John Goodman warns "The Gambler" (and in other years at AFI, "The Fighter") about what is ahead...

Boom! "I've never seen the crowd at an AFI Fest go more nuts for anyone than this," one veteran told me of the multiple level fandom.

Somewhere in the middle, the man of the night.

These guys are important too: Producer Irwin Winkler and Paramount's Film Group President Adam Goodman.

"I was not very nice to Leo," Wahlberg said of stuffing DiCaprio at an MTV Rock 'N' Jock basketball game before rapping in his underwear during halftime at a 1990's outing of the MTV franchise. 

At Monday night's after party, Brett Ratner and the writer of the original "The Gambler," James Toback.

Two nights before Wahlberg-mania, the man who leveed up his career, Paul Thomas Anderson, introduced "Inherent Vice". 

Josh Brolin rolled in to the annex-venue, the Egyptian, for the hot ticket screening of "Inherent Vice".

Marshall Herskovitz arrives to the Egyptian for "Inherent Vice".

"'71" lead Jack O'Connell ducked out of the Governors Awards on Saturday night to make an appearance at the TCL Chinese screening of his film.

On Friday, the Dardenne brothers sandwiched Marion Cotillard before the screening of "Two Days, One Night."

Earlier, the "first line" of "The Red Army" skated in for the Friday night screening: Sony Pictures Classics co-president Michael Barker, director Gabe Polsky, Cuba GOoding Jr., and SPC co-president Tom Bernard.

Jessica Chastain keeps her pals close. She referred old Juilliard pal Oscar Isaac for "A Most Violent Year," which opened AFI Fest presented by Audi on Thursday night.

"The last time I was in this room I was sitting right there (points to house left) and lost to Woody Allen," JC Chandor said before the film. He was referencing his "Margin Call" original screenplay loss to "Midnight in Paris." at the 2012 Oscars. "Let's hope it goes better tonight," he told the crowd.

AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale, "A Most Violent Year" writer/director J.C. Chandor and the woman who travels the world scouring for films, AFI Fest Director Jacqueline Lyanga.

"We're happy to be here at the Dolby Theatre for the first time this year," Gazzale said to open the Fest. In addition to the Oscars, AFI has made the Dolby the home for its annual Life Achievement Award, a top event each June.

After the screenings, the main parties are in the ballroom on the ground floor of the Roosevelt across the street.

But the good wristbands, the blue ones, get you in to the poolside parties. This is where you want to be.

UCLA School of Theater, Film, and TV Dean Teri Schwartz with the Participant Media guys who produced the film: Jim Berk and Jeff Skoll.

Chandor called Elyes Gabel a "big TV star now" when introducing him before the film. His "Scorpion" co-star and off-screen pal Katharine McPhee joined him on Thursday night.

No scenes together, but both turned in strong performances: on-screen baby cub salesman Ben Rosenfield and the antagonist D.A. David Oyelowo, who you remember from "The Butler".

Elyes and Chandor on Hollywood Boulevard, where civilians got to line bicycle rack and form a gauntlet on both sides of the red carpet.