ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD WITH QUENTIN TARANTINO Special Event at AFI FEST 2026 Presented by Canva | American Film Institute

HOLLYWOOD, CA — The American Film Institute (AFI) has officially unveiled the high-profile anchor event and comprehensive, star-studded lineup for the landmark 40th edition of AFI FEST 2026, presented by Canva. Taking place from October 21 to October 25 at the historic TCL Chinese Theatres in the heart of Hollywood, this year’s milestone festival promises an extraordinary convergence of cinematic heavyweights, international visionaries, and boundary-pushing independent storytellers.

Headlining the five-day cinematic marathon is a special, highly anticipated event celebrating one of the modern era’s definitive cinematic masterpieces: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood with Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. As global cinephiles eagerly await David Fincher’s upcoming The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, AFI FEST is taking audiences back to where it all started. On Friday, October 23, the festival will host a special screening of Tarantino’s 2019 love letter to Los Angeles at the very venue that hosted its historic U.S. Premiere—the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre. The screening will be immediately followed by an in-depth, onstage conversation with Tarantino himself, offering a masterclass in auteur storytelling and a deep dive into the mythology of his ninth feature film.

"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."

Main Facts: A Landmark 40th Edition Showcase

Celebrating four decades of championing artistic excellence, supporting diverse voices, and serving as a vital cultural bridge between global filmmakers and American audiences, AFI FEST 2026 has curated an expansive and globally diverse program.

This year’s festival will present 158 films representing 50 countries, meticulously organized across a robust selection of categories designed to honor every facet of the cinematic arts. The exhaustive lineup includes:

6 Red Carpet Premieres
12 Special Screenings
13 Luminaries selections
18 Discovery titles
16 World Cinema selections
17 Documentary features
3 After Dark midnight-style thrillers
4 Guest Artistic Director presentations
45 Short Film Competition entries
24 AFI Conservatory Showcase films presented by AMC Global Media

True to AFI’s ongoing commitment to equity, representation, and inclusion in front of and behind the camera, the 2026 official selection reflects significant strides in industry diversity. An impressive 45% of the official selections are directed by women, while 32% are directed by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) filmmakers.

Chronology and Festival Schedule Highlights

The rhythm of AFI FEST 2026 spans five action-packed days of red-carpet glamour, industry panels, rigorous competition blocks, and intimate artist conversations.

Opening and Closing Anchors

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, October 21, with the high-profile U.S. Premiere of Wildwood, setting an imaginative and visually stunning tone for the week. The curtains will officially close on Sunday, October 25, with the deeply moving and culturally resonant documentary Being Heuman.

Red Carpet Premieres and Special Screenings

In addition to the opening and closing nights, the Red Carpet Premiere slate features the high-profile World Premieres of The Mosquito Bowl, I Play Rocky, and Ray Gunn.

For film lovers seeking bold, provocative, or genre-defying narratives, the Special Screenings section brings 14 distinct cinematic experiences to the big screen, including:

14th
Ashes
Behemoth!
Bitter Christmas
Bunker
Clarissa
Elsinore
Josephine
The Man I Love
Mouse
Tangles
Wild Horse Nine

The Guest Artistic Director Program: Lord and Miller

Adding a uniquely collaborative curatorial voice to the festival, the Academy Award®-winning filmmaking duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie) serve as this year’s Guest Artistic Directors.

The duo will helm "An Evening with Lord and Miller," featuring an extensive, career-spanning Q&A followed by a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. In addition, Lord and Miller have curated a special sidebar of foundational cinematic influences that shaped their distinct aesthetic, including screenings of Hal Ashby’s darkly comedic Harold and Maude (1971), Jim Henson’s beloved The Muppet Movie (1979), and Jules Dassin’s legendary heist thriller Rififi (1955).

Supporting Data: International Scope and Academy Qualifications

AFI FEST continues to cement its reputation as a major international launching pad for awards season contenders and foreign-language masterpieces. The 2026 program features an extraordinary breadth of global cinema, highlighted by 12 official international submissions competing for the Best International Feature category at the upcoming 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)
We Are All Strangers (Singapore)

Industry Accreditations and Oscar Qualifying Status

Beyond its cultural prestige, AFI FEST holds immense weight within the professional filmmaking community. The festival is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the Live Action, Animated, and Documentary Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®. Additionally, AFI FEST serves as a qualifying festival for the British Short Film categories for both the BAFTA Film Awards and the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). This dual-qualification status makes the festival’s short film competitions and the AFI Conservatory Showcase critical hunting grounds for talent scouts, agents, and studio executives.

Official Responses and Corporate Partnerships

The realization of a festival of this magnitude relies heavily on institutional stewardship, community support, and robust corporate partnerships.

Canva, the all-in-one visual communication and collaboration platform, returns for 2026 as the exclusive Presenting Sponsor of AFI FEST. Built to empower everyone across the entertainment industry—from screenwriters and directors to producers, production teams, and major studios—Canva bridges the gap between early creative concept and the final screen. Entertainment professionals increasingly rely on Canva to pitch projects, secure funding buy-in, develop detailed storyboards and mood boards, plan physical productions, collaborate seamlessly with cast and crew, design targeted marketing campaigns, and build dynamic professional presentations.

Throughout AFI FEST 2026, Canva will be deeply integrated into the festival experience. The company will host specialized industry networking events and hands-on training workshops designed to equip independent filmmakers with cutting-edge visual tools, while also powering the festival’s extensive digital and printed collateral. Entertainment professionals interested in exploring these workflows can visit canva.com/entertainment.

In addition to Canva, AFI FEST benefits from the generous backing of key official sponsors:

FIJI Water – Official Water Sponsor
American Airlines – Official Airline of the Festival

Supporting the Non-Profit Mission of AFI

As a non-profit, donor-powered organization, the American Film Institute relies on the generosity of cinephiles and industry patrons to sustain its educational and cultural programs. Film enthusiasts looking to deepen their engagement can join AFI’s Premiere Circle, which grants exclusive, one-of-a-kind access to high-profile festival events, private screenings, and networking opportunities. Inquiries regarding Premiere Circle membership can be directed via email to [email protected].

Implications for the Industry and Public Access

Ticketing, Passes, and Festival Access

Public access to AFI FEST 2026 is now officially open, with individual tickets and multi-day passes available for purchase online at FEST.AFI.com. Festivalgoers can tailor their experience by selecting from three primary pass tiers:

Star Pass: Grants comprehensive access to all standard festival screenings (excluding Red Carpet Premieres), early screening selection, preferred theater access, admission to the exclusive AFI FEST Lounge, official festival merchandise, and complimentary rush access.
Patron Pass: Includes all the extensive benefits of the Star Pass, upgraded with full access to Red Carpet Premieres, priority screening selection, and premier theater seating.
Marquee Pass: A newly introduced tier tailored for dedicated cinephiles seeking flexible entry options across the week’s packed slate.

Cultural and Economic Impact on Hollywood

As AFI FEST celebrates its 40th anniversary, the festival’s return to the TCL Chinese Theatres underscores the enduring cultural heartbeat of Hollywood. By balancing ultra-exclusive repertory events—like the Quentin Tarantino masterclass—with a fiercely democratic platform for international short films, independent discoveries, and female-led narratives, AFI continues to shape the discourse of contemporary cinema.

For the global film industry, October 21–25 will serve as an essential nexus where established masters and emerging voices meet, negotiate the future of visual storytelling, and remind audiences why communal cinema remains irreplaceable.

To explore the complete day-by-day program, view screening times, and secure your passes for AFI FEST 2026 presented by Canva, visit FEST.AFI.com.