AFI FEST 2008's lineup will showcase 100 features (79 narrative, 21 documentary) and 48 shorts (39 narrative, 9 documentary) for a total of 148 films from 38 different countries. Thi year, the festival — which runs from October 30–November 9 — will be headquartered at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where most of the international Festival's activities will take place. (I'm not sure that's such a good thing; it was very convenient when everything was within reach at the ArcLight Hollywood.) Most screenings will be held at the Arclight, with additional screenings taking place at Grauman's Chinese and the Mann 6 in Hollywood.
Six films will be making their world premieres at the festival. They are: DEFIANCE (above, starring Daniel Craig), POUNDCAKE, PLAYING COLUMBINE, PARADISE and THE WORLD WE WANT. The sixth — the Opening Night Gala screening — is supposed to be announced today. (The original selection, Joe Wright's THE SOLOIST, was pulled out yesterday because the musical drama will open only in March 2009.)
Fifteen films will make their North American premieres: DIVIZIONZ, THE GOOD THE BAD THE WEIRD (above), WORLDS APART (TO VERDENER), BLOOD APPEARS (LA SANGRE BROTA), PERFECT LIFE (WAMMEI SHENHUO), BETTER THINGS, THE DESERT WITHIN (DESIERTO ADENTRO), THE HIGHER FORCE, INVOLUNTARY (DE OFRIVILLIGA), LAKE TAHOE (TE ACUERDAS DE LAKE TAHOE), NILOOFAR, NIRVANA, THE REST OF THE NIGHT, IMAGINADORES, UNTIL THE LIGHT TAKES US.
Nineteen films will make their U.S. premieres: BIRDSONG (EL CANT DELS OCELLS), TWO LOVERS, ACHILLES AND THE TORTOISE (ACHILLES TO KAME), REVANCHE, SKIN, THREE BLIND MICE, TWO-LEGGED HORSE (ASBE DU-PA), WAITING FOR SANCHO, LION'S DEN (LEONORA), LIVERPOOL, PLASTIC CITY (DANGKOU), NATIVE DANCER, 3 WOMEN (SE ZAN), ACNE (above), PROPER EYES (POR SUS PROPIOS OJOS), INTIMACIES OF SHAKESPEARE AND VICTOR HUGO, THE LAST DAYS OF SHISHMAREF, BEFORE THE FALL (3 DIAS), WITCH HUNT.
The breakdown by section is Galas (5), Special Presentations (10), International Feature Competition (12), International Documentary Competition (14), World Cinema (2y), Showcase on Argentina (5), Showcase on Kazakhstan (3), Homage to XStream (4), Showcase on Arnaud Desplechin (3 films at AFI FEST, 5 films at LACMA), Alt_Cinema (7), Milestones (5), and International Shorts Competition (46).
Passes are now on sale, and individual film and event tickets go on sale on Friday, October 10. To order passes, tickets and for more information visit AFI.com/AFIFEST, or call 1.866.AFI.FEST.
As per the AFI FEST press release, the best way to guarantee admission to the tributes to Tilda Swinton and Danny Boyle and to the various gala screenings is to buy a pass.
UNTIL THE LIGHT TAKES US: Norwegian Black Metal at AFI FEST 2008
THE SOLOIST Cancelled: AFI FEST 2008
Irish Film Festival of Los Angeles 2008
RELIGULOUS, GIGANTIC, STILL WALKING: Toronto Film Festival 2008
