AFI FEST presented by Audi announced today that award-winning filmmaker and artist David Lynch will serve as its first-ever Guest Artistic Director. AFI FEST 2010 will take place November 4 through 11 in Hollywood, California at the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Mann Chinese 6 theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Lynch has also created artwork that will serve as the official image of the 24th annual festival. In addition, as Guest Artistic Director, Lynch will program a special sidebar of films that influence and inspire him and present these films at the festival in November. His film selections will be announced in October.

“I said yes to being the Guest Artistic Director of AFI FEST 2010 because I love the AFI,” says Lynch. “AFI can do for others what it did for me. AFI gave me an opportunity and money to make a short film, THE GRANDMOTHER, and my first feature film, ERASERHEAD. AFI put me on the map.”

Lynch was one of the first Fellows of AFI’s Center For Advanced Film Studies, now known as the AFI Conservatory.

“David Lynch is AFI,” said Bob Gazzale, President and CEO of the American Film Institute. “He’s an artist who embodies the institute’s national mandate to both educate the next generation and to honor the masters. As a master himself, his leadership will catalyze a global conversation to bring attention to him and others who deserve a proper bow.”

“David Lynch is a cinematic genius who has made an indelible mark on the history of film, and continues to shape its future,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, Festival Director of AFI FEST. “We look forward to what will surely be an inspired program.”