AFI FEST 2014 presented by Audi, a program of the American Film Institute, announced today the films that will be featured in the New Auteurs, Shorts and American Independents sections at this year’s festival.

The New Auteurs and Shorts sections both showcase filmmakers from around the world; the New Auteurs section highlights first and second-time feature film directors and the Shorts selections represent diverse and varied international perspectives. The Shorts program this year features a full program of animated films in addition to a program of midnight shorts. Both sections are juried and are available for the Grand Jury Awards.  This year’s New Auteurs jury features Alonso Duralde (The Wrap), Tim Grierson (Screen International), Eric Kohn (IndieWire) and Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood).  The Shorts jury features Kahlil Joseph (filmmaker), Sara Murphy (producer), Mike Ott (filmmaker), Matthew Takata (Sundance Institute) and Brian Udovich (producer).

“These sections are where you will see some of the most exciting movies from around the world from filmmakers who take risks,” said Lane Kneedler, Associate Director of Programming of AFI FEST.  “Our competition this year could not be finer with debuts from countries all over the globe including Vietnam, Ukraine, Korea and the Ivory Coast.  These extraordinary filmmakers are making their mark on modern cinema with their genuinely distinctive voices."

The American Independents section represents the best of independent filmmaking this year.  Pushing boundaries with form and content across both narrative and documentary cinema, these films feature fresh voices, as well as filmmakers returning to AFI FEST with their latest work.

”We hope that the audience goes on a journey of discovery at the festival and experiences the creative visions of the talented and audacious filmmakers in our New Auteurs, American Independents and Shorts sections,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, Director, AFI FEST, “These sections are not curated to focus on premiere status, but rather, to showcase the best new films and filmmakers of the year.”

Free individual tickets to AFI FEST screenings and Galas will be available to the general public online at AFI.com beginning Friday, October 24, but only the Cinepass Express pass will provide priority entry to all regular screenings including the New Auteurs, Shorts and American Independents selections, as well as access into the Cinema Lounge.  These and other AFI FEST Passes are on sale now at AFI.com/AFIFEST, and AFI Members receive special discounts.  The American Film Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and cultural organization, and Patron Packages are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

AFI FEST will take place November 6 through 13 in Hollywood, CA, at the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.  As previously announced, the Opening Night Gala will be the World Premiere of A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (DIR J.C. Chandor) on Thursday, November 6; INHERENT VICE (DIR Paul Thomas Anderson) will be the Centerpiece Gala on Saturday, November 8; the World Premiere of THE GAMBLER (DIR Rupert Wyatt) will be the Centerpiece Gala on Monday, November 10; Sophia Loren will be honored with a special Tribute on Wednesday, November 12; and FOXCATCHER (DIR Bennett Miller) will be the Closing Night Gala on Thursday, November 13.  The full festival lineup will be unveiled later this month.

For the 11th year, Audi is the festival’s presenting sponsor.  Additional top sponsors include AT&T, Coca-Cola, VIZIO, American Airlines (the official airline of AFI), Dunkin’ Donuts, Netflix and Stella Artois.  The festival’s venue sponsors include the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatres, the Hollywood & Highland Center, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Egyptian Theatre.

NEW AUTEURS SELECTIONS (10 titles)

ALIVE (SANDA) - A poor mountain laborer finds himself caught between harrowing dramas playing out at work and at home.  DIR Park Jungbum.  SCR Park Jungbum.  CAST Park Jungbum, Lee Seungyeon, Park Myunghoon, Shin Heatbit.  South Korea. US Premiere

BLIND - A recently blinded woman handles the loss of her sight by writing stories about the world she’s beginning to forget.  DIR Eskil Vogt.  SCR Eskil Vogt.  CAST Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Vera Vitali, Marius Kolbenstvedt.  Norway, Netherlands.

FLAPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (ÐAP CÁNH GIUA KHÔNG TRUNG)- When Huyen dabbles in prostitution to earn money for an abortion, she meets a mysterious client who takes a tender yet obsessive interest in her pregnancy.  DIR Nguyen Hoang Diep.  SCR Nguyen Hoang Diep.  CAST Nguyen Thuy Anh, Tran Bao Son, Hoang Ha, Pham Tran Thanh Duy.  Vietnam, France, Norway, Germany. US Premiere.

GÜEROS - In this playfully energetic debut, three young pranksters embark on a road trip adventure to pay their last respects to their musical hero.  DIR Alonso Ruizpalacios.  SCR Alonso Ruizpalacios & Gibrán Portela.  CAST Tenoch Huerta, Sebastián Aguirre, Ilse Salas, Leonardo Ortizgris.  Mexico.

RUN - This West African mystic fable follows a young man’s trajectory from rainmaker-in-training to fugitive political assassin.  DIR Philippe Lacôte.  SCR Philippe Lacôte.  CAST Abdoul Karim Konaté, Isaach de Bankolé, Reine Sali Coulibaly.  Ivory Coast, France.

