AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES CENTERPIECE GALAS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS FOR THE 25th EDITION of AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor s note: The official festival name is AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi and should be referred to as such at least once within a story. AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES CENTERPIECE GALAS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS FOR THE 25th EDITION of AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi Festival Kicks Off Awards Season, Showcases Highly Anticipated Films of the Year Patron Packages Offering Gala Tickets and Special Screenings Passes On Sale Now LOS ANGELES, CA, October 18, 2011 The American Film Institute (AFI) today announced its red carpet Centerpiece Galas plus eleven Special Screenings for the 25th edition of AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi, a showcase of the most highly anticipated films and performances of the year. AFI FEST kicks off awards season with galas and special screenings that spotlight the work of film masters, moving image icons and breakthrough talents. Many of the casts are international, and the directors hail from across the globe. As previously announced, the World Premiere of J. EDGAR (DIR Clint Eastwood) is the Opening Night Gala and Pedro Almodóvar is this year s Guest Artistic Director. The Centerpiece Galas to be presented at AFI FEST 2011are THE ARTIST (DIR Michel Hazanavicius), CARNAGE (DIR Roman Polanski), THE LADY (DIR Luc Besson), LAW OF DESIRE: An Evening with Pedro Almodóvar, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (DIR Simon Curtis) and SHAME (DIR Steve McQueen). All galas will be presented in the historic Chinese Theatre. AFI FEST s Special Screenings section features BUTTER (DIR Jim Field Smith); CORIOLANUS (DIR Ralph Fiennes); I MELT WITH YOU (DIR Mark Pellington); INTO THE ABYSS (DIR Werner Herzog); JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME (DIR Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass); THE KID WITH A BIKE (DIR Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne); MELANCHOLIA (DIR Lars von Trier); MISS BALA (DIR Gerardo Naranjo, AFI Conservatory Class of 2001), Mexico s foreign-language Oscar submission; PINA (DIR Wim Wenders), Germany s foreign-language Oscar submission; RAMPART (DIR Oren Moverman) and WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (DIR Lynne Ramsay). For the third consecutive year, AFI FEST will continue its unprecedented offer of free tickets to all screenings. AFI FEST Patron Passes and the Special Screenings Pass which ensure access to sold-out presentations and other high-demand films and events are on sale now at AFI.com/AFIFEST. The American Film Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and cultural organization. Pass purchases are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Individual tickets to AFI FEST will be available to AFI members on Wednesday, October 26 in a 24-hour advance window before they become available to the general public on October 27. In addition, AFI members receive a 10% discount on all passes. Information about AFI membership is available at AFI.com/membership.

2 2 AFI FEST will take place November 3 through 10 in Hollywood, California, at the historic Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi Sponsors Presenting Sponsor Audi Primary Sponsors AT&T, Pepsi, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Official Sponsors Stella Artois, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Levi s Festival Sponsors Baskin Robbins, New Amsterdam Vodka Contributing Sponsors Los Angeles County Arts Commission, LUNA, The Naked Grape, Netflix, Popcorn Indiana, La Marca Prosecco, scenechronize, Sony Presenting Media Sponsor Entertainment Weekly Primary Media Sponsors Los Angeles Times Official Airline American Airlines Official Hotel Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel About the American Film Institute AFI is America s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI provides leadership in film, television and digital media and is dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present and the future of the moving image arts. AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and Archive, the AFI Life Achievement Award, now in it's 40th year, AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year, AFI Fest presented by Audi, celebrating its 25th edition this fall, AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs, AFI Silver Theatre and the AFI Conservatory, which was named the # 1 film school in the world by The Hollywood Reporter. Additional information about AFI is available at AFI.com. About AFI FEST Celebrating its 25th year as a program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi will take place November 3 through 10 in the heart of Hollywood. Kicking off the awards season each year, AFI FEST offers a crucial avenue of exposure to the entertainment community, while providing appreciative audiences with a festive atmosphere and the very best of global cinema, right in the center of the film capital of the world. The American Film Market (AFM), November 2 through 9, 2011, is the market partner of AFI FEST. Together, AFI FEST and AFM provide the only concurrent festival-market event in North America. AFI FEST is the only FIAPF-accredited film festival in the United States. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the annual Academy Awards. Audi is the presenting sponsor of AFI FEST. Additional sponsors include AT&T, Pepsi, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; Levi s, Stella Artois, Hollywood & Highland, Entertainment Weekly, Los Angeles Times and American Airlines, the official airline of AFI. AFI FEST is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

