The fall film festival circuit is ramping up, and it’ll be a nice change from what has been a pretty disappointing summer movie season. The Toronto International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and New York Film Festival have all announced their full lineups, while the Telluride Film Festival will unveil its goods on Thursday. Additionally, the AFI Film Festival has thrown its first salvo into the crowded festival landscape.
Today, AFI announced the world premiere of 20th Century Fox‘s “Rules Don’t Apply,” written, directed, produced and starring AFI Life Achievement Award recipient and Academy Award winner Warren Beatty. The picture serve as the Opening Night Gala of AFI FEST 2016, and its cast also includes Alec Baldwin, Annette Bening, Candice Bergen, Steve Coogan and Ed Harris, as well as Haley Bennett, Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, Lily Collins, Alden Ehrenreich, Taissa Farmiga, Megan Hilty, Oliver Platt and Martin Sheen. Here’s the official synopsis for the film:
It’s Hollywood, 1958. Small town beauty queen and devout Baptist virgin Marla Mabrey (Collins), under contract to the infamous Howard Hughes (Beatty), arrives in Los Angeles. At the airport, she meets her driver Frank Forbes (Ehrenreich), who is engaged to be married to his 7th grade sweetheart and is a deeply religious Methodist. Their instant attraction not only puts their religious convictions to the test, but also defies Hughes’ number one rule: no employee is allowed to have any relationship whatsoever with a contract actress. Hughes’ behavior intersects with Marla and Frank in very separate and unexpected ways, and as they are drawn deeper into his bizarre world, their values are challenged and their lives are changed.
“Warren Beatty has charmed and challenged moviegoers from his first moment onscreen, and his talents as an actor, director, writer and producer have always transcended trends,” AFI President & CEO Bob Gazzale said. “AFI is honored to present the World Premiere of his newest gift to America’s cultural legacy.”
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The 30th edition of AFI FEST takes place from November 10th to 17th, and “Rules Don’t Apply” opens on November 23rd. The full festival lineup and schedule will be unveiled in October. What else could there be? Look for movies coming out in December and one bet is Ben Affleck’s “Live By Night,” which looks like its going to move back from its January date and open in limited release sometime around Christmas.