The 27th AFMwill open next month with a record 589 films, organizers said yesterday [IOct 4],an increase of 10% over last year.

The numberincludes 54 titles playing in official selection at AFI Fest, and a record 384market premieres.

AFM managingdirector and Independent Film & Television Alliance executive vicepresident Jonathan Wolf said the organisation was also launching a newyear-round catalogue resource at www.afmfilms.org.

Exhibitors willbe able to upload and manage an unlimited number of trailers that will besyndicated to the website through Google Video.

"Over thepast three years the number of films screening at the AFM has increased 50% andthe market will continue to grow to meet the needs of the expanding globalindependent film industry," Wolf said.

"Producersand distributors will now have instant access to an invaluable new tool withinformation on thousands of projects and films."

Titles set toscreen at AFM include Paul Verhoeven's second world war thriller Black Book, which is being sold by ContentFilmInternational; Pathe Pictures International's comedy Dirty Sanchez: TheMovie; Lionsgate'sSpanish-language drama Fuera Del Cieolo; Mandarin Films Distribution's martial arts adventure DragonTiger Gate; Hyde Park International'sdrama The Astronaut Farmer; and Celluloid Dream's The Magic Flute by Kenneth Branagh.

The AFM is setto take place in Santa Monica from Nov 1-8.