The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced the films to screen in and out of competition during this year’s AFI Fest, taking place Oct. 30 through Nov. 9 in Hollywood, Calif. Among the animated selection are Bill Plympton’s new feature, Idiots and Angels, as well as his latest short, Hot Dog. Both are listed in the Special Screenings program, while the much talked about animated documentary Waltz with Bashir from Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman will screen in the World Cinema showcase.
AFI will also feature a selection of animated shorts in its Adults Only Cartoon Show. Films incude Veronique Courtois’s A Day at the Beach, Clemens Kogler’s CUTECUTECUTE, Mike Roush’s The Hidden Life of the Burrowing Owl, Melanie Mandl’s Run, Marie-Jos’e Saint-Pierre’s Passages, Ben Slotover’s Shhh, Evelyn Lee’s Kanizsa Hill and Signe Baumane’s Teat Beat of Sex episodes 8, 9, 10, and 11.
Making its world premiere at the fest is Playing Columbine, a documentary about the controversy raised by Super Columbine Massacre RPG!, a video game that allows players to reenact the Columbine High School massacre. The interactive title was slammed in the press, opening a wave of anti-gaming repercussions. Filmmaker Danny Ledonne explores aspects of the gaming culture, free speech and the media’s role in fanning the flames.
To see the full rundown of films at the 2008 AFI Fest, go to www.afi.com/onscreen/afifest/2008.