3 3 Additional information about AFI FEST 2011 presented by Audi is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/afifest, twitter.com/afifest and youtube.com/afifest. About Audi Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit audiusa.com or audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues. About AFM The business of independent motion picture production and distribution reaches its peak every year at the AFM, when more than 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of dealmaking, screenings, premieres, networking, parties and conferences. Participants come from more than 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world's press and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry. The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA). More information is online at AmericanFilmMarket.com. # # # AFI FEST Media Contact Shari Mesulam, Galas and Special Screenings or smesulam@afi.com

4 4 OPENING NIGHT GALA: ATTACHMENT AFI FEST presented by Audi Galas and Special Screenings J. EDGAR: As the face of law enforcement in America for almost fifty years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life. DIR Clint Eastwood. SCR Dustin Lance Black. CAST Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, Judi Dench. USA. World Premiere. Thursday, November 3, 7:00 p.m., The Chinese CENTERPIECE GALAS: THE LADY: Luc Besson tackles the inspiring true story of Burmese activist, leader and political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, exquisitely portrayed by Michelle Yeoh. DIR Luc Besson. SCR Rebecca Frayn. CAST Michelle Yeoh, David Thewlis, Jonathan Raggett, Jonathan Woodhouse, Susan Wooldridge, Benedict Wong. France/UK. Friday, November 4, 7:00 p.m., The Chinese CARNAGE: Roman Polanski directs a dream cast of Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly in a razor-sharp, acidly funny comedy of ill manners. DIR Roman Polanski. SCR Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski. CAST Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly. France/Germany/Poland. Saturday, November 5, 7:00 p.m., The Chinese MY WEEK WITH MARILYN: Michelle Williams gives a luminous performance as Marilyn Monroe, ably supported by Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench in this intimate portrait of the tragic Hollywood icon. DIR Simon Curtis. SCR Adrian Hodges. CAST Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Judi Dench, Emma Watson. UK. Sunday, November 6, 6:00 p.m., The Chinese LAW OF DESIRE An Evening with Pedro Almodóvar: An evening in celebration of Pedro Almodóvar and the 25th anniversary of El Deseo, the production company that he founded with his brother, Augustin Almodóvar; the event will consist of a conversation with Pedro Almodóvar and a screening of El Deseo s first film, LAW OF DESIRE. DIR Pedro Almodóvar. SCR Pedro Almodóvar. CAST Eusebio Poncela, Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Miguel Molina. Spain. Monday, November 7, 7:00 p.m., The Chinese THE ARTIST: Silence is golden in director Michel Haznavicius delightful and dialogue-less black-andwhite feature about Hollywood s bumpy transition from silent films to talkies. DIR/SCR Michel Hazanavicius. CAST Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Missi Pyle. USA. Tuesday, November 8, 7:30 p.m., The Chinese SHAME: In director Steve McQueen s searing follow-up to HUNGER, Michael Fassbender delivers a fearless portrayal of a man spiraling out of control trying to conceal his sex addiction. DIR Steve McQueen. SCR Abi Morgan, Steve McQueen. CAST Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, Nicole Beharie. UK. Wednesday, November 9, 7:30 p.m., The Chinese

