The fall film festival season does not start until the last week of August, but many of the major decisions have been made – now it’s a matter of unveiling them. The first major announcement came last week: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu’s “Birdman” will debut at the Venice Film Festival. Now the second biggest salvo of the season has hit too, and it’s a huge one: David Fincher’s“Gone Girl”will open the New York Film Festival at the end of September.
It’s a bold announcement, but perhaps not a surprising one. The NYFF courted Fincher in 2010 and landed one of the biggest festival premieres that year with “The Social Network” which became an awards season favorite. While “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” did not show up at NYFF, its Christmas release and tight shooting schedule ensured it wouldn’t be ready for any festival that year. Clearly the relationship between Fincher and NYFF has been established here and its continuing to be nurtured.
“Gone Girl” stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike lead the thriller about a man who becomes embroiled within an intense media circus after he’s suspected in the disappearance of his wife. “Gone Girl” opens nationwide on Oct. 3rd. NYFF begins September 26th and “Gone Girl” screen as the Opening Night gala selection. In the meantime, here’s our Fall Festival 50: Our Wishlist For The Venice, Telluride And Toronto Film Festivals. [Variety]