Direction and Director of AFI Fest Get Rounds of Applause

It has become part of my day as chairman of AFI--opening the paper to read a passionate film lover’s opinion about an AFI program. And that’s good.

Our mandate encourages the institute to catalyze national conversations about film--what makes a good one and why; how they are presented and preserved. But when I read Bob Davis’ article regarding the 1999 AFI Fest (“AFI Festival Lineup: Too Little and Too Bad,” Nov. 8), I felt obliged to respond as his opinions were largely not about the festival but about its director, Jon Fitzgerald.

As a teacher of film at Cal State Fullerton, certainly Davis understands my concern--just as he must encourage his students to challenge his lessons and even his presentations of them, he must consider it off-limits to have one of them stand to attack his person.

The hundreds of letters AFI has received to applaud the festival’s new direction and its stewardship will not find their way to an opinion page, but perhaps it is not too much to ask to bring the conversation back to AFI Fest--and, in that vein, I have two facts for discussion:

First--in the category of actions speak louder than words--for the three years under Jon’s leadership, the festival’s box office has more than doubled. The event’s move to the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre and the festival’s new Hollywood base have been enthusiastically received.

Second, for 13 years, AFI Fest has provided hundreds of movies a foundation [on which] to find their footing on their way to greater critical and audience acclaim. Jon’s programming seems to enjoy a Midas touch, as the last two Oscar winners for best foreign language film had U.S. premieres at AFI Fest: 1997’s “Character” and 1998’s “Life Is Beautiful.”

Therein lie the markings of success--and the fulfillment of AFI’s mission. Congratulations to Jon and his staff for another terrific year.

TOM POLLOCK

Los Angeles

As an advisory committee member of the AFI Los Angeles Film Festival, I feel compelled to respond to Bob Davis’ attack on festival director Jon Fitzgerald.

I have been aware of and eagerly supported every one of Jon’s ideas to create a more cohesive and logistically friendly festival, and I especially supported the concept of reducing the sheer number of films screened. That Davis has different ideas about how this festival (and others) should be run and that your paper should air these views is to be expected and encouraged. What is not appropriate is the vicious personal nature of his attacks on Jon.

I make my living trying to orchestrate disparate, often contradictory elements into a workable whole, and I have never seen anyone handle a wider variety of demands with more grace and skill than Jon Fitzgerald. He has earned the respect and support of everyone involved with the festival, and he deserves more than a glib diatribe in the town newspaper.

STEVEN SODERBERGH

Los Angeles

I have been a volunteer at the AFI Fest for the past 10 years. Unfortunately, I agree with Davis that the film fest is not what it used to be. However, I cannot conceive of comparing Esa-Pekka Salonen to Jon Fitzgerald. One contemporary piece per concert is certainly not to be condemned, as it would seem that Davis is suggesting. Sometimes critics get carried away in their vitriol.

H.S. FOURER

Palos Verdes Estates

I think that Bob Davis’ critique of the 13th AFI Festival echoes the sentiments of many. Let us hope that the 14th AFI Festival shows some improvement. Maybe Jon Fitzgerald & Co. could use Bob’s help with next year’s program schedule. The American Cinematheque could benefit from his comments too. Thankfully, we still have LACMA and UCLA.

A. McMILLAN

Los Angeles

If Davis has issues with the festival, he should stick to judging the festival on its own terms, namely the quality of films and the exposure the festival brings to L.A. and its participating filmmakers. Judging and attacking Fitzgerald, which was the clear focus of the article, was inappropriate and doesn’t deserve a place in a newspaper such as the L.A. Times.

MATTHEW KUMIN

Los Angeles

I’m not quite sure what would compel Bob Davis to go after AFI Film Festival director Jon Fitzgerald so viciously. My experience with Jon, and his entire film festival team, was first-rate, not to mention that the screening of my first film at the El Capitan was a dream come true--a historic Hollywood theater, with state-of-the-art sound and a prodigious screen, the likes of which I never imagined our “Bad City Blues” would be able to grace.

Jon, and everyone at the AFI Film Fest, must be complimented for their ambition, sense of purpose and for going out of their way to give this one filmmaker--and I suspect many others--an experience to remember.

MICHAEL M. STEVENS

Studio City