Posted by Larry Gleeson

AFI FEST presented by Audi is the American Film Institute’s annual celebration of international cinema from modern masters and emerging filmmakers. It takes place each fall in Hollywood, CA, and features nightly red-carpet galas, special screenings, conversations and tributes. AFI FEST remains the first and only festival of its stature that is free to the public, offering the best of current cinema in Hollywood. This year’s dates are November 8th through November 15th, with the world premiere of On the Basis Of Sex opening the festival and the world premiere of Mary Queen of Scots closing it.

AFI FEST 2018 is its 32nd edition — and its 15th year with the visionary support of presenting sponsor Audi. Los Angeles’ longest-running international film festival remains a showcase for the best festival films of the year, and an opportunity for artists to come together with audiences in the heart of the movie capital of the world.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Films categories of the annual Academy Awards^® — a tradition that continues each year.

New Auteurs, is designed exclusively to raise the profiles of first or second-time feature filmmakers. This section offers a launch pad for new voices eligible for prizes awarded by an esteemed jury of critics, writers and editors from the film community.

AFI FEST’s State of the Art technology showcase provides an engaging forum on innovative new modes of storytelling that spotlight Virtual Reality filmmaking.

The festival’s World Cinema Masters in Conversation section takes a closer look at veteran world auteurs with career-spanning talks and screenings of their latest work.

The festival has paid tribute to numerous influential filmmakers and artists over the years, including Annette Bening, Danny Boyle, Marion Cotillard, Catherine Deneuve, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Huppert, Sophia Loren, Viggo Mortensen, Christopher Plummer and Tilda Swinton, as well as Guest Artistic Directors Pedro Almodóvar, Bernardo Bertolucci, David Lynch and Agnès Varda.

AFI FEST has screened many films that have produced Oscar^® nominations and wins including, most recently, 45 YEARS, AMOUR, ANOMALISA, CAROL, ELLE, FOXCATCHER, THE GREAT BEAUTY, HER, INHERENT VICE, JACKIE, LA LA LAND, LINCOLN, LION, MR. TURNER, MUSTANG, NEBRASKA, THE SALESMAN, STILL ALICE, SELMA, SON OF SAUL and TIMBUKTU.

AFI FEST has also presented world premieres of films from marquee Hollywood artists, including AMERICAN SNIPER, THE BIG SHORT, CONCUSSION, DOUBT, LINCOLN, MISS SLOANE, MONSTER, A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, PATRIOTS DAY, RULES DON’T APPLY, SAVING MR. BANKS and SELMA.

Stay tuned for more on the upcoming AFI FEST 2018 in Hollywood, Calif., this November 8th through November 15th!

(Source: AFI.com)