Pedro Almodovar will succeed David Lynch as Guest Artistic Director of AFI Fest 2001, the festival announced on Monday.
The Spanish director, writer and provocateur, whose new film "The Skin I Live In" will be released on Sony Pictures Classics on October 14, will present a 25th anniversary screening of his 1986 film "Laws of Desire," as well as curating a sidebar of what he said will be "a selection of some of my favorite films."
The AFI Fest, which is presented by Audi, is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The festival will take place from November 3 through November 10 at the Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 multiplex, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, all in Hollywood.
Previous Almodovar films featured at the AFI Fest over the years include "Volver," "Bad Education," "Broken Embraces" "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" and the Oscar winners "All About My Mother" (Best Foreign-Language Film) and "Talk to Her" (Best Original Screenplay for Almodovar).
David Lynch served as Guest Artistic Director at the AFI Fest 2010, the first time the festival named anyone to that position.
AFI Fest programming announcements will be made over the next two months. The festival traditionally books a wide variety of international films, as well as a full slate of gala presentations, screenings and tributes with films expected to figure in the year's Oscar race.
(Photo by Jose Haro/El Deseo; courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics)
