AFI Fest celebrates 40th anniversary in Hollywood

The AFI Fest, organized by the American Film Institute, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Hollywood. The festival, which runs from October 21 to October 25, features a diverse program of feature films, short films, and documentaries from around the world.

This year's lineup includes several films positioned for the Oscar race, such as ‘Wild Horse Nine’, ‘Elsinore’, ‘Rose’, ‘All of a Sudden’, and the documentary ‘One in a Million’. Additionally, filmmaker Ava DuVernay is scheduled to participate in a discussion following the screening of her new documentary, ‘The 14th’, which examines the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Despite recent industry challenges including studio mergers, layoffs, and the rise of AI, Bob Gazzale, President and CEO of the American Film Institute, expressed optimism. Gazzale emphasized the festival's role in curating excellence amidst an increasing abundance of storytelling tools.