Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced Oscar-nominated filmmaker and actress Greta Gerwig will serve as the Guest Artistic Director at AFI FEST 2023. Gerwig most recently directed and co-wrote the global cultural phenomenon, “Barbie,” smashing box office records and receiving worldwide critical acclaim. In 2017, Gerwig made her directorial debut with “Lady Bird,” earning Oscar nominations for Best Directing and Original Screenplay. She went on to write and direct the inventive adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” which was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture and an individual nomination for Gerwig for Best Adapted Screenplay. As an actress, Gerwig’s early films include the indie classics “Hannah Takes The Stairs” which she co-wrote, and “Nights and Weekends,” which she co-directed, co-wrote and co-produced, before her breakout in Noah Baumbach’s “Greenberg” opposite Ben Stiller. She followed up the collaboration with Baumbach co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimed FRANCES HA, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Comedy or Musical, as well as “Mistress America,” and they have continued their creative partnership with Gerwig starring in Baumbach’s most recent film, “White Noise.” Her additional acclaimed performances include standout roles in “Jackie” and “20th Century Women.”
“Greta Gerwig is devoted to cinema, and AFI is devoted to her,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “In 2010, she served on the Shorts Jury for AFI FEST – and across the years since then, AFI has been proud to celebrate ‘Ladybird’ and ‘Little Women’ and now we are honored to welcome her home as Guest Artistic Director.”
Previous Guest Artistic Directors for AFI FEST include Pedro Almodóvar, Bernardo Bertolucci, Ava DuVernay, David Lynch and Agnès Varda.
The 37th edition of AFI FEST will take place October 25-29 in Los Angeles. A limited number of passes are still available. AFI FEST 6-Ticket Bundles are on sale starting today on FEST.AFI.com, and individual tickets for all screenings will be available starting October 3. Additional passes and tickets information can be found at FEST.AFI.com.
Top Sponsors for AFI FEST 2023 include Apple Original Films, Canva, Netflix, AMC Networks, Amazon Studios and Participant.
As previously announced, this year’s program is set to feature an expanded selection of features and shorts compared to last year, offering 141 titles for the public to enjoy across five days. The program includes 3 Red Carpet Premieres, 10 Special Screenings, 15 Luminaries, 12 Discovery, 16 World Cinema, 13 Documentary, 42 Short Film Competition, and 30 films in the AFI Conservatory Showcase presented by AMC Networks. Of the official selections, 44% are directed by women, 37% are directed by BIPOC filmmakers and 18% by LGBTQIA+ filmmakers. There are 4 World Premieres, 3 North American Premieres and 4 U.S. Premieres. This year’s program represents 49 countries and includes 18 Best International Feature Oscar submissions. The World Premiere of “Leave the World Behind,” written and directed by Sam Esmail (AFI Class of 2004) and starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Mahershala Ali, will open AFI FEST on October 25. The World Premiere of “Maxine’s Baby” The Tyler Perry Story” from directors Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz will be the Centerpiece film on October 27, and Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein (Cooper) and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan), will close AFI FEST 2023 on October 29. View full festival lineup at FEST.AFI.com.
AFI is a nonprofit, member-powered organization. Join AFI’s Premiere Circle to support the American Film Institute and enjoy access to FEST passes and exclusive one-of-a-kind opportunities at AFI FEST. To learn more, email Advancement@AFI.com.
About the American Film Institute (AFI)
The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked the #1 film school in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, Twitter.com/AmericanFilm and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.
About AFI FEST
Now in its 37th year, AFI FEST is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe. This year’s edition takes place in Los Angeles from October 25-29, 2023. With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for movie fans. Additional information about AFI FEST is available FEST.AFI.com. Connect with AFI FEST at Facebook.com/AFIFEST, Twitter.com/AFIFEST, Instagram/AmericanFilmInstitute, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute and YouTube.com/AFI.