AFI Announces CHRISTY, DEAD MAN’S WIRE, JAY KELLY and NUREMBERG, as Red Carpet Galas at AFI FEST Presented by CANVA
The full festival lineup for AFI FEST 2025 will be unveiled on September 30. Passes and 10-ticket bundles are now available at FEST.AFI.com. A pass alone does not grant entry to a screening, and passholders must reserve tickets in advance of the festival. Patron passholders will have priority access to screening selection on October 1 beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT. Star passholders will have early access to screening selection on October 2 beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT. Individual tickets will be available on October 6. Learn more at FEST.AFI.com.
The American Film Institute announced today that JAY KELLY, NUREMBERG, DEAD MAN’S WIRE and CHRISTY will complete the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI FEST presented by Canva. The JAY KELLY Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 23; NUREMBERG on Friday, October 24; DEAD MAN’S WIRE on the afternoon of Saturday, October 25; and CHRISTY on the evening of Saturday, October 25. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE and the World Premieres of SONG SUNG BLUE and THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. Festival passes, which include the opportunity to access tickets to the Red Carpet Premieres, are available now at FEST.AFI.com.
“AFI FEST is where over 150 films from around the world meet movie lovers in Hollywood,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “Our goal is nothing short of a global embrace – where we discover and rediscover the power of a shared story on a big screen.”
JAY KELLY
JAY KELLY, the new film from Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach, follows famous movie actor, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler). Poignant and humor filled, epic and intimate, JAY KELLY is pitched at the intersection of life’s regrets and notable glories. The film stars George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, Greta Gerwig, Alba Rohrwacher, Josh Hamilton, Lenny Henry, Emily Mortimer, Nicôle Lecky, Thaddea Graham, Isla Fisher, Louis Partridge, Charlie Rowe. The film will premiere on Netflix on December 5.
NUREMBERG
NUREMBERG chronicles the true story of the war crimes trials held by the Allies against the defeated Nazi regime. The film centers on American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek), who is tasked with determining whether Nazi prisoners are fit to stand trial for their atrocities and finds himself in a complex battle of wits with former Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), Hitler’s right-hand man. The film is directed by James Vanderbilt and stars Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Mark O’Brien, Colin Hanks, Lydia Peckham, Wrenn Schmidt, Lotte Verbeek and Andreas Pietschmann. The Sony Pictures Classics film will be released on November 7.
DEAD MAN’S WIRE
Gus Van Sant returns with the incredible true story of an infamous 1977 kidnapping and ransom over a business deal gone bad, with the kidnapper (Bill Skarsgård) demanding restitution and an apology from the mortgage broker whose company ripped him off. The film is directed by Gus Van Sant, and the cast includes Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Colman Domingo, Myha’la, Cary Elwes, Kelly Lynch and Al Pacino. This film is the first acquisition for Row K Entertainment.
CHRISTY
In David Michôd’s stirring biopic CHRISTY, Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney) never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for knocking people out. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim (Ben Foster). But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death. Based on remarkable true events, Christy Martin’s story is one of resilience, courage, and the fight to reclaim one’s life. The film stars Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, Katy O’Brian and Ethan Embry. Black Bear Pictures’ inaugural release will be in theaters on November 7.
AFI also announced that BAD APPLES, BUGONIA, THE CHORAL, THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER, IS THIS THING ON?, A MAGNIFICENT LIFE, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, NEBRASKA LIVE, REBUILDING, RENTAL FAMILY, THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE and TRAIN DREAMS, will be among the films featured in the Special Screenings section. BAD APPLES will make its U.S. Premiere, after debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival. Thom Zimny’s NEBRASKA LIVE, a stripped-down concert documentary featuring Bruce Springsteen performing the songs from his landmark 1982 album, will be a World Premiere screening. Serendipitously, the screening further complements AFI FEST’s opening night presentation of Scott Cooper’s dramatic feature SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, centered on the creation of that album.
“AFI FEST’s Special Screenings section includes some of the most buzzed-about films from the festival circuit, an eclectic mix that promises to surprise and delight film lovers,” said Todd Hitchcock, Director of AFI FEST and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. “We look forward to welcoming Los Angeles audiences to what we are sure to be some of the most memorable screening experiences in this year’s festival.”
BAD APPLES | U.S. Premiere
Director: Jonatan Etzler
Synopsis: In this delectably dark satire, an exquisite Saoirse Ronan plays an overworked schoolteacher whose pupils’ studies improve after she removes a foulmouthed and violent student from her classroom — by inadvertently kidnapping and locking him up in her basement.
BUGONIA
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. The film stars Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone and newcomer Aidan Delbis.
THE CHORAL
Director: Nicholas Hytner
1916. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s ambitious committee, determined to press ahead, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks. They must also engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) – driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together.
THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER
Director: Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart’s staggering directorial debut adapts Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir of abuse and healing, anchored by a raw and revelatory performance from Imogen Poots.
IS THIS THING ON?
