AFI Fest announces showcase films

Chantal Akerman, Jafar Panahi, Mika Kaurismaki and Nuri Bilge Ceylan are among international auteurs to be showcased in the AFI Fest's world cinema section. The fest, which kicks off Nov. 3 in Hollywood, also announced its breakthrough, midnight and shorts selections. U.S. premieres in the 21 film world section include Akerman's ''Almayer's Folly,'' Yorgos Lanthimos' ''Alps'' and Nicolas Provost's ''The Invader.'' Other selections that have drawn attention at international fests include ''The Turin Horse,'' ''Footnote,'' ''A Separation,'' ''This is Not a Film'' and ''Faust.'' The breakthrough films, which were chosen directly from submissions to the festival, include films from Chile, Iran, Sweden and Brett Eichenberger's ''Light of Mine'' from the U.S. Midnight screeners are ''Beyond the Black Rainbow,'' ''Headhunters'' and ''Kill List.'' Contact Pat Saperstein at pat.saperstein@variety.com