The American Film Institute plans to open AFI FEST 2026 on October 21 with the U.S. premiere of LAIKA’s Wildwood. The festival runs through October 25 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.
Travis Knight directed and produced the stop-motion feature, Chris Butler wrote the screenplay, and Colin Meloy’s novel supplied the story. Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay lead the voice cast as Prue and Curtis, who enter a hidden wilderness after Prue’s younger brother is taken.
This is the announced opening-night selection, not a review or a report that the screening has occurred. The festival’s current program and ticket pages are the place to confirm entry details and any schedule changes.
Primary source
◆ The Entertainment Journal