Laika's animated extravaganza "Wildwood" is the chosen golden ticket for the 40th AFI Fest curtain raiser on October 21. The premiere will not only mark the film's U.S debut but will also kick off an exciting festival lineup, presented by Canva.

"Wildwood", the newest offering from the creative genius of Portland-based animation studio Laika, is steered masterfully by Travis Knight. The animated film is filled with imagination, enriched with enchanted creatures that will bring joy and entertain audiences big and small.

The story revolves around a brave young tyke named Prue (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee), who embarks on a daring rescue mission to retrieve her baby brother from a brazen bunch of crows. Accompanying her on this adventurous journey is her school buddy Curtis (voiced by Jacob Tremblay). The daring duo plunge into a mystical forest right in the backyard of Portland, Oregon, uncovering dynamic speaking animals, sneak thieves, and mysterious powerful figures.

In addition to Lee and Tremblay's riveting performances, the voice cast also features the vocal talents of 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.

AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale expressed his honor in having "Wildwood" as the event's opening act. “In these times when artistic inspiration is much needed," he says, "Wildwood comes to our rescue, inviting everyone to a finely crafted world that astonishes and gives joy.”

Travis Knight tucked into the memories of the sixteen years spent conceiving and producing "Wildwood". He said, “This peculiarly attractive universe used to be privy only to the few of us privileged to saunter through it. Now, it's a heartwarming moment to finally unveil it in the brilliance of AFI FEST.” He went on to express gratitude for AFI's tradition of supporting innovative filmmaking.

The 40th AFI Fest, running from October 21-25, will include a magnificent mix of red-carpet premieres, exclusive screenings, world cinema, documentaries, and short films. Last year’s AFI Fest featured winners like “Bugonia,” “Christy,” “Jay Kelly,” “The Testament of Ann Lee” and many more. So mark those calendars and get ready for an unforgettable cinematic hangout!