AFI Fest 2018 was already looking brighter than 2017 with world premieres of “On the Basis of Sex” and “Mary, Queen of Scots” on deck. Now, with the festival under a month away, AFI is announcing more of its trademark galas that include even more debut screenings. What a difference a year makes.
Susanne Brier’s “Bird Box” starring Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, Sarah Paulson and John Malkovich will have its world premiere on Monday, Nov. 12. In a release, AFI described the thriller as the following: “When a mysterious force decimates the world’s population, only one thing is certain: if you see it, you take your life. Facing the unknown, Malorie (Bullock) finds love, hope and a new beginning only for it to unravel. Now she must flee with her two children down a treacherous river to the one place left that may offer sanctuary. But to survive, they’ll have to undertake the perilous two-day journey blindfolded.” Much like “Bright” a year ago, “Bird Box” will launch on Netflix on Dec. 21, just in time for the holidays.
Another Netflix production, Chuck Lorre’s “The Kominsky Method,” will premiere on Saturday, Nov. 10. The eight-episode series starring Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin will screen its first three episodes. Douglas plays the once famous actor Sandy Kosinsky and Arkin portrays his agent, Norman Newlander. The show centers on “two friends tackling life’s inevitable curveballs as they navigate their later years in Los Angeles, a city that values youth and beauty.” It’s scheduled to launch on the streaming service on Nov. 16.
Three other announced galas include Steve McQueen’s “Widows” on Wednesday, Nov. 14 (the defacto LA premiere as it opens two days later), the Coen Brothers’ “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” on Sunday, Nov. 11 and Peter Farrelly’s “Green Book” on Friday, Nov. 9.
All the announced galas will be held at the TCI Chinese Theater or, as it’s more commonly known, Graumann’s Chinese Theater.
The 2018 edition of AFI Fest runs Nov. 8-15, 2018.