The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center announced today the complete slate of films for the 2024 AFI European Union Film Showcase, taking place December 4–22 at the American Film Institute’s historic theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland. Now in its 37th year, the Showcase highlights 54 films representing all 27 EU member states, including award winners, regional box-office hits, debut works by up-and-coming talents and new works by leading auteurs, plus 12 of the top contenders for this year’s Academy Award® for Best International Feature Film and six U.S. premieres.
This year’s AFI European Union Film Showcase opens on December 4 with THE SUMMER BOOK (Finland), a heartfelt adaptation of the beloved Finnish novel by Tove Jansson that examines the complexities of family, generational loss and life-altering grief. THE SUMMER BOOK stars Glenn Close (FATAL ATTRACTION, THE WIFE) and Anders Danielsen Lie (THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD) and was directed by AFI Conservatory Alum Charlie McDowell (AFI Class of 2006, THE ONE I LOVE, WINDFALL). The film had its U.S. Premiere in October at AFI FEST presented by Canva. Filmmaker Charlie McDowell is expected to attend and participate in a Q&A to follow the screening.
The Centerpiece screening is Brady Corbet’s THE BRUTALIST (Hungary) in 70mm, an astonishing work of art that recalls the sweeping epics of 1970s American cinema and stars Adrien Brody as László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who flees Europe after the end of World War II to start afresh in America. Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Raffey Cassidy, Joe Alwyn and Stacy Martin co-star. Corbet won the Silver Lion for Best Director at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
The Closing Night selection is THE ROOM NEXT DOOR (Spain), directed by Spanish iconoclast Pedro Almódovar, who makes his English language feature debut with this moving tale of death and friendship. THE ROOM NEXT DOOR won the Golden Lion for Best Film at this year’s Venice Film Festival and stars Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton and John Turturro.
Tickets are $15. Discounts are available for Silver Cinema Club members. There will be a $10 One-Day Sale on Friday, November 15, from 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Moviegoers also have the option of purchasing the “All-Access EU Film Showcase Passport” for $250 which gives you admission for one to every screening, including Opening and Closing Night and Special Presentations (valued at more than $750). At the end of the showcase, you can see how many countries you “visited” by checking the stamps in your Passport. Learn more about tickets and the Showcase Passport.
