AFI Fest Turns 40, Stays Optimistic: ‘Nobody Loves Movies More Than This Town’

In a sometimes tumultuous era for the Hollywood film industry, the AFI Fest remains steadfast in its optimism, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The American Film Institute's festival has undergone several changes over the years, including a relocation from Santa Monica to West Hollywood and Hollywood, adjustments in the time of year, free ticket giveaways, and the reduction of its schedule and number of films. However, despite the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AFI Fest continues to thrive.

Bob Gazzale, the President and CEO of the AFI, is confident that the festival's success is not solely dependent on the current state of the industry. Gazzale has been with the AFI for 34 festivals, with 19 of those years as its current president. He asserts that "excellence always has an audience," and the ability to tell a story has never been easier.

AFI Fest aims to curate and celebrate the best among the vast array of opportunities for filmmakers, a mission shared by other renowned film festivals like Sundance, Cannes, Telluride, Toronto, and Venice.

One unique challenge faced by AFI Fest, as well as festivals in major entertainment capitals, is the lower attendance of festivalgoers in Los Angeles. The average AFI Fest attendee sees only 1.2 movies during the event, compared to other film festivals. Gazzale attributes this to the fact that L.A. residents are busy with their daily lives and jobs, making it difficult to dedicate time to attending a film festival.

However, the festival has taken steps to address this issue. They abandoned the policy of providing free tickets during the late 2000s recession and found that it decreased audience dedication. Instead, they shifted to selling individual tickets and later introduced passes that allowed attendees to purchase a set number of tickets.

This change has resulted in an average of nearly four films seen per person, indicating an improvement in audience engagement.

The AFI Fest is not focused on world premieres but rather hosts screenings of award-winning movies that have already premiered in other film festivals. This year's lineup includes films such as "Being Heumann," "I Play Rocky," "Elsinore," "Wild Horse Nine," "14th," along with a special screening of Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and a presentation of Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" with guest artistic directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

The festival emphasizes excellent storytelling and aims to connect the AFI mandate with the next generation of filmmakers.

Gazzale remains optimistic about the future of movies and storytelling, acknowledging that change is a constant in the entertainment industry. He believes that despite the challenges, the AFI Fest will continue to provide a platform for excellent films and storytelling, making the most of the opportunity.