Every fall, AFI Fest presents a survey of the year’s most significant films. Running October 30th through November 7th in locations throughout Los Angeles, the festival features international work from emerging filmmakers, global showcases of films from the great masters, and red-carpet gala premieres. Since its inception in 2000, AFI Fest has tripled in size to over 65,000 attendees, offering greater opportunities and exposure to filmmakers and attendees alike.

This year’s AFI Fest features numerous films garnering significant buzz. It opens with Wes Anderson’s first animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox, and continues with Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Werner Herzog. Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus makes an appearance, as does Jonathan Demme’s Neil Young Trunk Show and Miguel Arteta’s Youth in Revolt. AFI Fest offers a terrific opportunity to view a number of films on the cusp of recognition from the wide-ranging auteurs of modern cinema. See what else is showing at AFI Fest on its schedule page.

Other festivals starting this week include:

Palestinian Film Festival Australia (Oct 29-Nov 15)

Festivals starting next week include:

Rivers’ Edge International Film Festival (Nov 5-8): Celebrating its 5th year, Rivers’ Edge is a four-day event built around a showcase of quality independent films from around the world. Located in the arts-oriented river town of Paducah, Kentucky, the festival’s focus is on both the film lover–providing multiple venues in which to experience the best world cinema has to offer–and the filmmaker, offering opportunities for exhibition, education, and networking with contemporaries. Paducah already has a burgeoning arts scene, and Rivers’ Edge fits right in to this emerging cultural hub.

Arizona Underground Film Festival (Nov 2-7)

Boston Jewish Film Festival (Nov 4-15)

San Francisco Latino Film Festival (Nov 5-25)

Rockport Film Festival (Nov 5-8)

Dallas Video Festival (Nov 5-8)

South Alabama Film Festival (Nov 6-8)