Top Sponsors Include Apple Original Films, Amazon MGM Studios, AMC Networks, Canva and Netflix
Film Festival to Open Wednesday With Slate of More Than 140 Films
Tickets and Passes Available Online and at AFI FEST Box Office During Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Los Angeles, CA, October 23, 2023 — The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the sponsors and partners for AFI FEST 2023, which includes corporate sponsors, in-kind sponsors, media partners, media sponsors, dedicated film sponsors, cultural partners and community partners. This year’s festival will take place exclusively in person at the TCL Chinese Theatres located in Hollywood October 25 through October 29, and features more than 140 films including 4 World Premieres, 20 International Oscar® submissions, 11 Special Screenings, 5 Guest Artistic Director selections from Greta Gerwig and more. Passes and tickets are available now at FEST.AFI.com and at the AFI FEST Box Office located inside the TCL Chinese 6 Lobby during the festival. Sold-out screenings, including Red Carpet Premieres, will have a standby line.
Top Corporate Partners for AFI FEST 2023 include Apple Original Films, Amazon MGM Studios, AMC Networks, Canva and Netflix. AMC Networks is presenting this year’s AFI Conservatory Showcase on Friday, October 27, and Canva is hosting the AFI Conservatory Alumni Party.
Additional Corporate Partners include FilmFreeway and Participant.
This year’s In-Kind Sponsors include Panavision, Illuminar, Eventive, Ovation, TCL Chinese Theatres, US Blanks and Cinegear.
The Los Angeles Times is back as the festival’s Primary Media Partner and the Red Carpet Premieres Media Partner.
Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are Official Media Sponsors.
Affiliate Media Partners include KCRW, IndieWire, TheWrap and Screen International.
The Hollywood Reporter will host a panel celebrating the greatest film books of all time moderated by Scott Feinberg, Executive Editor of Awards, with panelists/authors including Cari Beauchamp, A. Scott Berg, Cameron Crowe, Nancy Griffin, Aljean Harmetz, Leonard Maltin, Kim Master, Dennis McDougal, James Andrew Miller, Eddie Muller, John Pierson, George Stevens Jr., Michael Tolkin, Christine Vachon, Mark A. Vierira and Sam Wasson.
Variety is the Dedicated Film Sponsor of THE BIKERIDERS, IndieWire is the Dedicated Film Sponsor of MEMORY, TheWrap is the Dedicated Film Sponsor of AMERICAN FICTION, Screen International is the Dedicated Film Sponsor of THE END WE START FROM, and KCRW is the Dedicated Film Sponsor of ALL OF US STRANGERS.
This year’s Cultural Sponsors include ELMA (European Languages & Movies in America), Farhang Foundation, SAGindie, Australian Consulate-General Los Angeles, Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles, Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, Cinecittà, Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, Italian Cultural Institute and the Italian Trade Agency, Los Angeles Office.
Community Partners for AFI FEST 2023 are Film Independent, Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles, MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition, GuadaLAjara Film Festival in LA, Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival, Instituto Cervantes De Los Ángeles, Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, Los Angeles Indonesian Film Festival (LAIFF), Japan Screen Advocacy, Animation Is Film Festival, Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, Consulate General of Greece in Los Angeles, Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles, Transgender Film Center and Polish Film Festival Los Angeles.
As previously announced, this year’s program features more than 140 titles for the public to enjoy across five days. The program includes 3 Red Carpet Premieres, 11 Special Screenings, 15 Luminaries, 12 Discovery, 16 World Cinema, 14 Documentary, 42 Short Film Competition, 30 films in the AFI Conservatory Showcase presented by AMC Networks, and 5 Guest Artistic Director selections. Of the official selections, 43% are directed by women, 36% are directed by BIPOC filmmakers and 17% by LGBTQIA+ filmmakers. There are 4 World Premieres, 3 North American Premieres and 4 U.S. Premieres. This year’s program represents 49 countries and includes 20 Best International Feature Oscar® submissions. The World Premiere of LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, written and directed by Sam Esmail (AFI Class of 2004) and starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Mahershala Ali, will open AFI FEST on October 25. The World Premiere of MAXINE’S BABY: THE TYLER PERRY STORY from directors Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz will be the Centerpiece film on October 27, and Bradley Cooper’s MAESTRO, a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein (Cooper) and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan), will close AFI FEST 2023 on October 29. View full festival lineup at FEST.AFI.com.
AFI is a nonprofit, member-powered organization. Join AFI’s Premiere Circle to support the American Film Institute and enjoy access to FEST passes and exclusive one-of-a-kind opportunities at AFI FEST. To learn more, email [email protected].
To learn more about AFI FEST, visit FEST.AFI.com.
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]
