Word just over the Movieline transom reports that the 49th New York Film Festival will open Sept. 30 with Carnage, Roman Polanski's screen adaptation of Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage.
Starring Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz as a pair of ruthlessly dueling couples, Carnage marks a departure from both the zeitgeisty firepower of last year's NYFF opener The Social Network and the festival's historic tendency toward showcasing world premieres on opening night. (Bowing next month at Venice, Carnage will instead be a North American premiere.) Moreover, when was the last time the NYFF's opening-night filmmaker didn't show up for his premiere? Trend-bucking abounds! And what of longtime NYFF pal Clint Eastwood's awards bait J. Edgar? Closing night in New York? Opening night of AFI Fest? No fest? So many questions.
Anyway, the full festival news release is below, accompanied by ticketing information. Stay tuned to Movieline for more info about the 49th New York Film Festival as program details and other events are announced...
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New York, NY, July 29, 2011 - The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today that Roman Polanski's CARNAGE will make its North American Premiere as the Opening Night film for the upcoming 49th New York Film Festival (September 30 - October 16).
"From KNIFE IN THE WATER (which screened at the first edition of NYFF in 1963) to REPULSION to THE TENANT, Roman Polanski has shown himself to be an absolute master at making the most restricted spaces come to dramatic life. In CARNAGE, aided by four remarkable performances, he has reached a new pinnacle in his already extraordinary career," says Richard Peña, Selection Committee Chair & Program Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Based on Yasmina Reza's "God of Carnage", the 2009 Tony Award-winner for Best Play, CARNAGE follows the events of an evening when two Brooklyn couples are brought together after their children are involved in a playground fight. Produced by Said Ben Said, the Sony Pictures Classics release stars Academy Award winners Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz and Academy Award nominee John C. Reilly.
Commenting on the Opening Night Selection, Rose Kuo, Executive Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, said, "We are delighted to kick off the festival with a quintessential New York story featuring superb performances from a quartet of the finest actors working today. The film will certainly provoke the kind of discussions about contemporary issues that guarantee a memorable night."
The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring top films from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Peña also includes: Melissa Anderson, Freelance Critic; Scott Foundas, Associate Program Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center; Dennis Lim, Editor, Moving Image Source & Freelance Critic; and Todd McCarthy, Chief Film Critic, The Hollywood Reporter.
General Public tickets will be available September 12th. There will be an advance ticketing opportunity for Film Society of Lincoln Center Patrons and Members prior to that date. For more information visit www.Filmlinc.com/NYFF or call 212 875 5601.
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