Iconoclastic director, David Lynch, the quintessential purveyor of the weird and wonderful, has been hired as the first ever guest artistic director for the upcoming AFI Fest in Hollywood, Ca.

Some of his duties will include the creation of artwork to serve as the official image of the 24th annual event, as well as the creation of a sidebar program composed of films that have influenced and inspired him. His film choices for the program will be released in October.

“I said yes to being the Guest Artistic Director of AFI FEST 2010 because I love the AFI,” Lynch said in a statement. “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 the famed AFI Conservatory (previously known as AFI’s Center for Advanced Film Studies).

“David Lynch is AFI,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “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.”

The festival takes place Nov. 4-11 at Grauman’s Chinese, the Mann Chinese 6, the Egyptian Theater and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.