SELF MADE (BOREG) - When two young women – one Palestinian and one Israeli – cross paths at a border checkpoint, they experience a magical identity exchange.  DIR Shira Geffen.  SCR Shira Geffen.  CAST Sarah Adler, Samira Saraya.  Israel.

THE TRIBE (PLEMYA) - This daring film, acted entirely in sign language without the aid of subtitles or voiceover, follows a new student at a corrupt Ukrainian school for the deaf.  DIR Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy.  SCR Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy.  CAST Grigoriy Fesenko, Yana Novikova.  Ukraine.

VIKTORIA - Young Viktoria, born without an umbilical cord, is exalted as Bulgaria’s “Child of the Future.” But when the Communist Party falls, she faces a crisis.  DIR Maya Vitkova.  SCR Maya Vitkova.  CAST Irmena Chichikova, Daria Vitkova, Kalina Vitkova, Mariana Krumova, Dimo Dimov, Georgi Spasov.  Bulgaria.

VIOLET - In this visually stunning debut, teen Jesse must readjust to the world and cope with grief after witnessing his friend’s murder at a local shopping mall.  DIR Bas Devos.  SCR Bas Devos.  CAST César De Sutter, Raf Walschaerts, Mira Helmer, Brent Minne.  Netherlands, Belgium. North American Premiere.

THE WONDERS (LE MERAVIGLIE) - When a television competition comes to the Italian countryside, farmer’s daughter Gelsomina sees a way to assert her independence in this mesmerizing tale.  DIR Alice Rohrwacher.  SCR Alice Rohrwacher.  CAST Alexandra Lungu, Sam Louwyck, Alba Rohrwacher, Sabine Timoteo, Monica Bellucci.  Italy, Switzerland, Germany.

SHORTS SELECTIONS (45 titles)

8 BULLETS (8 BALLES) - A grief-stricken expat hunts the man he believes is responsible for killing his family in this mixed-media fever dream.  DIR Frank Ternier.  SCR Frank Ternier.  France.

130919 • A PORTRAIT OF MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ - This one-take 3D film majestically documents legendary performance artist Marina Abramović in a manner befitting her art.  DIR Matthu Placek.  SCR Matthu Placek.  CAST Marina Abramović.  USA.

AFRONAUTS - Inspired by true events, It's July 16, 1969: America is preparing to launch Apollo 11. Thousands of miles away, the Zambia Space Academy hopes to beat them to the moon.  DIR Frances Bodomo.  SCR Frances Bodomo.  CAST Diandra Forrest, Yolonda Ross, Hoji Fortuna.  USA.

BATH HOUSE (SIMHALL) - The mice are going after the bath house safe in this droll stop-motion puppet short.  DIR Niki Lindroth von Bahr.  SCR Niki Lindroth von Bahr & Jerker Virdborg.  Sweden.

BUFFALO JUGGALOS - There is a secret land in upstate New York, where the Juggalos roam free...  DIR Scott Cummings.  SCR Scott Cummings.  USA.

THE CHAPERONE 3D - More than 10,000 drawings intersect with a series of animation techniques to tell the true story of a lone teacher's stand against a motorcycle gang in the 1970s.  DIR Fraser Munden.  SCR Fraser Munden & Neil Rathbone.  CAST Ralph Whims, Stefan Czernatowicz.  Canada.

CHILDREN'S SONG - Children sing a song.  DIR David O'Reilly.  USA.

THE CUT (LA COUPE) - A father and daughter fluctuate between proximity and detachment during the course a haircut.  DIR Geneviève Dulude-De Celles.  SCR Geneviève Dulude-De Celles.  CAST Milya Corbeil-Gauvreau, Alain Houle.  Canada.

DAY 40 - Sinister forces take hold in the untold sordid story of what really happened on Noah's Ark.  DIR Sol Friedman.  SCR Evan Morgan.  CAST John Boylan, Rowie Spodek.  Canada.

THE DIGGERS - These are the grave diggers. This is their day.  DIR Robert Machoian & Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck.  USA.

THE DRAGON IS THE FRAME - This experimental detective film explores the enigma of depression and its subtle interplay between presence and absence.  DIR Mary Helena Clark.  USA.

EXCHANGE AND MART - An unorthodox self-defense class at a remote Scottish boarding school yields unusual results.  DIR Cara Connolly & Martin Clark.  SCR Cara Connolly.  CAST Ewen Bremner, Grace Chilton.  United Kingdom.

FUNNEL - A man's car breaks down and sends him on a quest across town that slowly turns into the most fantastically mundane adventure.  DIR Andre Hyland.  SCR Andre Hyland.  CAST Andre Hyland.  USA.

