AFI Fest

Werner Herzog with IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring at AFI Fest this week following the L.A. debut of his film at the event. Herzog's latest, "Into the Abyss" opens Friday, 11/11/11.

There was quite the European auteur dinner during AFI Fest this week, when IFC Films hosted a dinner at Campenelli off La Brea. "The Kid with a Bike" directors Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne (left) Béla Tarr ("Turin Horse," center) and Wim Wenders ("Pina") were joined by "The Loneliest Planet" director Julia Loktev (right), her actress Hani Fursternberg and AFI Fest Director Jacqueline Lyanga.

AFI Fest hosted a screening of Pedro Almodóvar's "Law of Desire" (1987) during the fest. Almodóvar served as this year's guest Artistic Director at the festival. He's seen here at the after-party sporting glasses and "Desire" star Antonio Banderas coming along.

"The Loneliest Planet" director Julia Loktev with star Hani Furstenberg and AFI Fest head programmer Lane Kneedler. "Planet" won the Grand Jury Prize in the New Auteurs competition at the festival.

Director/actor Ralph Fiennes on the red carpet at AFI Fest, getting a greet from the festival's director, Jacqueline Lyanga. Fiennes directorial debut "Coriolanus" debuted at the festival this week.

"J. Edgar" director Clint Eastwood, star Leonardo DiCaprio and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black at the after-party following the film's premiere at AFI Fest last week.

iW caught up with the guys from "Easier with Practice" on Hollywood Blvd. near the Kodak Theatre after walking the red carpet. Writer/director Kyle Patrick Alvarez (right) and star Brian Geraghty screened their film at the recent AFI Fest, which ended over the weekend. In the film two brothers set off on a road trip in an effort to promote an unpublished novel, written by the older brother, Davy.However, the idealism of being on the road wears off and it quickly proves to be a lonely and unfulfilling experience for Davy. One night in a motel room he gets a random phone call from a mysterious woman named Nicole, and they start a funny and intimate long distance relationship that leaves Davy happier than he has been in years. Hoping there is more to the relationship then a voice and a phone bill, Davy decides he wants to meet Nicole. Ultimately, he will have to face not only the truth about their relationship but also about himself. [Film description provided]

Actress Angela Bassett hung out with AFI Fest Artistic Director Rose Kuo and Dwayne Cochran Johnson, who is working with Bassett on her next project, "United States" at the closing night party at the Roosevelt Hotel last week. Bassett chaired the festival's inaugural New Lights Competition and took part in the winner announcements earlier in the evening.

IFC Films hosted a lovely dinner at "the new Mr. Chow's" called Philippe on Melrose in LA Tuesday night as part of AFI Fest, currently underway. One organizer wondered how the turn out would be, but alas, great food and wine brings them out every time! IFC filmmakers and others were among the 35 or so people who came out, in addition to actors Ti West ("House of the Devil") and Sara Simmons ("In Search of a Midnight Kiss") pictured here after dinner hanging with IFC Films' Lizzie Nastro. To check out more fab photos from the dinner, click here.

"I'm happy and proud to be here," "Before The Fall" director F. Javier Gutierrez said of his experience at AFI Fest 2008. "I think its the best festival in Los Angeles. They have a high quality and international selection of films. I know it well. I was here in 2002 with a short. It's like going back home." "Fall" had its final AFI screening last night in Hollywood, and it's U.S. Premiere has been met with considerable acclaim, with LA Weekly comparing the filmmaker to Guillermo del Toro.