American Film Institute (AFI) announced that the U.S. Premiere of LAIKA Studios’ WILDWOOD will open the 40th edition of AFI FEST presented by Canva on Wednesday, October 21.
Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO, said:
AFI is honored to celebrate WILDWOOD as the Opening Night Film of the 40th Annual AFI FEST.
At a time when the world needs artistic inspiration more than ever, WILDWOOD comes to the rescue by inviting audiences to a hand-crafted, endlessly imaginative world that both dazzles and delights.
The epic stop-motion fantasy is directed and produced by Academy Award® nominee Travis Knight, written by Academy Award® nominee Chris Butler, based on the novel by Colin Meloy and features cinematography by Academy Award® nominee Caleb Deschanel (AFI Class of 1969). The voice cast is led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay, alongside Academy Award®nominee Carey Mulligan, Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali, Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award® winner Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Academy Award® nominee Richard E. Grant.