The American Film Institute’s AFI Fest 2013 will kick off with Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks, starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. Legendary French director Agnes Varda has been picked as the guest artistic director.
Saving Mr. Banks will have its North american premiere with a gala opening on Nov. 7, organizers said today. The first trailer for the film was released in July. It tells the story of how Walt Disney (Hanks) helped convince Marry Poppins author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to allow him to make the 1964 film.
On the next day, the AFI Fest will host the world premiere of Foxcatcher, the new film from Moneyball and Capote director Bennett Miller. The thriller stars Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Sienna Miller and Vanessa Redgrave.
The Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, which premiered at Cannes and is considered a Best Picture Oscar contender, will also be shown during the festival. The film was picked to close the AFI Fest on Nov. 14.
Varda is considered the “mother of French New Wave cinema” and she plans on presenting films that were inspired by her famous films, including Cleo from 5 to 7.
The AFI Fest organizers will announce the full line-up at a later date.
image: Trailer