AFI Fest 2026 Brings 157 Films to Hollywood

AFI Fest 2026 brings a full celebration of cinema to Hollywood, with 157 films from 50 countries scheduled for screening at the TCL Chinese Theatre from October 21 to October 25. The 40th edition of the festival, presented by Canva, includes five red-carpet premieres, 12 special screenings, 13 Luminaries selections, 18 Discovery titles, 16 World Cinema selections, 17 documentaries, three After Dark films, and 45 films in the Short Film Competition. The scale of the programme gives Los Angeles audiences a wide view of new work from established directors and emerging filmmakers, all gathered in one historic venue in the heart of Hollywood.

The festival opens with the United States premiere of Wildwood, the stop-motion fantasy from LAIKA Studios, and closes with Being Heumann, directed by Sian Heder. Other red-carpet premieres include I Play Rocky, Ray Gunn, and The Mosquito Bowl, which receives its world premiere at the festival. The American Film Institute notes that 45 percent of the official selections are directed by women and 32 percent by BIPOC filmmakers, a mix that reflects the breadth of voices in the current film landscape. Passes and individual tickets are available through the festival site, with a rush line planned for sold-out screenings.

AFI Fest 2026 highlights for film lovers

AFI Fest 2026 also carries real weight for short filmmakers, because the festival is recognised as a qualifying event for the Live Action, Animated, and Documentary Short Film categories at the Academy Awards. A win in the Short Film Competition can therefore put a short film on the path toward Oscar consideration, which makes the competition one of the most closely watched parts of the programme. Beyond the screenings, the festival offers question-and-answer sessions with cast and crew, giving audiences a chance to hear directly from the people behind the films. For five days, the TCL Chinese Theatre becomes a meeting place for filmmakers, critics, and moviegoers, and the 40th edition marks the occasion with a lineup that balances premieres, discoveries, and documentaries.

Source: Don’t Lose The Remote