jones, Jude Law, David Lynch, Sienna Miller, Jack Nicholson, Pele, Robin Wright Penn, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix, Sarah Silverman, Kevin Spacey, Audrey Tautou, Reese Witherspoon, Ziyi Zhang and many more.

AUDIENCES
ArcLight Hollywood represents a new evolution in the movie-going experience. This exquisite facility offers an unprecedented combination of technology, amenities and comfort. Its 14 state-of-the-art, black-box auditoriums and the historic Cinerama Dome provide AFI FEST guests with one of the best movie-going environments in the nation.

More than 500 filmmakers, 350 accredited international members of the press and 65,000 attendees gather in the heart of Hollywood for hundreds of screenings, receptions and special events.

ATMOSPHERE
In 2005, AFI FEST debuted its Rooftop Village — a suite of interconnected hospitality pavilions with breathtaking city views spanning the Pacific Ocean to the Hollywood sign. Just a few steps from most AFI FEST Theatres, the Rooftop Village features a centralized Box Office, Will Call & Information area, Hospitality Check-In desks, a hip, pass-only Cinema Lounge, and The LOFT — a turn-key festival party and reception space and home of the highly successful one-on-one filmmaker meetings that make up the Kodak CONNECT Program.

ACQUISITIONS
More domestic sales of international titles and international territory sales occurred at AFI FEST 2006 than at any other US festival.

The American Film Market (AFM), October 31 - November 7, 2007, is the market partner of AFI FEST presented by Audi. Together, AFI FEST and AFM provide the film community with the only concurrent festival/market event in North America. As the largest motion picture trade event in the world, AFM draws leading film professionals from around the globe. Each year over 8,000 attendees converge on Santa Monica for deal-making, screenings, seminars, networking and parties. In just eight days, more than $800 million in motion picture production deals will be closed on both completed films and those that haven't yet started shooting.

ACTIVITY
Now entering its seventh year, the Kodak CONNECT Program offers visiting AFI FEST filmmakers the opportunity to meet with representatives from all corners of the film community within an intimate and intensive framework of one-on-one meetings, breakfasts, lunches, roundtables and other educational and networking opportunities.

AFI FEST is the only FIAPF-accredited film festival in the United States. The Paris-based FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations), a film industry advocacy consortium which counts the Motion Picture Association of America among its members, accredits film festivals in response to demands from the film community that a standard of quality and reliability be defined for international film festivals.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the annual Academy Awards®.

To celebrate 20 Years, AFI FEST debuted AFI PROJECT: 20/20, an international cultural exchange program designed to engage audiences here and abroad through filmmakers and films. By screening and interacting with audiences in the US and abroad, these artists highlight the common values people share by helping to challenge stereotypes and open doors to other cultures, ideas and places.

AWARDS
AFI FEST provides a significant US platform for both national and international cinema as an awards season kick-off event. Films since recognized internationally with many nominations and awards include BAD EDUCATION, BEYOND THE SEA, CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER, HOTEL RWANDA, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, THE LIVES OF OTHERS, MONSTER, MONSTER'S BALL, PAN'S LABYRINTH, THE SEA INSIDE, TSOTSI, VENUS, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT and VOLVER, among many others.

With 10 full days of international films, one-on-one meetings with entertainment professionals, happy hours, receptions and gala premieres, AFI FEST offers filmmakers a crucial avenue of exposure to the entertainment community while providing appreciative audiences with a festive atmosphere and the very best of world film, right in the film capital of the world.

ACCLAIM
AFI FEST publicity has included television coverage by ACCESS HOLLYWOOD, CNN, E! Entertainment Television, ENERTAINMENT TONIGHT, CURRENT TV and EXTRA, in addition to Los Angeles-area network outlets. Magazine coverage has included American Cinematographer, BlackBook, Los Angeles Magazine, Moviemaker, People, Premiere and US Weekly. Newspaper and trade coverage has included The Hollywood Reporter, LA WEEKLY, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Screen International and Variety. Online coverage includes IndieWIRE, MovieFone, MySpace and LA.com.

2006 impressions exceeded 2 billion, with a targeted media program valued at over $3.5 million.

ACCOLADES

"AFI FEST became a major event. It's the right context for the public, critics, journalists and Academy members to see the film. AFI takes great care in presentation, and filmmakers appreciate that."

Michael Barker, Co-President, Sony Pictures Classics

"AFI FEST created the initial buzz and excitement surrounding MONSTER. The platform of Closing Night at AFI FEST was instrumental in the picture's success and Charlize Theron's Oscar."

Brad Wyman, Producer, MONSTER
(World Premiere, AFI FEST 2002)

"AFI FEST is one of the most enthusiastically run festivals I have ever attended. Being in Hollywood, it offered our film invaluable exposure to both the general LA audience and to an unusually high number of industry professionals."

Gavin Hood, Director, TSOTSI
(US Premiere, AFI FEST 2005)

"AFI FEST is head and shoulders above all other festivals we have been to in terms of filmmaker support."

Kristina Robbins-Higgins
Filmmaker, AFI FEST 2004