‘Wildwood’ Will Open 2026 AFI Fest in Los Angeles

The 40th edition of the American Film Institute's AFI Fest will open on October 21, 2026, with the United States premiere of Laika Studios' "Wildwood". Tickets are now available for purchase. This year's festival is sponsored by Canva. "Wildwood" is a highly anticipated film from the Portland, Oregon-based animation studio, known for its previous works including "Coraline", "ParaNorman", and "Kubo and the Two Strings". The movie is Laika's first feature since 2019's "Missing Link" and a labor of love for the entire team.

Based on the book series by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, "Wildwood" follows Prue (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a young girl whose brother is taken by ravens, compelling her to enter a strange and magical realm. The film was directed by Travis Knight, Laika's CEO and lead animator, and written by Chris Butler. It was shot by renowned cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and produced by Knight.

The cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Tom Waits, Jake Johnson, and Amandla Stenberg.

AFI President & CEO Bob Gazzale expressed his honor in celebrating "Wildwood" at the opening night of the festival. Gazzale stated that in a world needing artistic inspiration, "Wildwood" offers audiences a hand-crafted, endlessly imaginative world that dazzles and delights. Knight also shared his gratitude for the sixteen years of dedication to creating this story, adding that finally welcoming others into this strange and beautiful world at AFI FEST is a profound honor.

"Wildwood" will be released nationwide on October 23, 2026, via Fathom.