The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced the dates for AFI Fest 2024. The 38th edition of the Institute’s annual festival will take place October 23–27 exclusively in person at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in the heart of Hollywood. The five-day festival will once again include a curated selection of Red Carpet Premiere screenings, Special Screenings, World Cinema, Documentaries and Short Films.

“With awards season in full bloom, AFI is also looking to the future and this fall’s AFI FEST,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO.  “So as last year’s films take a well-deserved bow, mark your calendars now to experience the very best of what lies ahead.”

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).

Entries for the AFI Fest 2024 Short Film Competition program open today (1/17). Short films that have been completed after October 1, 2023, are eligible for submission to AFI Fest 2024. Filmmakers are invited to submit fiction, documentary and animated short films. 

Submission dates for shorts

• Early Deadline – Friday, March 1, 2024
• Official Deadline – Friday, April 12, 2024
• Final Deadline – Friday, May 31, 2024

Learn more about submitting to AFI Fest here.