Selections Include a Screening of PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE
in the TCL Chinese Theatre
U.S. Premiere of LEE Starring Kate Winslet and SLY Documentary Added to Festival Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Los Angeles, CA, October 10, 2023 — Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced AFI FEST Guest Artistic Director Greta Gerwig has revealed the five films she has curated for this year’s festival: ALL THAT JAZZ, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE and WINGS OF DESIRE. The films will screen throughout the 37th edition of festival taking place in Los Angeles. Gerwig will introduce select films including A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, as well as PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE, which is set to screen in the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre on Thursday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m.
Additionally, the U.S. Premiere of LEE, starring Academy Award® winning actress Kate Winslet, has been added to the Special Screenings section. Winslet, who also serves as a producer on the film, stars as Lee Miller, the war correspondent whose bold photos of the London Blitz, the liberation of Paris, and the concentration camps of Buchenwald and Dachau brought to light the struggles and horrors of World War II. The film is the narrative feature directorial debut from renowned cinematographer Ellen Kuras and features performances by Josh O’Connor, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Alexander Skarsgård and Marion Cotillard. The film screens Saturday, October 28 at 12:00 p.m.
SLY directed by Thom Zimny and featuring Sylvester Stallone has been added to the Documentary section. Sylvester Stallone looks back at his life and career in this intimate and unexpected documentary. Friends and collaborators pay tribute, including Talia Shire, Henry Winkler, Quentin Tarantino and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film screens Saturday, October 28 at 3:15 p.m.
The 37th edition of AFI FEST will take place October 25 through October 29 in Los Angeles. Individual tickets for all screenings are available for purchase at FEST.AFI.com.
This year’s AFI FEST program features over 140 titles for the public to enjoy across five days. In addition to 3 Red Carpet Premieres, the program includes 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. 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.
Top Sponsors for AFI FEST 2023 include Apple Original Films, Amazon MGM Studios, AMC Networks, Canva, Netflix and Participant.
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].
For sponsorship opportunities at AFI FEST 2023, contact Jack Trompeter at [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]
