Today, AFI revealed a special event at AFI FEST 2026 presented by Canva, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD WITH QUENTIN TARANTINO.
The evening will include a conversation with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino following a screening of ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD. Ahead of David Fincher’shighly anticipated new film THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH, the festival will revisit Cliff Booth’s original misadventures on Friday, October 23 at the TCL Chinese Theatre, where ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD held its U.S. Premiere in 2019.
“As the world awaits THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH, AFI is proud to celebrate where it all began,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. “And to do so with one of the greatest storytellers of our generation is a gift to all who love the movies.”
As previously announced, the 40th edition of AFI FEST will run October 21 to 25 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in the heart of Hollywood. This year’s festival now presents 158 films across 6 Red Carpet Premieres, 12 Special Screenings, 13 Luminaries selections, 18 Discovery titles, 16 World Cinema selections, 17 documentaries, 3 After Dark films, 4 Guest Artistic Director presentations, 45 films in the Short Film Competition and 24 films from the AFI Conservatory Showcase presented by AMC Global Media. Of the official selections, 45% are directed by women and 32% are directed by BIPOC filmmakers.
The full lineup represents 50 countries and includes 12 official submissions for Best International Feature at the 99th Academy Awards: 9 TEMPLES TO HEAVEN (Thailand); ALL OF A SUDDEN (Japan); BEN’IMANA (Rwanda); CITIZEN OSAMA (Palestine); ELEPHANTS IN THE FOG (Nepal); EVERYTIME (Germany); THE MELTDOWN (Chile); NINA ROZA (Canada); POSSIBLE LOVE (South Korea); REHEARSALS FOR A REVOLUTION (United Kingdom); ROSE (Austria) and WE ARE ALL STRANGERS (Singapore).
The festival opens with the U.S. premiere of WILDWOOD and closes with BEING HEUMANN. Additional Red Carpet Premieres include the World Premiere of THE MOSQUITO BOWL, I PLAY ROCKY and RAY GUNN. Special Screenings include 14th, ASHES, BEHEMOTH!, BITTER CHRISTMAS, BUNKER, CLARISSA, ELSINORE, JOSEPHINE, THE MAN I LOVE, MOUSE, TANGLES and WILD HORSE NINE.
This year’s Guest Artistic Directors are Academy Award-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The Guest Artistic Director Program will include “An Evening with Lord and Miller,” which will feature a Q&A with the directors followed by a screening of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968) as well as screenings of HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971), THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979) and RIFIFI (1955).
Explore the full AFI FEST 2026 program presented by Canva.
Are you excited for this announcement? Are you looking to attend the AFI Film Festival this year? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account.
