For the second year, AFI fest is not only shorter - a week instead of the usual 10 days - but also giving away tickets for free, which is far from being the idea of pure genius they think it is. Why? Mostly because in one of the only towns where film aficionados are actually willing to pay $10 to watch some great picture, they are once again giving away tickets at a time when people who would actually buy them can't get them because they are at work. Because tickets were free, they "sold out" within minutes, while the AFI website crashed again, these tickets mostly ending up in the hands of amateurs of freebies instead of just film fans - just notice the number of people leaving the screenings early.
While AFI fest used to be the strongest festival in town, this is clear that these last couple of years, it lost its spot, which was gladly taken by the LA film festival. This year's edition of AFI fest is certainly interesting but to reclaim its glory, the festival should get back to its 10-days paying formula.
