The AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, has chosen not to accept journalist Mark Judge’s invitation for its upcoming anti-communist film festival, without offering any reason.
Last year, as reported by Breitbart News, Judge released his book devil’s triangle, which examines how Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings impacted his life, alongside announcing an anti-communist film festival in Washington, D.C., to mark its 20th anniversary. The festival was inspired by the Oscar-winning film someone else’s life. After rallying substantial grassroots support for his efforts, Judge turned to gofundme and sought interested sponsors. The AFI Silver was among potential venues considered for its esteemed reputation in high-quality film arts and its mission as a 501C3 non-profit to educate and enrich the community.
Emails shared with Breitbart News from last October revealed that the discussions between Judge and AFI had been positive and professional, with minimal resistance from event managers regarding Judge’s plans. In a November 2025 email, AFI suggested scheduling the festival for August, noting that September tends to be quite busy.
“September is definitely busier than August, so moving to August makes sense, especially if you’re looking to expand your event,” noted an event manager. They also inquired if Judge preferred Silver I, a theater accommodating 400 seats over both days or if he was open to reserving multiple theaters. This, of course, presents challenges, but the manager expressed a willingness to explore options.
“For any rentals, we provide technical support and a stage manager who is present throughout the event, so staffing won’t be a problem,” the manager added later.
As the months rolled by, Judge maintained amicable communication with AFI while he sought sponsors. But in January, upon informing AFI that he was close to securing the Victims of Communism Memorial (VOC) Foundation as a sponsor, the event manager informed him of a price hike, marking the first increase since the festival’s inception in 2003.
“I look forward to learning more about what your company and VOC have in mind for Silver. Before you finalize your plans, we want to ensure everyone is aligned on what’s feasible on our end. I haven’t reached out to the Programming Director about availability yet, as I’m waiting for more details from you,” the manager explained.
“We also just found out that rental rates for events booked from May onwards will increase. This is the first adjustment since we opened in 2003,” they added. “In September, we quoted $3,900 for a 2.5-hour event at Silver I; it now stands at $4,400. We’re sorry for delivering bad news but felt it necessary to inform you so that we can notify VOC if needed.”
The exchange took place in early January this year. Approximately three weeks later, after Judge confirmed VOC as a sponsor, AFI informed him that they could no longer accommodate his event.
“I spoke with our Programming Director, and unfortunately, we cannot accommodate rental requests at this time. Fall is our busiest season, and October is fully booked. We’ve also learned that 70mm prints are booked throughout August, meaning Silver I, the only theater equipped for 70mm, will not be available during that critical period,” the event manager conveyed.
“Moreover, our programming director mentioned that it would be challenging to attend for two consecutive days. Our growing schedule has made it harder to accommodate events outside our planned scope. That’s why I wanted to submit my request as early as possible,” the manager elaborated.
The event manager did not suggest an alternative date, nor did they provide any options for 2027, choosing instead to offer a list of other potential venues. After reaching out to AFI for clarification on their sudden decision, no response was received.
“I got the idea for the Anti-Communist Film Festival after visiting the AFI Silver Theater and watching some exceptional classic films. It’s an amazing venue with fantastic staff and facilities. Being a 501C3 nonprofit, their mission aligns with educating and enriching the community, making it an ideal location,” Judge shared with Breitbart News.
“We had several encouraging email exchanges and three phone calls, and I asked them to take a day to showcase someone else’s life. I heard that August is open since many people leave D.C. that month,” he continued. I was considering hosting it for a day or two in October, or alternatively, a few days in August. Things seemed to be progressing well, and we had two sponsors lined up.”
Judge also expressed his intention of organizing a cultural event to celebrate the film industry’s achievements rather than a political rally.
“I don’t aim to host a political rally; I want to create a cultural event instead,” he stated. “AFI has undertaken various festivals in the past, like the Labor Film Festival and Film Noir Festival. I’m sure they’ll one day embrace this significant theme as well. It’s disappointing how quickly the optimism turned into uncertainty, especially considering how much enthusiasm we had a few months back.”
He emphasized, “I’m not requesting a multi-day postponement.” He also mentioned he was already exploring alternative venues for future events.
“I anticipate the Anti-Communist Film Festival will become an annual event,” he expressed. “We are thankful for the support from the Victims of Communism Foundation and the Center for American Renewal. Ultimately, we hope to attract young filmmakers from Hollywood and beyond who aspire to tell stories that celebrate freedom.”
