AFI Fest 15 movies worth watching - part 1

DAY 1

[1]

WHEN

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026
6:40 PM - 8:25 PM PDT

WHAT

SUMO: SPIRIT WEIGHS NOTHING

Follows four professional sumo wrestlers in various career stages.

WHO

Erik Shirai is a Japanese-American filmmaker. His debut, won Special Jury Mention for Best Documentary Director at Tribeca 2015 and Best Documentary at Palm Springs 2016. He has also won Best Documentary Short in Santa Barbara 2023.

WHERE

TCL Chinese Theater

WHY

Produced by ESPN Films. This film reviewer is a former high school wrestler who wants to see this Japanese tradition from the filmmaker's point of view. The film looks to have heart, resilience, and interdependent themes.

HOW

AFI Fest
>screening
>live Q&A

-

[2]

WHEN

Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026
9:10 PM - 11:15 PM PDT

WHAT

THE FACE OF HORROR

WHO

Anna Biller is a writer-director of female led films. She has a BA in art from UCLA and MFA in art and film from CalArts. She directed VIVA (AFI FEST 2007) and THE LOVE WITCH (2016), which won the Trailblazer Award and Best Costume Design at the Chicago Indie Critics Awards.

WHERE

TCL Chinese Theater

WHY

I am curious to see what the filmmaker's logline represents for men in general.

HOW

AFI Fest
>screening
>live Q&A

-

DAY 2

[3]

WHEN

Thursday, Oct 22, 2026
12:00 PM - 2:42 PM PDT

WHAT

WE ARE ALL STRANGERS

WHO

Anthony Chen is a writer-director-producer. His debut feature film, won the Camera d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, making him the first Singaporean to receive an award at the festival.

WHERE

TCL Chinese Theater

WHY

Singapore’s Oscar® submission for Best International Feature. Unexpected news arrives, setting the ensemble where dreams become "responsibilities and the promise of a better future is tested by the crushing reality of economic survival."

HOW

AFI Fest
>screening

-

[4]

WHEN

Thursday, Oct 22, 2026
2:45 PM - 4:57 PM PDT

WHAT

YELLOW LETTERS

WHO

İlker Çatak is a writer-director. His graduation short won the Student Academy Award® (Gold) for Best International Short Film. He has won the Golden Bear at the 2026 Berlin Film Festival, and been nominated for the Academy Award® for Best International Feature Film in 2024.

WHERE

TCL Chinese Theater

WHY

This film questions art in the face of authoritarianism. There are struggles against political oppression. There are stands made with political activism by theater students.

HOW

AFI Fest
>screening

-

[5]

WHEN

Thursday, Oct 22, 2026
6:30 PM - 8:41 PM PDT

WHAT

BUNKER

WHO

Florian Zeller is writer-director-producer. His first film won two Oscars® in 2021 for Best Actor and Best Adapted screenplay. His second film adaptation premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2022. Zeller has written over 10 plays, which have earned him the Olivier Awards, Tony Awards® and Molière Awards.

WHERE

TCL Chinese Theater

WHY

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem star in this marriage thriller. Story about an architect and publishing editor who are invited to build a bunker for a billionaire. Patrick Schwarzeneggar lands a book tour in the movie. This film piques my interest levels based on prior and current career choices.

HOW

AFI Fest
>screening
>live Q&A

-

[6]

WHEN

Thursday, Oct 22, 2026
9:30 PM - 11:09 PM PDT

WHAT

DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID (FEMME DE CHAMBRE)

WHO

Radu Jude is a writer-director. His films have won at Cannes Film Festival 2014, and Sundance Film Festival 2006/2009.

WHERE

TCL Chinese Theater

WHY

The film is about an upper-class family and an immigrant servant who seeks new status.

HOW

AFI Fest
>screening
>live Q&A