‘Maria’ & ‘Heretic’ To Have AFI Fest Red Carpet Galas

AFI Fest has booked Netflix’s Maria and A24 genre movie Heretic as part of its lineup next month.

The gala screening for Heretic directed by A Quiet Place scribes Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, which stars Hugh Grant, will be on Thursday, Oct. 24, while the Pablo Larraín directed, Angelina Jolie starring Maria will hold its gala screening on Saturday, Oct. 26. Heretic made its world premiere at TIFF and hits theaters on Nov. 15. Maria, about the final days of opera singer Maria Callas during the ’70s, made its world premiere at Venice where Netflix picked up the pic.

Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Pic is produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno.

“At the heart of AFI FEST is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema – together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO in a statement. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”

The movies join the world premieres at AFI Fest of Music by John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror No. 2. All red carpet premieres take place at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Also added to the AFI Fest lineup are Andrea Arnold’s Bird which premiered at Cannes, Searchlight’s Nightbitch which premiered at TIFF; Searchlight’s A Real Pain, which the Disney classic label acquired out of Sundance; Vertical Entertainment’s The Order which premiered at Venice, Rachel Morrison’s boxing movie The Fire Inside which premiered at TIFF; Jennifer Lopez’s Unstoppable, also a TIFF world premiere; Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door, which world premiered at Venice; Walter Salles’ Venice premiere I’m Still Here and Charlie McDowell’s The Summer Book which is world premiering at BFI London Film Festival.

“This year’s Special Screenings section includes some of the most-talked-about films from around the world, exquisitely crafted gems, and inspirational crowd-pleasers,” said Todd Hitchcock, Director of AFI FEST and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. “We’re thrilled to bring these memorable and impactful films to AFI FEST audiences in the heart of Los Angeles.”