Todd Hitchcock, Director of AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, To Oversee National Programming Team
Academy Museum’s Ethan Caldwell Named Director of Operations, AFI Productions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 5, 2023, Los Angeles, CA – The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today that Todd Hitchcock will oversee the national programming team tasked with programming the 37th annual AFI FEST in Los Angeles. Hitchcock was recently named to the position of Director of the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. This move unites all of AFI’s exhibition and programming activities under his leadership. Hitchcock began his career at AFI in 2003 working on the inaugural edition of SILVERDOCS before joining AFI Silver’s year-round programming team. As Director of Programming at AFI Silver and the Associate Theatre Director, he oversaw numerous international film festivals, retrospectives, first-run engagements and special events, including planning, programming and producing the Silent Cinema Showcase, the AFI Latin American Film Festival, the AFI European Union Film Showcase and the New African Film Festival.
AFI also has announced the appointment of Ethan Caldwell to the newly created position of Director of Operations, AFI Productions. A veteran of cinema exhibition and operations, Caldwell most recently served as the Director, Theater Operations at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA. In his new position, Caldwell will be responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of AFI’s exhibition activities, including AFI FEST.
“Todd’s expert knowledge in programming – combined with Ethan’s deep appreciation for the art of exhibition – makes them a dynamic duo to forge the future for AFI FEST,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “This fall, we look forward to launching the 37th Annual AFI FEST – and, once again, shining a light upon stories that uplift and inspire us all.”
Celebrating the best films from around the world, AFI FEST will take place in person on October 25-29, 2023, at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in the heart of Hollywood. The five-day festival will once again include a curated selection of Red Carpet galas, Special Screenings, World Cinema, Documentaries and Short Films.
“It is an incredible honor to be programming AFI FEST,” said Hitchcock. “Throughout my time at AFI, it has been a joy to be able to connect audiences with the best in world cinema, both past and present, through our programs at AFI Silver. I’m thrilled to now lead the team that will create that experience for the AFI FEST audience.”
Hitchcock will oversee a national programming team including Director of AFI Programming, Abbie Algar, Senior Programmer, Malin Kan, and programmers Josh Gardner and Javier Chavez.
“The history and impact of AFI and AFI FEST is unparalleled. I am excited to join this storied institution and to work alongside people who are just as passionate about creating unique and powerful events as I am,” said Caldwell.
As previously announced, entries for the AFI FEST 2023 Short Film Competition program are open and filmmakers are invited to submit fiction, documentary, experimental and animated short films. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Live Action, Animated and Documentary Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®.
Learn more about submitting to AFI FEST 2023 at FEST.AFI.com or submit via Film Freeway at https://filmfreeway.com/AFIFEST. Filmmakers can email [email protected] for more information about the submissions process for short films.
About the American Film Institute (AFI)
The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked the #1 film school in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, Twitter.com/AmericanFilm and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.
About AFI FEST
Now in its 37th year, AFI FEST is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe. This year’s edition takes place in Los Angeles from October 25-29, 2023. With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for movie fans. Additional information about AFI FEST is available FEST.AFI.com. Connect with AFI FEST at Facebook.com/AFIFEST, Twitter.com/AFIFEST, Instagram/AmericanFilmInstitute, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute and YouTube.com/AFI.
Press contact: American Film Institute: Shari Mesulam, [email protected]
