Last checked: October 2, 2026.
AFI Latin American Film Festival tickets are sold for individual screenings, so the film, date and start time matter as much as the title. The 2026 festival runs September 16–October 7 at AFI Silver in Silver Spring, Maryland. With the closing days approaching, start with remaining performances and their availability. This guide was checked October 2, 2026; a listed showtime is not a promise that seats remain.
Quick facts for the 2026 edition
| 2026 festival | September 16–October 7 |
|---|---|
| Standard festival ticket | $15 unless otherwise noted |
| Festival pass | $200; buy at the box office |
| Seating | General admission |
| Venue | AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Road |
| Closing film | Bitter Christmas: advance tickets sold out |
Choose the screening before choosing the ticket
Open the official festival program and read the individual film page. Compare its running time, language and subtitle information, rating and any introduction or reception. These details determine whether a film fits your evening. A shorter film with an early start may be a better first visit than a late program that leaves your return journey uncertain.
Make a shortlist of two films rather than attaching your whole visit to one performance. For each, write down the date and time exactly as displayed. A repeated title can have a different start time or accompanying event on another day. Our AFI Latin American Film Festival guide covers the venue and wider visit.
An available alternative can be better than a standby gamble
The official listing for The Meltdown shows Tuesday, October 6 at 7 p.m., with a post-screening Embassy of Chile reception, and Wednesday, October 7 at 4:45 p.m. The film runs 108 minutes and is in Spanish with English subtitles. Check the actual ticket button for current availability before building your evening around either performance.
The October 7, 7 p.m. closing-night screening of Bitter Christmas is marked advance sold out. AFI instructs standby visitors to line up outside at 6:30 p.m.; any remaining seats are sold just before the screening. This is an opportunity to try, not a reservation. Do not make a nonrefundable long-distance trip depend on getting in.
If you are considering the earlier film and closing-night standby on the same day, calculate the full running time and the transition between them. A nominal gap between advertised starts does not represent free time. Leaving early to join a queue also means missing part of the film you paid to see.
Compare a single ticket with the festival pass
The festival advertises $15 general admission unless otherwise noted and a $200 all-access pass for one person’s admission to each festival screening. Passes are purchased in person at the box office. Ask staff about remaining availability, use and seating procedures before buying.
Late in the festival, value should be measured against films you can still attend. At the standard $15 rate, 13 separate screenings would total $195 and 14 would total $210, before considering exceptions or any transaction charges. That arithmetic is only a comparison, not a recommendation to buy a pass. Check whether your remaining schedule makes that many screenings possible.
Do not assume a pass is a group ticket, assigns a particular seat or overrides a sold-out notice. If you belong to the Silver Cinema Club, check your own membership benefits and sign in before ordering; eligible benefits vary.
Complete the booking and keep the confirmation
Select the film and its showtime on AFI’s site, review the order, and finish the payment flow. AFI’s FAQ explains that the payment screen’s Submit step is followed by Next to finish and receive a booking number. A pending card charge alone is not proof of a completed booking.
AFI emails a confirmation with the showtime and a QR code. Save it somewhere accessible before leaving home. For multiple different films bought in one transaction, AFI says printed tickets must be collected from the box office; the transaction QR is not a separate ticket for every film.
If the email is missing, check spam first. AFI’s booking instructions explain that the box office can retrieve a purchase using the booking information or the card used. Contact the venue if the transaction remains uncertain, rather than immediately placing a second order and risking duplicate tickets.
Plan arrival around general admission
Festival guidance recommends arriving 20–30 minutes before the screening. Seats are first come, first served, so friends who want to sit together should meet before entering. Allow additional time if you need to collect printed tickets or discuss an access requirement.
Separate your travel buffer from your seating buffer. Parking, walking to the entrance and finding the box office all happen before settling into the auditorium. On a busy evening, arriving in the neighborhood at the recommended theater-arrival time may still leave you rushing.
Keep your chosen screening’s confirmation open when checking in. Similar film titles, repeat screenings and adjacent dates are easy to confuse on a phone. Confirm the screen with staff rather than assuming every festival film plays in the historic auditorium.
Payment, refunds and changes to your plan
AFI is cashless and lists major credit and debit cards plus supported mobile wallets. Its buying guide directs refund requests to the box office in person during the first 30 minutes of the show and says to retain the ticket stub. The FAQ also describes requests before the show. Ask the box office to confirm the procedure for your booking instead of assuming an online cancellation button or automatic refund.
If travel becomes uncertain, decide early whether you can still attend. Keep the booking number and ticket details together so staff can identify the correct performance. A weather delay or missed train does not itself establish a special refund exception.
For an accessibility need, contact AFI with the exact film and showtime before purchasing. Describe the accommodation you need and ask whether it is available for that screening. The presence of English subtitles in a foreign-language film does not by itself answer every captioning, audio-description or mobility question.
Venue location
Venue orientation only; use the organizer’s map for event entrances and viewing areas. Open the venue in Google Maps.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy one ticket for the whole festival?
Individual tickets cover selected screenings. AFI also advertises a $200 all-access pass for one person, purchased in person; confirm its procedures and remaining value at the box office.
Are seats assigned?
AFI's theaters use general-admission seating. Arrive early enough for check-in and to choose among available seats.
Can I still book Bitter Christmas?
Its October 7 closing-night advance tickets were sold out when checked. The official page gives a 6:30 p.m. standby line, with any remaining tickets released just before the 7 p.m. show; admission is not guaranteed.
What should I save after paying?
Keep the confirmation email, booking number and correct showtime. If buying different films in one transaction, follow AFI's instruction to collect printed tickets at the box office.
Official sources and edition notes
- Festival overview and prices
- The Meltdown screening details
- Bitter Christmas and standby notice
- Directions and parking
- Venue FAQ
- Accessibility
- How to buy tickets
Dates, charges and access notes describe the checked 2026 edition. Confirm current organizer notices before traveling; a future edition requires new verification.
