Posted by Larry Gleeson
WORLD PREMIERE OF SONG SUNG BLUE TO CLOSE AFI FEST 2025 PRESENTED BY CANVA
PASSES NOW ON SALE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Los Angeles, CA, September 10, 2025 — Right this moment, the American Movie Institute (AFI) introduced that the World Premiere of Focus Options’ SONG SUNG BLUE, written and directed by Craig Brewer, will shut the thirty ninth version of AFI FEST introduced by Canva on Sunday, October 26.
Based mostly on a real story, the movie follows two down-on-their-luck musicians, performed by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, who type a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s by no means too late to search out love and comply with your desires. The movie is produced by John Davis (p.g.a.), John Fox (p.g.a.) and Craig Brewer (p.g.a.) and options Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Hudson Hensley, with Fisher Stevens, and Jim Belushi.
“AFI FEST is proud to shut our annual celebration of excellence and artistry with the World Premiere of SONG SUNG BLUE – a well timed movie about love and resilience – music and magic,” mentioned Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “Audiences will depart the theater chanting the chorus of “Candy Caroline” – so good, so good, so good!”
The competition will happen October 22–26 on the TCL Chinese language Theatres within the coronary heart of Hollywood and have a curated number of Pink Carpet Premieres, Particular Screenings, World Cinema, Documentaries and Quick Movies.
As beforehand introduced, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will function the Visitor Creative Director for this yr’s competition, and the competition will open with SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, starring Jeremy Allen White and written for the display screen and directed by Scott Cooper.
Passes to AFI FEST 2025 at the moment are accessible for buy on-line at FEST.AFI.com. Festivalgoers have the chance to buy a Star Move or improve to a Patron Move. The AFI FEST Star Move is a five-day move with entry to all screenings (excluding Pink Carpet Premieres), early screening choice earlier than particular person tickets go on sale, precedence theater entry, entry to the competition lounge, invitation to the competition mixer to mingle with filmmakers and visitors, a complimentary AFI FEST tote and free Rush Line entry to all screenings. The AFI FEST Patron Move options all the advantages of the Star Move plus two tickets to the entire star-studded Pink Carpet Premieres held on the historic TCL Chinese language Theatre and precedence screening choice earlier than Star passholders.
The complete competition lineup will probably be unveiled on September 30. Particular person tickets will probably be accessible on October 6.
AFI FEST is acknowledged by the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences as a qualifying competition for the Reside Motion, Animated and Documentary Quick Movie classes for the annual Academy Awards®. AFI FEST can be a qualifying competition for consideration for the British Quick Movie classes of each the BAFTA Movie Awards and the British Impartial Movie Awards (BIFA).
AFI is a nonprofit, donor-powered group. Be part of AFI’s Premiere Circle to help the American Movie Institute and revel in entry to unique one-of-a-kind alternatives at AFI occasions, together with AFI FEST. To be taught extra, e-mail Development@AFI.com.
Canva, the all-in-one visible communication and collaboration platform, returns because the unique Presenting Sponsor of AFI FEST 2025. Designed to empower leisure professionals to visualise their concepts into impactful movie and TV initiatives, Canva will probably be built-in all through AFI FEST together with internet hosting trade networking occasions, hands-on coaching workshops for filmmakers, and powering the competition’s digital and printed supplies. Leisure professionals can discover sources to pitch initiatives, plan shoots, and convey inventive visions to life at canva.com/leisure.
In regards to the American Movie Institute (AFI)
The American Movie Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit group with a mandate to champion the transferring picture as an artwork type. Established in 1967, AFI launched the primary complete historical past of American movie and sparked the motion for movie preservation in the US. In 1969, AFI opened the doorways of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to coach narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked as one of many high movie faculties in America. AFI’s enduring traditions embrace the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the take a look at of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the inventive ensembles of probably the most excellent display screen tales of the yr; and scholarly efforts such because the AFI Catalog of Function Movies and the AFI Archive that protect movie historical past for future generations. AFI exhibition applications embrace AFI FEST Offered by Canva and year-round exhibition on the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Middle in Maryland. AFI Film Membership is a vacation spot for film lovers from world wide to have fun and interact with the artwork type day-after-day. Different pioneering applications embrace workshops geared toward elevating rising storytellers and know-how, together with AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Examine all of those applications and extra at AFI.com and comply with us on social media at Fb.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.
About AFI FEST
Now in its thirty ninth yr, AFI FEST is a world-class occasion, showcasing the very best movies from throughout the globe. This yr’s version takes place in Los Angeles from October 22-26, 2025. With an progressive slate of programming, the five-day competition presents screenings, panels and conversations, that includes each grasp filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST consists of high-profile movies with Q&As that includes the movies’ forged and crew and a sturdy lineup of fiction and nonfiction options and shorts, offering a one-of-a-kind expertise for film followers. Further info is obtainable at FEST.AFI.com. Join with AFI’s movie competition at Fb.com/AFIFEST, Twitter.com/AFIFEST, Instagram/AmericanFilmInstitute, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute and YouTube.com/AFI.
About Canva
Launched in 2013, Canva is the world’s main all-in-one platform for visible communication and collaboration. Constructed to empower everybody to design, the corporate serves the inventive and design wants of enterprises, small companies, customers, and college students in additional than 190 international locations worldwide. Whether or not you’re a novice taking your first steps in design, or a inventive skilled searching for highly effective instruments, Canva ensures customers have what they should rework an thought into one thing lovely. Underpinned by the world’s most complete library of designer-made content material, Canva is powered by a set of merchandise and proprietary AI instruments which elevate how people and groups create, collaborate, and talk with ease.
Press contact:
American Movie Institute: Shari Mesulam, shari@themesulamgroup.com
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