Oscar-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino is set to appear at AFI FEST 2026 this October for a special event featuring his 2019 film, “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” The American Film Institute announced Tuesday that Tarantino will participate in a discussion following a screening of the movie.
The event, titled “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood With Quentin Tarantino,” is scheduled for October 23. It will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre, the same Hollywood venue where the film originally held its U.S. premiere in 2019. The screening is timed to precede the release of director David Fincher’s upcoming film, “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,” which will revisit the character portrayed by Brad Pitt in Tarantino’s original work.
Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO, stated the organization is "proud to celebrate where it all began" with Tarantino, as the world anticipates Fincher's upcoming film. Gazzale added that celebrating with “one of the greatest storytellers of our generation is a gift to all who love the movies.”
The 40th edition of AFI FEST is slated to run from October 21-25, exclusively at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. Organizers said the festival will showcase a substantial lineup of 158 films, representing 50 different countries from around the globe.
The festival’s program includes a diverse array of categories, such as six red carpet premieres, 12 special screenings, 13 Luminaries selections, 18 Discovery titles, 16 World Cinema selections, and 17 documentaries. Additionally, there will be three After Dark films, four Guest Artistic Director presentations, 45 films competing in the Short Film Competition, and 24 films from the AFI Conservatory Showcase. Organizers highlighted that 45% of the festival’s official selections were directed by women, and 32% were directed by filmmakers who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color.
Among the films presented are 12 official submissions vying for the best international feature film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The festival is set to open on October 21 with the U.S. premiere of “Wildwood,” and will conclude on October 25 with a screening of “Being Heumann.” Other red carpet premieres scheduled during the festival include “The Mosquito Bowl,” “I Play Rocky,” and “Ray Gunn.”
Oscar-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller have been named as guest artistic directors for the festival. Their curated program will feature a conversation with the filmmakers, followed by a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic 1968 film, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Additional screenings chosen for the guest artistic director program include “Harold and Maude,” “The Muppet Movie,” and “Rififi.”
AFI FEST is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival, specifically for the live-action, animated, and documentary short film categories. Individual tickets and festival passes are available for those interested in attending.