AFI FEST 2015 announces full program of feature-length, short films
Several Award Season contenders will headline the 2015 AFI FEST next month, as the American Film Institute announced the festival's entire list of films today.
The Angeline Jolie-Brad Pitt drama "By the Sea" opens AFI FEST as the Opening Night Gala feature presentation on Nov. 5 and the star-studded global financial crisis drama "The Big Short" will close the festival on Nov. 12. Possible Best Picture/Feature contender screening during AFI FEST include the Cate Blanchett romantic drama "Carol," the British marital crisis drama "45 Years" and "The Big Short." (Watch the trailer)
Ten films submitted for the Academy Awards' Foreign Language category will also screen during the festival, including the current category frontrunner, the Hungarian World War II drama "Son of Saul." Other international Foreign Language category submissions include the Chilean crime drama "The Clan," the 2015 Cann Palme d'Or winner "Dheepan" and the Icelandic drama "Rams."
Other films of note screening during AFI FEST include the latest Michael Moore documentary "Where to Invade Next," Charlie Kaufman's crowd-funded, stop-motion drama "Anomalisa," Will Smith's controversial NFL drama "Concussion" and the Cannes Jury Award winning sci-fi comedy drama "The Lobster."
AFI FEST is one of the last major film festivals of the year leading into Award Season, often serving a springboard for Oscar contention. Last year's Oscar contenders in 2014 AFI FEST lineup included "Foxcatcher," "Still Alice," "American Sniper" and "Two Days, One Night."
The 12th annual AFI FEST runs Nov. 5-12. Tickets, which are free to the public, will be available beginning Oct. 26.
