Laika's 'Wildwood' to Launch 40th AFI Fest on October 21

Laika’s latest stop-motion adventure, 'Wildwood', will open the 40th AFI Fest, which is sponsored by Canva, on Oct. 21, also serving as the film’s U.S. premiere. The narrative centers on a young girl, Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), who teams up with classmate Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) to rescue her baby brother from a murder of crows, venturing into a forbidden forest outside Portland, Oregon filled with enchanted creatures.

The voice roster features Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant. Director-producer Travis Knight noted the 16-year journey and the dedication of hundreds of artists who crafted the film. AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale praised the movie’s handcrafted imagination as timely artistic inspiration. The festival will continue until Oct. 25, offering a curated selection of red-carpet premieres, world cinema, documentaries and short films.