GARY HAS AN AIDS SCARE - Gary might have a bit of a problem...  DIR Joe Callander.  USA.

HACKED CIRCUIT - This circular study of the Foley process portrays sound artists at work constructing complex layers of fabrication and imposition.  DIR Deborah Stratman.  USA.

THE HAIRCUT - In 1976, Amy defies expectations and joins the first class of female cadets accepted for military service. She'll have to prove to all that she has what it takes.  DIR Alexis O. Korycinski.  SCR Julia Cox.  CAST Bailey Noble, Molly Quinn, David Starzyk, Walter Fauntleroy, Chad Michael Collins.  USA.

HAZE - A well-intentioned young man struggles to explain last night.  DIR Chloe Domont.  SCR Chloe Domont.  CAST Casey Drogin, Hannah Gross.  USA.

HERE I AM...THERE YOU ARE... - When a married couple’s foreplay veers into domination, reality is stronger than the imagination.  DIR Dikla Jika Elkaslassy.  SCR Dikla Jika Elkaslassy.  CAST Ohad Knoller.  Israel.

HOLE - A fearless portrait of a disabled man in search of intimacy.  DIR Martin Edralin.  SCR Martin Edralin.  CAST Ken Harrower, Sebastian Deery, April Lee.  Canada.

HUMAN VOICE (VOCE UMANA) - Sophia Loren stars in this spirited adaptation of Jean Cocteau's one-woman play.  DIR Edoardo Ponti.  SCR Erri De Luca & Edoardo Ponti.  CAST Sophia Loren, Virginia Da Brescia, Enrico LoVerso.  Italy.

LIGHT - After suffering a devastating loss, a Lebanese man is challenged by a mother's request.  DIR Yassmina Karajah.  SCR Yassmina Karajah.  CAST Ahmed Muslimani, Soad Karim, Timothy J O'Leary.  Canada, Lebanon.

MAN ON THE CHAIR (L'HOMME SUR SA CHAISE) - Does the man on the chair exist?  DIR Dahee Jeong.  SCR Dahee Jeong.  France, South Korea.

MASTER MUSCLES - Veronica and Efren take an explosive road trip through a strange America.  DIR Efrén Hernández.  SCR Efrén Hernández.  CAST Jehina Malik, Efrén Hernández.  USA.

MI NINA MI VIDA - The bustling crowds and noisy rides of the amusement park won't be enough to make Jack smile today.  DIR Yan Giroux.  SCR Yan Giroux.  CAST Joël Henriques.  Canada.

MIGRATION - Observe the migration patterns of a most unusual herd.  DIR Fluorescent Hill.  SCR Mark Lomond.  Canada.

NDA - Man enacts legal fantasy.  DIR David O'Reilly.  USA.

THE OBVIOUS CHILD - Somebody broke the girl's parents. The rabbit was there when it happened. It was an awful mess.  DIR Stephen Irwin.  SCR Stephen Irwin.  CAST Ron Masa.  United Kingdom.

ONE YEAR LEASE - Brian and Thomas document one year's worth of their communication from their landlady, who has an itchy speed-dial finger and much to say.  DIR Brian Bolster.  CAST Brian Bolster, Thomas Harrington.  USA.

PERSON TO PERSON - A stranger passed out on his floor after last night's party. Now she won't leave. At least it will make a good story.  DIR Dustin Guy Defa.  SCR Dustin Guy Defa.  CAST Bene Coopersmith, Deragh Campbell.  USA.

THE PRESENT - An Eastern ghost story with haunting implications.  DIR Joe Hsieh.  SCR Joe Hsieh & Ching-Chwang Ho.  CAST Yu-Jane Liu, Pi-Li Yeh, Ming-Shiou Tsai.  Taiwan.

RABBITLAND - Those brainless rabbits are completely fulfilled. Why should their votes matter?  DIR Ana Nedeljkovic & Nikola Majdak Jr.  SCR Ana Nedeljkovic.  CAST Masa Mileusnic.  Serbia.

RAT PACK RAT - Even Sammy Davis Jr. impersonators have it tough.  DIR Todd Rohal.  SCR Todd Rohal.  CAST Steve Little, Eddie Rouse, Margie Beegle.  USA.

SEND - The Internet can be a dangerous place for teenage girls.  DIR Peter Vack.  SCR Peter Vack.  CAST Julia Garner, Jake Cannavale.  USA.

SHIPWRECK - A tour de force rumination on the terrible tragedy that befell a boat carrying 500 Ethiopian refugees on October 3, 2013.  DIR Morgan Knibbe.  SCR Morgan Knibbe.  Netherlands.

SILENT - A magical contraption brings the history of the movies to life!  DIR Brandon Oldenburg & Limbert Fabian.  SCR Limbert Fabian & Brandon Oldenburg.  USA.

