AFI Fest 40th Edition Opens With Laika's Wildwood

The 40th AFI Fest opens with the U.S. premiere of Laika's animated feature Wildwood on Wednesday, October 21. The festival runs through October 25 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, presenting a total of 157 films across its diverse lineup.

Directed and produced by Academy Award nominee Travis Knight and written by fellow Oscar nominee Chris Butler, Wildwood is based on the novel by Colin Meloy. The film's cinematography is handled by Academy Award nominee Caleb Deschanel, an alumnus of the AFI Conservatory. The voice cast is extensive, featuring Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant. The story follows Prue McKeel, played by Lee, who embarks on a rescue mission into a magical wilderness after her baby brother is abducted by crows. Travis Knight noted the film was a labor of love built slowly over 16 years by hundreds of artists.

Major Premieres and Industry Highlights

The festival schedule is packed with significant debuts and events. It will host the world premiere of Netflix's The Mosquito Bowl, directed by Peter Berg, and the North American premiere of Brad Bird's Netflix noir, Ray Gunn. Industry momentum continues with a sold-out Q&A session featuring Quentin Tarantino following a screening of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In related news, Netflix plans to debut The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth, a prequel to that film starring Brad Pitt, next month.

Closing Night Honors *Being Heumann*

AFI Fest 2024 will conclude with Being Heumann, directed by Oscar-winning CODA filmmaker Siân Heder. This selection continues the festival's tradition of closing with impactful, director-driven cinema.

Programming Highlights and Legacy

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the festival honors its history and community. The broad programming includes a presentation of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey on an IMAX screen, curated by guest artistic directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and a screening of The Muppet Movie. The event also pays tribute to AFI alumni, such as director Patty Jenkins, whose thesis film Velocity Rules first connected her with producers at a past AFI Fest, launching her career. The festival's mission remains centered on bringing people together and raising voices through the shared experience of cinema.

The 157-film program is broken down into the following categories:

Individual tickets for the 40th AFI Fest will be available for purchase on October 3.