5 5 SPECIAL SCREENINGS: BUTTER: Jennifer Garner stars in this comedy about a Midwestern housewife who embarks on a ruthless campaign to conquer the world of competitive butter carving. DIR Jim Field Smith. SCR Jason A. Micallef. CAST Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, Olivia Wilde, Hugh Jackman, Ashley Greene, Alicia Silverstone, Rob Corddry, Pruitt Taylor Vince. USA. Sunday, November 6, 6:30 p.m., Chinese 1 CORIOLANUS: In his directing debut, Ralph Fiennes masterfully adapts Shakespeare s gripping tragedy about power, politics and pride into a bracingly modern and urgent political thriller. DIR Ralph Fiennes. SCR John Logan. CAST Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain. UK. Monday, November 7, 7:30 p.m., Chinese 1 and Tuesday, November 8, 1:30 p.m., Rigler Theatre, Egyptian I MELT WITH YOU: Four friends gather for an annual birthday celebration in Big Sur and come face to face with the hard truths of who they have become. DIR Mark Pellington. SCR Glenn Porter (based on the story by Glenn Porter and Mark Pellington). CAST Thomas Jane, Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Christian McKay, Carla Gugino, Sasha Grey. Canada/USA. Monday, November 7, 8:00 p.m., Rigler Theatre, Egyptian and Wednesday, November 9, 1:45 p.m., Chinese 1 INTO THE ABYSS: In his fascinating exploration of a triple homicide case in Conroe, Texas, master filmmaker Werner Herzog probes the human psyche to explore why people kill and why a state kills. Like a modern IN COLD BLOOD, Herzog's investigation unveils layers of humanity, making an enlightening trip out of ominous territory. DIR Werner Herzog. USA. Sunday, November 6, 5:30 p.m., Rigler Theatre, Egyptian and Monday, November 7, 1:15 p.m., Chinese 3 JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME: On his way to the store to buy wood glue, Jeff looks for signs from the universe to determine his path. However, a series of comedic and unexpected events leads him to cross paths with his family in the strangest of locations and circumstances. DIR/SCR Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass. CAST Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Judy Greer, Susan Sarandon. USA. Tuesday, November 8, 7:00 p.m., Chinese 1 and Wednesday, November 9, 2:00 p.m., Rigler Theatre, Egyptian THE KID WITH A BIKE: Awarded the Grand Prix at this year's Cannes Film Festival, this tale of redemptive love bares the Dardennes evocative signature style. CAST Cécile de France, Thomas Doret, Jérémie Renier, Fabrizio Rongione, Egon Di Mateo, Olivier Gourmet. Belgium/France/Italy. Tuesday, November 8, 8:00 p.m., Rigler Theatre, Egyptian and Thursday, November 10, 11:00 a.m., Chinese 1 MELANCHOLIA: Denmark's most celebrated and notorious filmmaker returns with a drama about depression, severely dysfunctional families and the end of the world. DIR/SCR Lars von Trier. CAST Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, Brady Corbet, Cameron Spurr, Charlotte Rampling, Jesper Christensen, John Hurt, Stellan Skarsgård, Udo Kier, Kiefer Sutherland. Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany. Sunday, November 6, 8:30 p.m., Rigler Theatre, Egyptian and Tuesday, November 8, 3:15 p.m., Chinese 3 MISS BALA: Gerardo Naranjo s haunting and elegant film tells the story of a beauty pageant hopeful swept up in the violent world of Mexico s drug cartels. Naranjo is a graduate of the AFI Conservatory (AFI Class of 2001). DIR Gerardo Naranjo. DIR/SCR Gerardo Naranjo, Mauricio Katz. CAST Stephanie Sigman, Noe Hernandez, James Russo. Mexico s official foreign-language Oscar submission. Friday, November 4, 8:30 p.m., Rigler Theatre, Egyptian PINA: Wim Wenders captures the world of choreographer Pina Bausch and her dance company in spectacular 3D with thrilling performances of many of her most famous works. DIR/SCR Wim Wenders. CAST Ensemble of Pina Bausch s Tanztheater Wuppertal. Germany/France. Germany s official foreignlanguage Oscar submission. Saturday, November 5, 7:45 p.m., Chinese 1 and Monday, November 7, 4:00 p.m., Chinese 1

6 6 RAMPART: Woody Harrelson gives a ferocious performance as a dirty cop who is embroiled in the Los Angeles Police Department's infamous Rampart corruption scandal. DIR Oren Moverman. SCR James Ellroy, Oren Moverman. CAST Woody Harrelson, Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Ned Beatty, Ben Foster, Ice Cube, Anne Heche, Cynthia Nixon. USA. Saturday, November 5, 10:00 p.m., The Chinese WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN: Tilda Swinton gives a career defining performance as Eva, a reluctant mother whose contentious relationship with her evil son sheds new light on the nature vs. nurture debate. DIR Lynne Ramsay. SCR Lynne Ramsay, Rory Stewart Kinnear. CAST Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller. UK. Wednesday, November 9, 8:00 p.m., Chinese 1 and Thursday, November 10, 4:00 p.m., Chinese 6 Film stills and director headshots are available for press use only and can be downloaded at flickr.com/photos/afifestpublicity/collections.