Lights, Camera, Action: AFI FEST 2024 Unveils Captivating Red Carpet Premieres and Special Screenings

The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced an electrifying lineup for its upcoming AFI FEST 2024, set to captivate audiences with a diverse array of cinematic gems. From highly anticipated world premieres to critically acclaimed international films, this year's festival promises to be a cinematic celebration that will leave attendees enthralled and inspired.

Elevating the Art of Storytelling: AFI FEST 2024 Promises an Unforgettable Experience

Unveiling the Red Carpet Premieres

The Red Carpet Premieres section of AFI FEST 2024 is set to dazzle with a lineup of highly anticipated films. The festival will host the world premieres of "Music by John Williams," Robert Zemeckis' "Here," "Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl," and Clint Eastwood's "Juror #2." Additionally, the festival will feature the gala screenings of "Heretic" and "Maria," further solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for cinematic excellence."Heretic," directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, follows two young missionaries who find themselves entangled in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a diabolical Mr. Reed, played by the acclaimed Hugh Grant. The film, produced by Stacey Sher, Julia Glausi, and Jeanette Volturno, will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8th.Directed by the renowned Pablo Larraín, "Maria" presents a captivating and tumultuous depiction of the legendary soprano Maria Callas, portrayed by the Oscar®-winning Angelina Jolie. The film reimagines the final days of the iconic artist as she navigates the blurred boundaries between her public image and private self. "Maria" will debut on Netflix in the fall.

Exploring the Special Screenings Section

Alongside the Red Carpet Premieres, the Special Screenings section of AFI FEST 2024 promises to be a cinematic treasure trove. This year's lineup includes a diverse range of films that have garnered significant buzz and critical acclaim.Andrea Arnold's "Bird" soars into the surreal, featuring standout performances from Barry Keoghan, Franz Rogowski, and newcomer Nykiya Adams. Acclaimed cinematographer Rachel Morrison makes her directorial debut with "The Fire Inside," an engrossing drama about professional boxer Claressa Shields' journey to the 2012 Olympics.Walter Salles' "I'm Still Here" returns to the Brazil of the early '70s, where a middle-class mother, Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres), must reinvent her life after her activist husband Rubens (Selton Paiva) disappears. Based on true events, the film is a poignant exploration of the impact of political upheaval on personal lives.Marielle Heller's "Nightbitch" stars Amy Adams in a frank, perceptive, and fur-ociously funny adaptation of Rachel Yoder's bestselling 2021 novel, where a stay-at-home mom's domesticity takes a surreal turn.Jude Law leads the cast of "The Order" as a driven FBI agent investigating a string of bank robberies across the Pacific Northwest, which leads him to a white supremacist group seeking to escalate a race war. Based on a true story, Justin Kurzel's riveting historical thriller also stars Tye Sheridan and Jurnee Smollet.Jesse Eisenberg's "A Real Pain" is an odd-couple road movie about a pair of semi-estranged cousins (Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin) reconnecting on a tour through Poland to visit their late grandmother's homeland. The film won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.In his first English language feature film, Spanish iconoclast Pedro Almodóvar brings his trademark flair to "The Room Next Door," an elegant mortality tale starring Oscar®-winning actresses Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. The film won the Golden Lion at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.Charlie McDowell's (AFI Class of 2006) adaptation of Tove Jansson's beloved Nordic novel "The Summer Book" follows Sophia and her father (Anders Danielsen Lie) as they take refuge for the summer at the home of her grandmother (Glenn Close), nestled on the shores of a remote Finnish island.Jharrel Jerome stars in "Unstoppable," the incredible real-life story of wrestler Anthony Robles, born without a right leg, who became a high school and collegiate champion. The film marks the directorial debut of Oscar®-winning editor William Goldenberg and features a winning cast that includes Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, Michael Peña, and Bobby Cannavale.

Celebrating the Art of Filmmaking

"At the heart of AFI FEST is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema – together," said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. "We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community."With a diverse lineup of captivating films, the 2024 edition of AFI FEST promises to be a cinematic experience that will leave a lasting impression on attendees. From the highly anticipated Red Carpet Premieres to the thought-provoking Special Screenings, this year's festival is set to elevate the art of storytelling and showcase the boundless creativity of the filmmaking community.Passes for AFI FEST 2024 are now available at FEST.AFI.com, and festival-goers are encouraged to secure their tickets early to ensure they don't miss out on this extraordinary cinematic celebration.