Two Mexican films, I Carry You with Me and New Order standout at the American Film Institute Fest that is currently running virtually though Oct. 22.

I Carry You with Me, directed by Director Heidi Ewing, blends fictional characters with their real-life counterparts in this artful love story that spans decades, crosses borders and artfully weaves in poignant commentary on immigration, injustice and homophobia. With a screenplay by Heidi Ewing and Alan Page Arriaga, the film stars Armando Espitia, Christian Vázquez, Michelle Rodríguez, Ángeles Cruz, Raúl Briones, and Arcelia Ramírez. It is a Mexico-USA co-production.

New Order (Nuevo Orden) is about the gulf between the haves and have-nots that has reached incendiary proportions in this tale of a revolutionary attempt set against the backdrop of a society wedding. It’s directed by Michel Franco, who also wrote the screenplay. Cast features Naian González Norvind, Diego Boneta, Mónica del Carmen, Fernando Cuautle, Darío Yazbek, and Eligio Meléndez.

Another that standout film with Latino stars is Wander Darkly, about a troubled relationship is further shaken by a traumatic event. New parents Adrienne (Sienna Miller) and Matteo (Diego Luna) retrace pivotal moments of their romance from a surreal perspective and a time-bending narrative structure. The American film is directed by Tara Miele, who also penned the script. The cast also includes: Beth Grant, Aimee Carrero, Tory Kittles, and Vanessa Bayer.

This year’s AFI fest program includes 124 titles–54 features, 3 episodic, 33 shorts, 19 Meet the Press Film Festival at AFI FEST shorts, and 15 AFI Conservatory Showcase shorts. Of all the films, 53 percent are directed by women, 39 percent are directed by Black, Indigenous and other people of color, and 17 percent are directed by LBGTQ+. This program represents 35 countries and includes 7 World Premieres.

“AFI FEST is committed to supporting diverse perspectives and new voices in cinema and this year is no different,” said Sarah Harris, Director of Programming, AFI Festivals. “While we wish we were able to be together in Hollywood, this year’s festival is an opportunity to celebrate the many great films yet to be discovered by audiences across the nation.”

The Grand Jury Award winners for Live Action and Animated Short will be eligible for the 2021 Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short Academy Awards. Short Film Competition Jurors this year are film critic Carlos Aguilar, filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison and Film Festival Alliance Executive Director Lela Meadow-Conner.

AFI FEST 2020 is presented by Audi. 

For passes, tickets and more information go to: https://fest.afi.com/. 

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33rd Edition of Festival Runs November 14–21, 2019

Short Film Submissions Eligible for Oscar^® Consideration

The final deadline for submitting films to AFI FEST 2019 presented by Audi is Friday, July 12.

Filmmakers are invited to submit feature, documentary, experimental, animated and short films at AFI.com/AFIFEST or through FilmFreeway until 11:59 P.M. PST on Friday. Films can be fiction shorts (under 30 minutes), nonfiction shorts (under 40 minutes) and feature films. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Live–Action and Animated Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards^®. Each year, AFI FEST brings the best in world cinema to Los Angeles, with Indiewire’s Anne Thompson calling the festival “an opportunity to launch late-breaking films right where the most Academy voters live.” The 33rd edition of AFI FEST will take place November 14–21, 2019.

Filmmakers can email programming@AFI.com or call 866.AFI.FEST for more information about the submissions process.

Audi returns for the 16th year as the exclusive Presenting Sponsor of AFI FEST, enabling the festival to host the very best of world cinema. Audi and their visionary support reflect a continuing commitment to create opportunities for equality in film and television. Audi also supports AFI through the Audi Fellowship for Women, a full-tuition scholarship created In 2017 supporting promising female directors entering the AFI Conservatory. This Fellowship is part of the Audi commitment to drive progress, and a landmark investment in the future of the storytelling community.
 

About the American Film Institute
Established in 1967, the American Film Institute is the nation’s nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring artists and audiences through initiatives that champion the past, present, and future of the moving image. AFI’s pioneering programs include filmmaker training at the AFI Conservatory; year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and at AFI Festivals across the nation; workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community; honoring today’s masters through the AFI Life Achievement Award and AFI AWARDS; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films that uphold film history for future generations. 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 presented by Audi
A program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST presented by Audi is a celebration of global cinema and today’s Hollywood — a showcase for the best festival films of the year and an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the movie capital of the world. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards^®. This year’s edition takes place on November 14-21, 2019. Additional information about AFI FEST is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/AFIFEST, twitter.com/AFIFEST, and youtube.com/AFI.

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