World Premiere of The Big Short To Close AFI Fest Presented By Audi

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the World Premiere of Paramount Pictures and Regency Enterprises’ THE BIG SHORT will be the Closing Night Gala of AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi on Thursday, November 12 at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Directed by Adam McKay with screenplay by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, based on the Michael Lewis book, "The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine," THE BIG SHORT stars Academy Award®winners Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo and Marisa Tomei; Academy Award®nominees Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling; and Hamish Linklater, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong and Finn Wittrock. THE BIG SHORT opens in theaters on December 11, 2015.Festival passes for purchase, which ensure reserved seats for Closing Night, are available now at AFI.com.

"Great movies demand that we look at our nation and ourselves with an unblinking eye," said Jacqueline Lyanga, Director of AFI FEST. "THE BIG SHORT is the perfect exclamation point to our presentation of the year's best films for its equally humorous, humbling and heart-pounding take on today's America."

The 29th edition of AFI FEST takes place November 5–12, 2015, in the heart of Hollywood. Screenings and Galas will be held at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, Dolby Theatre, the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

As previously announced, the Opening Night Gala will be the World Premiere of BY THE SEA written, directed, produced by and starring Academy Award®winner Angelina Jolie Pitt and co-produced by and starring Academy Award®winner Brad Pitt. The fullfestivallineup and schedule will be unveiled in October.

AFIFESTremains the only global event of its caliber to offer free individual tickets to screenings and events as a gift to the community. These free tickets will be available to the general public online at AFI.com beginning Monday, October 26. Available for purchase now at AFI.com are AFI FEST Patron Packages and Express Passes — which can include access to sold-out Galas and other high-demand films and events.

As part of their membership benefit,AFI members will receive a   complimentary AFI FEST Cinepass, which allows access to all regular screenings at this year's festival. Additionally,AFI members at the Two-Star level and above receive a 10% discount on all AFI FEST Patron Packages and Express Passes. Information aboutAFImembership is available atAFI.com/membership.

For the 12th consecutive year,AFI FEST is proud to have Audi as the presenting sponsor. Additional top sponsors include AT&T; American Airlines, the official airline of AFI; and VIZIO, the official home theater sponsor of AFI. The festival's venue sponsors include the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatres, the Hollywood & Highland Center, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Egyptian Theatre.

About THE BIG SHORT
When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything.

About the American Film Institute
AFI is America's promise to preserve the heritage of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI programs include the AFICatalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award– the highest honor for a career in film;AFI AWARDS, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year;AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI FEST presented by Audi,AFI DOCS and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world renowned AFI Conservatory. For more information about AFI, visit AFI.comor connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilm,facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstituteand youtube.com/AFI.

AboutAFIFESTpresented by Audi
A program of the American Film Institute,AFI FEST presented by Audi is a celebration of global cinema and today's Hollywood — a showcase for the best festival films of the year and an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the movie capital of the world.AFIFESTis the onlyfestivalof its stature that is free to the public. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®. This year's edition takes place November 5-12, 2015. Additional information about AFI FEST is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/AFIFEST,twitter.com/AFIFESTand 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. The Audi Group delivered over 1,741,000 vehicles to customers globally in 2014, and broke all-time company sales records for the 5th straight year in the U.S. Through 2019, AUDI AG plans to invest about 24 billion euros - 70 percent of the investment will flow into the development of new models and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.comor www.audiusa.com/newsroomfor more information regarding Audi vehicles and business topics.

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