As November approaches, we are on route to the AFI and AFM in Los Angeles, via Valencia, Torino and Rome where each offers a special view of the international film scene. The adventure culminates in Los Angeles where the AFI Fest and American Film Market (which have established a partnership) take over the film scene for two weeks.

The American Film  Market takes place in Santa Monica where industry players from around the world gather for meetings, sales, screenings and purchases of films of every genre.

The AFI, on the other hand, is at the other end of town. Based at the impressive ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood, the AFI promised to be a harbinger of the Oscars, showcasing upcoming fall releases and many of the world´s best films selected to represent their respective countries for Best Foreign Film.

The AFI had grown leaps and bounds under the directorship of Christian Gaines, who refined his vision bit by bit in each succeeding edition.  He established a comfortable “Festival Village” of tents on the rooftop of the parking lot of the cinemas that serves as hospitality areas, conference areas and of course, the inevitable party-place to be for the ten day run.

Gaines left AFI this summer, with Artistic Director Rose Kuo and her team heading up the Festival until another exec director is named. It appears that this edition will begin without an official Director, but the Festival is still days away and anything can happen.  The main thing is, as Gaines so aptly said upon leaving, “the Festival is in good hands.”

What new is promised for this year?  It is a little soon to tell, but given the past few festivals, it is bound to be exciting.