AFI Fest Diary: The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance

Tonight, AFI Fest kicks off in Hollywood with the premiere of J.C. Chandor's much anticipated A Most Violent Year.  When I went down to the Roosevelt Hotel this morning to grab my press badge in anticipation of tomorrow's slate of movies, the red carpet was already being set up, complete with an Audi SUV of some sort on prominent display.  Anytime you see something advertising AFI Fest, you will know that Audi is sponsoring the event.  This blog post is probably brought to you by Audi.  Who knows?

Legions of lucky film-goers will bask in being among the first to see A Most Violent Year tonight.  The recent news that Christopher Nolan is prohibiting Jessica Chastain from campaigning for the film this awards season (she instead has to focus her power on Interstellar) gives the movie an extra bit of last-minute buzz.  Twitter will be alight around 8:30 or so, about the time I'll be getting ready to head to a showing of Big Hero 6.

Yes, AFI Fest is my first film festival - not just as a member of the press, but ever.  As such, I'm prone to make some rookie mistakes.  And I already have.

The combined stresses of my show wrapping and my computer being in the shop have prevented me from being super keenly aware of what I need to be doing in preparation for the festival.  My hastily purchased Galaxy tabler with Bluetooth keyboard has been a lacking substitute for my trusty MacBook, and thus, my responses to messages have been delayed, my activity here has faltered (that's why Ten to See recently appeared in lieu of more thoughtful, full-length reviews), and my e-mail reading hasn't been as thorough as it should be.  Hell, I didn't know the schedule had been announced until a friend texted me, asking what I was planning to see.

My lovely green press pass is a powerrful thing.  It gives me access to most of the screenings, special events, and the media room at the Roosevelt (which is quite a posh place, might I add).  But it doesn't include access to the "biggest" movies at the festival, such as Inherent Vice and Foxcatcher.  I'm understandably bummed to have understood the ticketing process too late - my request for access was submitted two days too late, and the prospects are grim - but I'm at peace with the fallout, and in fact, it may prove a blessing.

Inherent Vice is the movie I'm most looking forward to seeing for the rest of the year.  I worship at the altar of Paul Thomas Anderson.  I will see his movie, just as I will see Foxcatcher (soon!) and have already seen The Homseman, another featured film at AFI Fest.  The movies I don't get to see at the festival are movies that I'm definitely going to see regardless; I just have to wait for them like a normal person.

But the spaces left in my festival schedule mean that I'm going to see movies that likely would've never crossed my radar.  They are less than blips.  As I attempted to draw out a tentative plan of action for the next week, I had to look up numerous films.  I stay pretty up to date on what's what, but some of these, I've never come close to hearing of.  And they sound good.  Really good.  I'm about to be treated to a world tour of great cinema, including buzzy awards contenders like Mr. Turner and Still Alice, and stuff I had never heard of, like the wonderfully titled May Allah Bless France!  In this case, ignorance has paved the way for bliss.  Not getting to see what I have known about is giving me the chance to be pleasantly surprised at every turn, while still seeing some of my most anticipated movies, such as Leviathan and Mommy.

My coverage of the festival will start in earnest tomorrow, so look out for lots of reviews and perhaps some anecdotes, should I find myself in any notable situations.  Mainly, though, it's about the movies, and there are some good ones on the docket.