Director: Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper’s beautifully affecting comedic drama stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern in standout performances as a New York couple whose separation leads to major midlife self-reckoning and reinvention. When Arnett’s character attempts open-mic standup at a comedy club with confessional, self-deprecating material, a whole new world opens for him.
A MAGNIFICENT LIFE
Director: Sylvian Chomet
In 1955, 60-year-old Marcel Pagnol is a well-known and acclaimed playwright and filmmaker. When the editor-in-chief of ELLE magazine commissions a weekly column about Pagnol’s childhood, he sees this as a great opportunity to go back to his artistic roots: writing. Realizing his memory is failing him and deeply affected by the disappointing results of his last two plays, Pagnol starts doubting his ability to pursue his work. That is, until Little Marcel – the young boy he used to be – appears to him as if by magic. Together, they will explore Marcel Pagnol’s incredible life and bring back to life his most cherished encounters and memories.
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
Director: Maria Friedman
Spanning three decades, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Merrily We Roll Along charts the turbulent relationship between composer Franklin Shepard and his two lifelong friends — writer Mary and lyricist & playwright Charley. Originally produced on Broadway in 1981, then becoming an inventive cult-classic ahead of its time, Merrily We Roll Along features some of Stephen Sondheim’s most celebrated and personal songs.
NEBRASKA LIVE | World Premiere
Director: Thom Zimny
Synopsis: Bruce Springsteen performs the songs from his 1982 album “Nebraska” for the first time ever in its entirety in an intimate soundstage setting. Shot in moody black-and-white, the film is directed by Springsteen’s longtime filmic collaborator Thom Zimny.
REBUILDING
Director: Max Walker-Silverman
Synopsis: Divorced and displaced Colorado rancher Dusty (Josh O’Connor) re-enters the lives of his ex-wife Ruby (Meghann Fahy) and young daughter when he loses his family ranch to a devastating wildfire.
RENTAL FAMILY
Director: HIKARI
Synopsis: Academy Award® winner Brendan Fraser plays an American actor in modern-day Tokyo hired by a “rental family” agency to serve as a stand-in for clients. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE
Director: Mona Fastvold
Synopsis: A bold colonial-era musical, THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE follows visionary Shaker leader Ann Lee as she builds a radical utopian faith in 18th century America. Amanda Seyfried stars as Lee in a career-defining role. Academy Award® winner Daniel Blumberg composed the score and original songs for the film.
TRAIN DREAMS
Director: Clint Bentley
Based on Denis Johnson’s beloved novella, Train Dreams is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly changing America of the early 20th Century. The film also stars Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy.
The full festival lineup for AFI FEST 2025 will be unveiled on September 30. Passes and 10-ticket bundles are now available at FEST.AFI.com. A pass alone does not grant entry to a screening, and passholders must reserve tickets in advance of the festival. Patron passholders will have priority access to screening selection on October 1 beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT. Star passholders will have early access to screening selection on October 2 beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT. Individual tickets will be available on October 6. Learn more at FEST.AFI.com.
Canva is the exclusive Presenting Sponsor of AFI FEST. FIJI Water is the festival’s Official Water Sponsor.
The festival will take place October 22–26 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in the heart of Hollywood and feature a curated selection of Red Carpet Premieres, Special Screenings, World Cinema, Documentaries and Short Films.
As previously announced, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will serve as the Guest Artistic Director for this year’s festival. SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, will open the festival on October 22, the World Premiere of THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS will screen on the afternoon of Sunday, October 26 and the World Premiere of SONG SUNG BLUE will close the festival on October 26.
Passes to AFI FEST 2025 are now available for purchase online at FEST.AFI.com. Festivalgoers have the opportunity to purchase a Star Pass or upgrade to a Patron Pass. The AFI FEST Star Pass is a five-day pass with access to all screenings (excluding Red Carpet Premieres), early screening selection before individual tickets go on sale, priority theater access, entry to the festival lounge, invitation to the festival mixer to mingle with filmmakers and guests, a complimentary AFI FEST tote and free Rush Line access to all screenings. The AFI FEST Patron Pass features all the benefits of the Star Pass plus two tickets to each of the star-studded Red Carpet Premieres held at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre and priority screening selection before Star passholders.
AFI FEST is 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®. AFI FEST is also a qualifying festival for consideration for the British Short Film categories of both the BAFTA Film Awards and the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
AFI is a nonprofit, donor-powered organization. Join AFI’s Premiere Circle to support the American Film Institute and enjoy access to exclusive one-of-a-kind opportunities at AFI events, including AFI FEST. To learn more, email Advancement@AFI.com.
Canva, the all-in-one visual communication and collaboration platform, returns as the exclusive Presenting Sponsor of AFI FEST 2025. Designed to empower entertainment professionals to visualize their ideas into impactful film and TV projects, Canva will be integrated throughout AFI FEST including hosting industry networking events, hands-on training workshops for filmmakers, and powering the festival’s digital and printed materials. Entertainment professionals can explore resources to pitch projects, plan shoots, and bring creative visions to life at canva.com/entertainment.