Here’s the thing about premiering your movie at the Cannes Film Festival, and then hoping to ride that wave to Oscar glory — it ain’t as easy as you might think. Last year, the Coen Brothers‘ "Inside Llewyn Davis" got no shortage of love on the Croisette and strong reviews followed, but it only mustered two nominations by the time the Academy Awards rolled around. So can "Foxcatcher" succeed where "Inside Llewyn Davis" couldn’t? That will be one of the questions posed over the next several months, but the film is certainly heading into the awards season battle right to fight.
AFI Fest has announced that "Foxcatcher" will be the Closing Night Gala film on Thursday, November 13th. It’s a splashy and smart way to get the movie back on the radar, screening at the last major American film festival before critics groups start announcing winners at the start of December. It’s also a nice bit of promo for the movie, which will open a day later in cinemas on November 14th. And fun fact, "Foxcatcher" was set to premiere at AFI last year, before it was delayed so Miller could have more time to put the finishing touches on it.
Until then, here’s a 30-minute talk with stars Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and director Bennett Miller from the Toronto International Film Festival last month. Full press release from AFI also below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, LOS ANGELES, CA, October 6, 2014 – The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today that Sony Pictures Classics’ FOXCATCHER, directed by Academy Award®nominee Bennett Miller and starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Academy Award® nominee Mark Ruffalo, Academy Award® winner Vanessa Redgrave and Sienna Miller, will be the Closing Night Gala of AFI FEST presented by Audi on Thursday, November 13 at the Dolby Theatre®.
"Bennett Miller and the film’s incredible cast are going to close the festival and our last night at the iconic Dolby Theatre with an enthralling psychological drama that is one of the highlights of American independent filmmaking this year," said Jacqueline Lyanga, Director, AFI FEST.
To attend the Closing Night Gala of FOXCATCHER with reserved seats, guests must purchase a festival package at the Star Patron or Marquee Patron levels. These and other AFI FEST Patron Packages and Passes – that can include access to sold-out galas and other high-demand films and events – are on sale now at AFI.com/AFIFEST. AFI members at the Two-Star level and above receive a 10% discount on all AFI FEST Patron Packages and Passes. AFI Members will be given access to regular screenings with a Cinepass for this year’s festival. Information about AFI Membership is available at AFI.com/membership. The American Film Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and cultural organization, and Patron Packages are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
Free individual tickets to AFI FEST screenings and galas will be available to the general public online at AFI.com beginning Friday, October 24.
The Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards®, will be the festival’s newest venue for red carpet galas from November 10-13. The Dolby Theatre, an iconic Hollywood landmark, provides filmmakers an impressive platform to showcase their work with the very best in audio and imaging capabilities.
AFI FEST will take place November 6 through 13 in Hollywood, CA, at the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. As previously announced, the Opening Night Gala will be the world premiere of A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (DIR J.C. Chandor) on Thursday, November 6 and Sophia Loren will be honored with a special Tribute on Wednesday, November 12. The full festival lineup will be unveiled later this month.
For the 11th year, Audi is the festival’s presenting sponsor. Additional top sponsors include AT&T, Coca-Cola, VIZIO, American Airlines (the official airline of AFI) and Stella Artois. 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 FOXCATCHER
FOXCATCHER tells the story of Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Tatum), who sees a way out from the shadow of his more celebrated wrestling brother Dave (Ruffalo) and a life of poverty when he is summoned by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont (Carell) to move onto his estate and train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Desperate to gain the respect of his disapproving mother, du Pont begins "coaching" a world-class athletic team and begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle and erodes the athlete’s already shaky self-esteem. Fueled by du Pont’s mercurial personality, increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen. Based on actual events, FOXCATCHER, directed by Bennett Miller, is a gripping and profoundly American story of brotherly love, misguided loyalty, and the corruption and emotional bankruptcy that can accompany great power and wealth.
