Posted by Larry Gleeson
AFI FEST 2025 PRESENTED BY CANVA ANNOUNCES SPONSORS AND PARTNERS FESTIVAL TO PRESENT OVER 160 FILMS
OPENS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22
Tickets and Passes Available Online and at the AFI FEST Box Office During Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Los Angeles, CA, October 20, 2025 — The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the sponsors and partners for AFI FEST 2025 presented by Canva. This year’s festival runs from Wednesday, October 22 through Sunday, October 26 in Hollywood and the festival line-up includes 7 Red Carpet Premieres, 12 Special Screenings, 14 Luminaries selections, 15 Discovery films, 20 World Cinema selections, 15 Documentaries, 6 After Dark titles, 44 films in the Short Film Competition, and 23 films from the AFI Conservatory Showcase. There are 5 World Premieres, 5 North American Premieres and 5 U.S. Premieres.
Passes and tickets are available at FEST.AFI.com and at the AFI FEST Box Office located inside the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres Lobby during the festival. Sold-out screenings, including Red Carpet Premieres, will have a rush line.
“The worlds of art and entertainment are reliant on the support of those who believe, as AFI does, that film and festivals inspire a communal connection at a time we need them most,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. “We are deeply grateful for the imperative support of our sponsors that ensure AFI FEST will lift the spirits of the tens of thousands of film lovers who are part of the AFI community.”
Canva returns as this year’s Presenting Sponsor for AFI FEST 2025 presented by Canva. The festival is proud to welcome an exceptional roster of Corporate Partners, including Official Water Partner FIJI Water, Premium Sponsor Apple Original Films, Northern Trust, AMC Networks, AT&T, Amazon MGM Studios, Netflix, and IMDbPro.
AFI FEST is delighted to welcome back AT&T, IMDbPro, Dell Technologies, and Stella Artois. The festival is also excited to welcome new sponsors Northern Trust, HitsBev, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Inglenook Wines.
AT&T returns with UNTOLD STORIES, its $1.2 million production grant program. Immediately following the screening of HONEYJOON—a winning project from the program—AT&T will host a discussion and invite filmmakers in the audience to submit applications for this prestigious grant opportunity.
IMDbPro returns as an AFI FEST sponsor and will host a portrait studio at the invite-only AFI FEST Filmmaker Party, empowering IMDbPro members in attendance with a complimentary professional headshot to enhance their industry presence. IMDbPro Premium members can add these and other images to their IMDb and IMDbPro name pages and select their primary and featured images as part of a suite of tools to manage and showcase their IMDb profile.
Building on last year’s successful workshop, Canva is hosting Design Without Limits: Panel and Workshop with Patty Jenkins and William Means on October 25 at 10:30am. AFI Alumni and collaborators on JUNKIE—screening at the Festival, October 26—director/screenwriter/producer William Means and executive producer Patty Jenkins will share their creative process and vision, from initial concept to final cut.
FIJI Water, the No. 1 premium imported bottled water in the U.S., proudly returns as the Official Water of AFI FEST. FIJI Water will once again appear at all red carpet premieres with its signature FIJI Water Bar, and throughout the festival, providing 500 mL bottles made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET) to keep attendees refreshed as they celebrate another year of exceptional achievements in film.
Northern Trust is the sponsor of the Red Carpet Premiere screening of JAY KELLY on October 23. AMC Networks is once again presenting the AFI Conservatory Showcase, scheduled for October 23-24.
This year’s In-Kind Sponsors include Panavision, Illuminar, Eventive, Ovation Hollywood, TCL Chinese Theatres, US Blanks, Cinegear and SirReel.
The Envelope by The Los Angeles Times is back as the festival’s Primary Media Partner and the Red Carpet Premieres Media Partner.
The Wall Street Journal, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and ABC7 On the Red Carpet are Official Media Partners.
Affiliate Media Partners include TheWrap, IndieWire, Screen International, Los Angeles Magazine and KCRW.
The Official Media Partners and Affiliate Media Partners will each be presenting a dedicated Special Screening. The Wall Street Journal will present RENTAL FAMILY, Variety will present BUGONIA, The Hollywood Reporter will present TRAIN DREAMS, ABC7 On the Red Carpet will present IS THIS THING ON?, TheWrap will present REBUILDING, IndieWire will present THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER, Screen International will present THE CHORAL and Los Angeles Magazine will present MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.
This year’s Cultural Supporters include the European Languages and Movies in America (ELMA), Farhang Foundation, Japan House and SAGindie.
This year’s Community Partners are African Film Critics Association, Amoeba Music, Animation is Film, Antigravity Academy, Armenian Film Society, Asian American Media Alliance, ASIFA (Association International of Film Animation), BAFTA North America, Black Film Space, CalARTS, CAPE, The Cinegogue, Consulate General of France LA, Consulate General of Spain, Consulate of Belgium, Consulate of Croatia, Film Fatales, Film Independent, German Films Service, Ghetto Film School, GLAAD, Goethe Institute, GoldHouse, Hollywood Shorts, Italian Institute of Culture LA, LALIFF(Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival), Latino Filmmakers Network, International Documentary Association, Korean Cultural Center, LACMA, NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers), New Filmmakers LA, Nimruz, Queer Film LA, Reframe, Revival Hub, SEEfest (South East European Film Festival), Trade Commission of Spain LA, Tramp Stamp Grannys, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, USC Women of Cinematic Arts, VC Media, We The Latin, Women Independent Producers and Women in Film.
As previously announced, the festival will open with SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE and will close with the World Premiere of SONG SUNG BLUE.
JAY KELLY, NUREMBERG, DEAD MAN’S WIRE, CHRISTY and the World Premiere of THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS complete the Red Carpet Premieres section.
To learn more about AFI FEST and to view the full festival lineup visit FEST.AFI.com
AFI is a nonprofit, donor-powered organization. Join AFI’s Premiere Circle to support the American Film Institute and enjoy access to FEST passes and exclusive one-of-a-kind opportunities at AFI FEST. To learn more, email Advancement@AFI.com.
About the American Film Institute (AFI)
The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST Presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at elevating emerging storytellers and technology, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.
About AFI FEST
Now in its 39th year, AFI FEST is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe. This year’s edition takes place in Los Angeles from October 22-26, 2025. With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for movie fans. Additional information is available at FEST.AFI.com. Connect with AFI’s film festival at Facebook.com/AFIFEST, X.com/AFIFEST, Instagram/AmericanFilmInstitute, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute and YouTube.com/AFI.
About Canva
Launched in 2013, Canva is the world’s leading all-in-one platform for visual communication and collaboration. Built to empower everyone to design, the company serves the creative and design needs of enterprises, small businesses, consumers, and students in more than 190 countries worldwide. Whether you’re a novice taking your first steps in design, or a creative professional seeking powerful tools, Canva ensures users have what they need to transform an idea into something beautiful. Underpinned by the world’s most comprehensive library of designer-made content, Canva is powered by a suite of products and proprietary AI tools which elevate how individuals and teams create, collaborate, and communicate with ease.
Press contact: Shari Mesulam
Shari@themesulamgroup.com
American Film Institute
