AFI FEST 2004 Announces Six Galas and a Tribute to Pedro Almodóvar!

Los Angeles' longest-running film festival opens on November 4, 2004, with the US Premiere of BEYOND THE SEA, directed by and starring Kevin Spacey. The Centerpiece Gala will be THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Michael Radford. The Festival's Closing Night Gala on November 14, 2004, will be the US Premiere of THE SEA INSIDE, directed by Alejandro Amenábar. The other Gala Presentations are HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, directed by Zhang Yimou, and the North American Premiere of A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

AFI FEST 2004 also announced a Tribute and Retrospective of Academy Award®-winning and internationally acclaimed filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. As part of the Tribute, AFI FEST 2004 will include a Gala Presentation of BAD EDUCATION.

THE FESTIVAL Now in it's 18th year as a program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST spans 10 days each November, featuring international competitions of brand new films from emerging filmmakers, global showcases of the latest work from the great film masters and nightly red-carpet gala premieres. AFI FEST annually presents an international competition of features, documentaries and shorts as well as ambitious global cinema showcases, including Asian New Classics, European Film Showcase, Latin Cinema Series and American Directions. Also returning are the popular Made in Germany series and the Filmmaker Tribute and Retrospective.

Films such as MONSTER; HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG; OSAMA; TALK TO HER; CITY OF GOD; DARK WATER; NOWHERE IN AFRICA; THE QUIET AMERICAN; NO MAN'S LAND; MONSTER'S BALL; LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL; THE CIDER HOUSE RULES; BEFORE NIGHT FALLS; O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? and AMORES PERROS have all premiered at AFI FEST.

Beginning this year, AFI FEST 2004 (November 4 - 14) and the 2004 American Film Market (November 3 - 10) will join forces in marketing, sponsorship, scheduling and a variety of other initiatives. While each event will continue to be managed separately, the collaboration will result in a unified market and festival, combining commerce and culture. For more information on each event, please visit www.AFI.com/AFIFEST or http://www.ifta-online.org/afm/home.asp.