SLAP - A teenage boxer comes to terms with his true self.  DIR Nick Rowland.  CAST Joe Cole, Elliott Tittensor, Skye Lourie, Stephen Bent.  United Kingdom.

SLEEPING GIANT - The chaotic nature of boys is captured in this lyrical coming-of-age journey.  DIR Andrew Cividino.  SCR Andrew Cividino.  CAST Isaac Wiebe, Nick Serino, Reece Moffett, Zoey Sawdo.  Canada.

SLUT - A young girl with love in her heart unwittingly attracts the attention of a murderous sociopath.  DIR Chloe Okuno.  SCR Chloe Okuno.  CAST Molly McIntyre, James Gallo, Sally Kirkland, Kasia Pilewicz, Cody Beverstock.  USA.

SOUND THAT - A few minutes spent looking for leaks in the infrastructure with the employees of the Cleveland Water Department.  DIR Kevin Jerome Everson.  SCR Kevin Jerome Everson.  CAST Kaulee Miller, Mark Pottinger, Terrance Martin.  USA.

WASHINGTONIA - The Washingtonia is the only palm tree whose heart is not devoured by the red beetle, because its heart is small and dry and no one likes small, dry hearts.  DIR Konstantina Kotzamani.  SCR Konstantina Kotzamani.  CAST Mamadu Dialo.  Greece.

WHITE MORNING - The violent little boys become violent little men.  DIR Paul Barritt.  SCR Paul Barritt.  United Kingdom

WRONG NUMBER - Girl can't throw up.  DIR David O'Reilly.  USA.

YEARBOOK - A man is hired to compile the definitive history of human existence before Earth blows up.  DIR Bernardo Britto.  SCR Bernardo Britto.  USA.

YES WE LOVE (JA VI ELSKER) - Four generations, each in crisis on Norwegian Independence Day.  DIR Hallvar Witzø.  SCR Hallvar Witzø.  CAST Edvard Hægstad, Terje Ranes, Hanne Skille Reitan, Johan Fredrik Bergflødt-Johannessen.  Norway.

YOUNG LIONS OF GYPSY (A CIAMBRA) - Over the course of one long night, a young Romani boy grows up.  DIR Jonas Carpignano.  SCR Jonas Carpignano.  Italy, France.

AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS (8 titles)

10,000 KM - Alexandra and Sergi’s deeply passionate relationship is tested when it becomes long distance, with computer technology their only medium for communication.  DIR Carlos Marques-Marcet.  SCR Clara Roquet & Carlos Marques-Marcet.  CAST Natalia Tena, David Verdaguer.  Spain, USA.   

BUZZARD - Slacker temp-worker Marty goes into hiding following a slew of self-designed scams in this acidic dark comedy from AFI FEST alum Joel Potrykus.  DIR Joel Potrykus.  SCR Joel Potrykus.  CAST Joshua Burge, Joel Potrykus.  USA.   

FAULTS - A washed-up expert on mind control accepts an offer to kidnap a young woman from a cult in this assured indie thriller.  DIR Riley Stearns.  SCR Riley Stearns.  CAST Leland Orser, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Beth Grant, Chris Ellis, Lance Reddick, John Gries.  USA.  

FELT - Amy, haunted by a recent trauma, plunges into the world of her art to create an alter ego as a coping mechanism.  DIR Jason Banker.  SCR Jason Banker & Amy Everson.  CAST Amy Everson, Kentucker Audley, Roxanne Knouse, Alanna Reynolds.  USA.  

HAPPY VALLEY - The Penn State child sex-abuse scandal, and subsequent downfall of local heroes Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky, is examined in this insightful documentary. DIR Amir Bar-Lev.  USA.

HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT - The Safdie brothers’ third narrative feature explores the lives of three heroin junkies living on the streets of New York City.  DIR Benny Safdie & Josh Safdie.  SCR Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie.  CAST Arielle Holmes, Caleb Landry Jones, Buddy Duress, Necro.  USA.      

THOU WAST MILD & LOVELY - In this psychosexual drama, a young farm worker’s attraction to his boss’s daughter unearths dark secrets.  DIR Josephine Decker.  SCR Josephine Decker & David Barker.  CAST Joe Swanberg, Sophie Traub, Robert Longstreet, Kristin Slaysman, Geoff Marslett.  USA.

THE VANQUISHING OF THE WITCH BABA YAGA - This essay film finds a fertile metaphor for Eastern Europe’s changing relationship with the natural world in the Slavic folktale of witch Baba Yaga.  DIR Jessica Oreck.  SCR Jessica Oreck.  USA, Ukraine, Russia, Poland.

About the American Film Institute

AFI is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers.  AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film; AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year;AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI FEST presented by Audi,AFI DOCS and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world-renowned AFI Conservatory.  For more information about AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilm, facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute and youtube.com/AFI.