AFI FEST to premiere Furnace

The new wave of events includes a tribute to Bruce Dern, who won the best actor prize in Cannes for his lead role in Nebraska.

As previously announced, the North American Premiere of Saving Mr. Banks and Inside Llewyn Davis bookend the festival, which runs from November 7-14.

Foxcatcher is no longer part of the programme after Sony Pictures Classics pushed it to 2014. “AFI will be proud to celebrate Foxcatcher when Bennett Miller and his talented team are ready to share it with the world,” said festival director Jacqueline Lyanga.

“Our Centerpiece Galas reflect the diverse cinematic experience at AFI FEST, from our smaller independent films to larger studio releases,” said Lyanga.

“We are thrilled to have the world premiere of Out Of The Furnace; to honour the legendary Bruce Dern for his outstanding career and his brilliant performance in Nebraska; and to take the audience on a journey with The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.”

Relativity Media holds US rights to Out Of The Furnace (pictured) starring Christian Bale, Casey Affleck and Zoe Saldana and will release on December 6. CBS Films has set a December 6 release for the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake, while Fox will release The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty starring Stiller and Kristen Wiig on December 25.

For the fifth consecutive year, AFI FEST will offer free tickets to all screenings, however only holders of the Patron Packages will provide reserved seating for announced galas. 

For the 10th year Audi returns as the festival’s presenting sponsor. Additional sponsors include American Airlines, the official airline of AFI; The American Film Market; AT&T; Coca Cola; The Egyptian Theatre; Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; National Geographic Channel; Stella Artois and TCL Chinese Theatre, among others.