The festival presented by Audi is set to run this year from Nov 7-14 in Hollywood, when once again there will be the offer of free tickets to all screenings.

Screening venues are TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly known as Grauman’s Chinese), the Chinese 6 Theatres at the Hollywood & Highland Center, the Egyptian Theatre of the American Cinematheque and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

“AFI Fest is where the films of talented emerging film-makers have the opportunity to screen alongside the current works of masters of the art form,” said director Jacqueline Lyanga [pictured].

“Last year’s festival included many extraordinary films from across the globe, from the world premiere of Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln and Ang Lee’s Life Of Pi to first-time feature filmmaker Tosh Gitonga’s Nairobi Half Life, whose film was AFI Fest’s Audience Award Breakthrough winner and Kenya’s first-ever Foreign Language Film Oscar submission.”

The 2012 festival featured the world premieres of Hitchcock from Sacha Gervasi as well as a secret screening of the $1bn-plus 007 global smash Skyfall.

Submissions are now open. For further details visit the official website.