Two Additional Centerpiece Galas and Seven Special Screenings Added To AFI Fest 2015 Presented By Audi

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced two additional Centerpiece Galas at AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi. WHERE TO INVADE NEXT, directed by Michael Moore, will screen on Saturday, November 7 at the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian.

THE 33, directed by Patricia Riggen and starring Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche, James Brolin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Mario Casas, Juan Pablo Raba, Adriana Barraza, Kate del Castillo, Cote de Pablo, Bob Gunton and Gabriel Byrne, will screen onMonday, November 9at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

AFI FEST has also revealed today its Special Screenings section, which will feature 45 YEARS (DIR Andrew Haigh); ANOMALISA (DIR Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, AFI Class of 2006); CAROL (DIR Todd Haynes); LAST DAYS IN THE DESERT (DIR Rodrigo García, AFI Class of 1986); THE LOBSTER (DIR Yorgos Lanthimos); MACBETH (DIR Justin Kurzel); and QUEEN OF THE DESERT (DIR Werner Herzog).

Available for purchase now at AFI.com are AFI FEST Patron Packages — which include access to sold-out Galas and other high-demand films and events — and Express Passes.

Also among the Centerpiece Galas, as previously announced, will be the World Premiere of CONCUSSION (DIR Peter Landesman) onTuesday, November 10. The Opening Night Gala will be the World Premiere of BY THE SEA (DIR Angelina Jolie Pitt) on Thursday, November 5 and the Closing Night Gala will be the World Premiere of THE BIG SHORT (DIR Adam McKay) on Thursday, November 12.

The full festival lineup and schedule will be unveiled on Wednesday, October 21. The 29th edition of AFI FEST will take placeNovember 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, El Capitan Theatre, the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian and The Hollywood Roosevelt.

Opening Night Gala

BY THE SEA– Angelina Jolie Pitt directs and stars alongside Brad Pitt in this 1970's tale of a couple struggling to save their marriage while on vacation in a seaside town. DIR Angelina Jolie Pitt. SCR Angelina Jolie Pitt. CAST Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Melvil Poupaud, Niels Arestrup, Richard Bohringer. USA. World Premiere

Centerpiece Galas

CONCUSSION– Will Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu, who went up against the NFL to raise awareness about football-related brain trauma. DIR Peter Landesman. SCR Peter Landesman. CAST Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arliss Howard, Paul Reiser, Luke Wilson, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, David Morse, Albert Brooks. USA/Australia/UK. World Premiere

THE 33– The harrowing true story of a group of Chilean miners trapped for more than two months underground, and the international teams who worked to save them. DIR Patricia Riggen. SCR Mikko Alanne, Craig Borten and Michael Thomas (AFI Class of 1978). CAST Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche, James Brolin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Mario Casas, Jacob Vargas, Adriana Barraza, Kate del Castillo, Cote de Pablo, Bob Gunton, Gabriel Byrne. USA/Chile

WHERE TO INVADE NEXT– An expansive, rib-tickling and subversive comedy in which Moore, playing the role of “invader,” visits nations to learn how the US could improve its own prospects in this hilarious and eye-opening call to arms. DIR Michael Moore.  USA

Closing Night Gala

THE BIG SHORT– Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell and Brad Pitt star as four men who predicted and bet on the global financial crash when no one else saw it coming. DIR Adam McKay. SCR Adam McKay, Charles Randolph. CAST Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Marisa Tomei, Finn Wittrock. USA. World Premiere

Special Screenings

45 YEARS– British screen icons Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay give brilliant performances in this devastating tale of a marriage upended by a long-buried secret. DIR Andrew Haigh. SCR Andrew Haigh. CAST Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine James, Dolly Wells, David Sibley, Sam Alexander, Richard Cunningham, Hannah Chambers, Camille Ucan, Rufus Wright. UK

ANOMALISA– Charlie Kaufman's and Duke Johnson's unique tale of isolation and interior life centers on a custome r service guru who spends a bizarre night in Cincinnati. DIR Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson. SCR Charlie Kaufman. CAST Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan, David Thewlis. USA

CAROL– Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara give luminous performances in Todd Haynes' gorgeous love story set in postwar New York City. DIR Todd Haynes. SCR Phyllis Nagy. CAST Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy, Cory Michael Smith. UK

LAST DAYS IN THE DESERT– Ewan McGregor gives a stunning dual performance as Jesus and the Devil in this rich and sublime tale of Christ's 40 days in the desert. DIR Rodrigo García. SCR Rodrigo García. CAST Ewan McGregor, Ciarán Hinds, Susan Gray, Tye Sheridan, Ayelet Zurer. USA

THE LOBSTER– Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Léa Seydoux and John C. Reilly star in this science-fictional tale of a world where single people must romantically couple within 45 days or be turned into animals. DIR Yorgos Lanthimos. SCR Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou. CAST Colin Farrell, Jessica Barden, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, Ariane Labed, Aggeliki Papoulia, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Michael Smiley, Ben Whishaw. Ireland/UK/France/Greece/Netherlands.

MACBETH– Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and director Justin Kurzel deliver a haunting, visually stunning adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tragedy. DIR Justin Kurzel. SCR Todd Louiso, Jacob Koskoff, Michael Lesslie. CAST Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, David Thewlis, Paddy Considine. UK

QUEEN OF THE DESERT– Nicole Kidman stars in Werner Herzog's epic true story of explorer, cartographer and archaeologist Gertrude Bell. DIR Werner Herzog. SCR Werner Herzog. CAST Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Damian Lewis, Robert Pattinson. UK. North American Premiere

AFI FEST remains 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 beginningMonday, October 26.

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 about AFI membership is available at AFI.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 TCL Chinese Theatres, Dolby Theatre, the Hollywood & Highland Center, The Hollywood Roosevelt and the Egyptian Theatre.

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.com or www.audiusa.com/newsroom for more information regarding Audi vehicles and business topics.

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 theAFI Catalog 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 DOCSand 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.com or connect with AFI at twitter.com/AmericanFilm,facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute and youtube.com/AFI.

About AFI FEST presented 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. AFI FEST is the only festival of its stature that is free to the public. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Live Action and Animated Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®. This year's edition takes placeNovember 5-12, 2015. Additional information about AFI FEST is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/AFIFEST,twitter.com/AFIFEST and youtube.com/AFIFEST.

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