Los Angeles, CA, September 22, 2026 — Peter Berg’s THE MOSQUITO BOWL will have its World Premiere at the 40th edition of AFI FEST presented by Canva on Thursday, October 22 at the TCL Chinese Theater.
Directed and co-written by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon) and based on the Instant New York Times Bestseller by Pulitzer Prize winner Buzz Bissinger, the film follows four of America’s top College Football stars who set their fame aside to enlist in the Marines following the attack on Pearl Harbor. As they prepare for the brutal invasion of Okinawa, they’ll play in a legendary game featuring some of the greatest players in history – a game that, for many, will be the last they ever play.
The ensemble cast is led by Nicholas Galitzine as John McLaughry, Bill Skarsgård as Bob Bauman, Ray Nicholson as Tony Butkovich, and Tom Francis as David Schreiner. Based on actual events, the film explores the true cost of war and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood.
The crafts team behind the film features 9 time Academy Award nominated Sound Designer Wylie Stateman, Academy award nominated VFX Supervisor Ariel Velasco Shaw, BAFTA winning Hair and Makeup Designer Angela Conte, and BAFTA nominated Production Designer Phil Ivey – and marks a reunion with past collaborators Rachel Tenner (casting director), cinematographer Jacques Jouffret, composers Explosions in the Sky and editors Jon Otazua and Garret Donnelly.
“I’ve spent much of my career telling stories about people who put themselves in harm’s way, and THE MOSQUITO BOWL is one of the most personal explorations of that for me,” said Berg. “These young men were athletes and friends who became soldiers and were asked to carry an unimaginable burden. I’m very proud of this film and honored that the film will premiere at this year’s AFI festival.”
About the film
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, four of America’s greatest college football stars — John McLaughry (Nicholas Galitzine), Bob Bauman (Bill Skarsgård), Tony Butkovich (Ray Nicholson)and David Schreiner (Tom Francis) — set fame aside to enlist in the Marines. Eager to serve, they are immediately pulled out of their idealistic youth and into the violent realities of World War II.
Moving from the joy and pageantry of 1941 college football, through the crucible of Marine training, and across the front lines of the Pacific, The Mosquito Bowl is a true story based on the New York Times bestselling book by Pulitzer Prize winner Buzz Bissinger. Directed and produced by Peter Berg, alongside producers Brian Grazer and Alex Gayner, the film explores the true cost of war and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood.
The film will be released in theaters on October 30th and on Netflix November 25th.
Passes to AFI FEST 2026 are now available for purchase online at FEST.AFI.com. Festivalgoers can choose from the Star Pass, Patron Pass and the new Marquee Pass. The AFI FEST Star Pass features access to all screenings (excluding Red Carpet Premieres), early screening selection and theater access, access to the AFI FEST Festival Lounge, AFI FEST merch and free rush access. The Patron Pass features all the benefits of the Star Pass, plus access to Red Carpet Premieres and priority screening selection and theater access.
The full festival lineup will be unveiled on September 29. Individual tickets will be available for purchase on October 3.
AFI FEST is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the Live Action, Animated and Documentary Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®. AFI FEST is also a qualifying festival for consideration for the British Short Film categories of both the BAFTA Film Awards and the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
ARTWORK
To learn more about AFI FEST, visit FEST.AFI.com.
About AFI FEST presented by Canva
Celebrating its 40th edition, AFI FEST presented by Canva is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe. This year’s edition takes place in Los Angeles from October 21-25, 2026. With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of a-kind experience for movie fans. Additional information is available at FEST.AFI.com. Connect with AFI’s film festival at Facebook.com/AFIFEST, X.com/AFIFEST, Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute,
TikTok.com/@AmericanFilmInstitute and YouTube.com/AFI.
About Canva
Launched in 2013, Canva is the world’s leading all-in-one platform for visual communication and collaboration. Built to empower everyone to design, the company serves the creative and design needs of enterprises, small businesses, consumers and students in more than 190 countries worldwide.
Whether you’re a novice taking your first steps in design, or a creative professional seeking powerful tools, Canva ensures users have what they need to transform an idea into something beautiful. Underpinned by the world’s most comprehensive library of designer-made content, Canva is powered by a suite of products and proprietary AI tools which elevate how individuals and teams create, collaborate, and communicate with ease.
