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AFI Fest announces 157-film lineup for 40th edition, Oct. 21-25 in Hollywood

The American Film Institute has revealed the full lineup for the 40th AFI Fest, running Oct. 21-25 in Hollywood with 157 films. It opens with "Wildwood" and closes with "Being Heumann".

3 outlets · 3L · 0C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: The Hollywood Reporter
Image: Variety
Image: IndieWire

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The story, neutrally told

The American Film Institute has announced the full lineup for the 40th AFI Fest, presented by Canva, running Oct. 21-25 in Hollywood. The festival will screen 157 films, including five red-carpet premieres, 12 special screenings and 17 documentaries; IndieWire adds they come from 50 countries. It opens with the U.S. premiere of the animated film "Wildwood" and closes with "Being Heumann".

Other red-carpet titles are "I Play Rocky", "The Mosquito Bowl" and "Ray Gunn". Films that premiered at other festivals are included, among them Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love", Werner Herzog's "Bucking Fastard" and Andrew Haigh's "A Long Winter". IndieWire says ten of the films are Best International Feature Oscar submissions, with more possible.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller are guest artistic directors and will host a Q&A and a screening of "2001: A Space Odyssey". Festival director Todd Hitchcock said the lineup includes "highly anticipated awards favorites and a few surprises as well". Passes are on sale now and individual tickets go on sale Oct. 3.

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Left3 outlets

Framing
All three trade outlets, labelled lean left, ran a straightforward festival announcement, leading with the lineup or its headline titles. They stress prestige and award-winning titles, with little critical commentary.
Emphasis
THR and IndieWire stress films that won prizes at Venice, Cannes, Berlin and Sundance; Variety stresses the sections and the discovery and world cinema picks.
Leaves out or plays down
Variety omits the ticket dates and the guest artistic directors. Only IndieWire gives the country count and the Oscar submission tally. Only THR names the sponsors.
Charged language
“highly anticipated”“IndieWire favorite”“wily fantasy comedy”
For example
“Highlights include IndieWire favorite and Venice Silver Lion winner “Possible Love,”” — IndieWire
“Werner Herzog’s highly anticipated “Bucking Fastard”” — Variety
“The stage is nearly set for AFI Fest 2026.” — The Hollywood Reporter

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