Good news for film fanatics: The American Film Institute has announced additional Centerpiece Galas and Special Screenings for the upcoming AFI Fest, which runs from November 7 to 14. We hear a world premiere and some serious Oscar bait will be screened before their official release dates in theaters.
Each night of the festival will have a red carpet Gala. The additional Centerpiece Galas are August: Osage County (directed John Wells) on Friday, November 8; The Last Emperor 3D (directed by Bernardo Bertolucci) on Sunday, November 10; and the World Premiere of Lone Survivor (directed Peter Berg) on Tuesday, November 12. All Galas will be held in the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
AFI FEST's Special Screenings are Her (directed by Spike Jonze); The Invisible Woman (directed by Ralph Fiennes); Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (directed by Justin Chadwick); Philomena (directed by Stephen Frears); and The Unknown Known: The Life and Times of Donald Rumsfeld (directed by Errol Morris).
Agnès Varda, considered "the Mother of French New Wave cinema," will serve as Guest Artistic Director. The North American Premiere of Saving Mr. Banks (directed by John Lee Hancock) is the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, November 7 and Inside Llewyn Davis (directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen) is the Closing Night Gala on Thursday, November 14.
Bonus: The Star Patron Package and Marquee Patron Package offers reserved seating for the festival's announced Galas and the Special Screenings Pass offers priority seating for all of the festival's Special Screenings. These and other AFI Fest Passes are available at AFI.com/AFIFEST.