AFI DOCS Film Festival

"The nation’s leading documentary festival." –The Washington Post "The preeminent U.S. documentary festival." –Screen International "The premier showcase for documentary film." –The Hollywood Reporter Now in its 19th year, AFI DOCS will be held June 22-27, 2021. The festival program presents the very best of contemporary non-fiction filmmaking from across the globe, including world and international premieres and works by master and emerging filmmakers alike. The AFI Festivals team is committed to achieve the same high standard of programming and engagement that has defined AFI DOCS over the years, while planning a virtual and/or hybrid in-person festival experience for 2021. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, AFI DOCS presented a successful virtual event with over 55 films from 11 countries – 61% directed by women – with a lineup that explored social and political issues in the US and across the world. A national audience of 20,000 attended the festival safely from home. 2020 program highlights included Special Presentation of Apple and A24’s award-winning film BOYS STATE, Ron Howard’s REBUILDING PARADISE and world premieres of 9TO5: THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT, WHITE NOISE and MIRACLE FISHING. The virtual experience also included over 50 intimate conversations with subjects from around the world such as Philippine Journalist Maria Ressa, who was convicted by a Manila court days before A THOUSAND CUTS screened at the festival, to a live Q&A of THE FIGHT with the ACLU’s lawyers focused on protecting civil rights and a call from President Carter during the live Q&A for Closing Night film JIMMY CARTER ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT. Since its inception in 2003, the leading documentary storytellers of our day have embraced AFI DOCS as the place for nonfiction films to catalyze a national conversation. The AFI DOCS Advisory Board includes Ken Burns, Davis Guggenheim, Chris Hegedus, Werner Herzog, Rory Kennedy, Barbara Kopple, Spike Lee, Errol Morris, Stanley Nelson, and Frederick Wiseman. PROGRAM STRANDS: Feature Documentary Contemporary documentaries from around the world - more than 40 minutes long - that demonstrate a bold commitment to subject matter, excellence in cinematic craft, and innovation in storytelling. Short Documentary Contemporary documentaries from around the world - 40 minutes in length or less - that demonstrate a bold commitment to subject matter, excellence in cinematic craft, and innovation in storytelling. Episodic Documentary Series Thought-provoking and highly engaging documentary series that offer in-depth, original perspectives on history, contemporary issues or culture, with a sharply focused cinematic lens. To be considered, series must contain at least two episodes and must submit at least two episodes for consideration (or one episode if a two-part series).