While losing this platform to showcase indie film is a hard hit for LA’s cinephiles and fans alike, we’re fortunate that the AFI Film Fest has no signs of winding down. All eyes are on the festival, which starts tomorrow, and in anticipation of the event, we’re highlighting the five things we’re most looking forward to. If you can’t make it out, be sure to follow Cinemacy as we cover the festival from start to finish on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Sally Field, Miles Teller, Rebecca Hall, and Adam Driver at the Indie Contender’s Reception at AFI Fest 2016

Morgan’s pick: Women in Film Roundtables

The roundtable discussions at the AFI Film Festival are always an enlightening and inspiring event, but this year’s focus on Women in Film makes me so happy. Not only will there be a presentation by director Nina Menkes on female representation in cinema, but there will also be a panel dedicated to female film critics! This panel appeals to me for obvious reasons, with topics of conversation ranging from the state of film criticism and how media outlets, studios, and film festivals are working to increase representation among critics and journalists.

Shoplifters film still

Ryan’s pick: This year’s Cannes Film Fest Palm d’Or winner, Shoplifters

In the context of prestigious film festivals, we can always look to the Cannes Film Festival (bucket list destination) to point to cinematic accomplishment and excellence. Credit the power of AFI Fest for being able to land this year’s Palm d’Or winner at the festival, Shoplifters. Other than the fact that this Japanese film won Cannes’ highest award, I don’t know much else about this drama centered around a band of misfit family members – which is enough to get me to check it out.

ROMA film still

Morgan’s pick: Roma

This may be cheating as I was fortunate enough to see Roma last night (followed by an incredible and intimate Q&A with select cast and crew), but I speak from experience when I say you MUST see this film on the big screen. Alfonso Cuarón’s latest masterpiece is a black and white Mexican epic centered around family, which was inspired by Cuarón’s own childhood. The film will have a divisive limited theatrical run in mid-December followed by it’s Netflix release, but if you’re able to catch Roma at the AFI Film Fest, then I highly, highly recommend that you do.

Vox Lux film still

Ryan’s pick: Girls rocking hard in Vox Lux and Her Smell

Count me in for any hard-rocking movies centered around rockstars. A pair of femme-punk fronted films are screening at this year’s festival, and I’m excited to see Natalie Portman returning to the big screen as a national pop-star in Vox Lux, and Elizabeth Moss going punk rock with Her Smell. In a year where women’s voices are being heard louder than before, I’m excited to see more films where ladies turn it up to eleven on the DGAF scale.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs film still

Ryan’s pick: Netflix’s big screen debuts, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Roma

It might sound counter-intuitive, but among all of the films I’ll be watching this upcoming week are ones that I’ll eventually be able to stream on my couch before the end of the year. Netflix inserts itself into Awards season with two films made by some of the most accomplished working directors in the business today, and the fact that these cinema-purists have gotten into business with the streaming giant shows how far the movie landscape has changed. The Coen Brothers’ screwball Hollywood satire Hail, Caesar! didn’t particularly win me over but nonetheless, I anticipate every one of their films, and my newest must-see is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (originally conceived as a mini-series for Netflix, but will be an anthology of Western stories). The other Netflix title that is among my most anticipated of the year is Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, which has been receiving rave reviews (see above) and will certainly kick start “Best Picture” conversations into high gear.