AFI Fest to Showcase ‘King’s Speech,’ ‘Blue Valentine,’ ‘Casino Jack’

Gala screenings at Hollywood-based festival also include Oscar contenders “Rabbit Hole,” “Made in Dagenham” and “Barney’s Version”

“The King’s Speech,” “Blue Valentine,” “Barney’s Version,” “Casino Jack” and “Rabbit Hole” are among the films that will be saluted at AFI Fest 2010 galas and special screenings, the Hollywood-based film festival announced on Wednesday.

The festival, which takes place from November 4 through 11 and is officially called AFI Fest 2010 presented by Audi, had previously announced that its opening-night film will be “Ed Zwick’s “Love & Other Drugs,” and its closing-night attraction Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan.”

Kevin SpaceyThe festival’s six “Centerpiece Galas” will honor actor Diego Luna’s narrative directorial debut, “Abel”; Richard J. Lewis’ comedy “Barney’s Version,” with Paul Giamatti, Richard Dreyfuss and Rosamund Pike; Derek Cianfrance’s gritty “Blue Valentine,” which recently received an NC-17 rating from the MPAA; George Hickenlooper’s political tale “Casino Jack,” with Kevin Spacey as lobbyist Jack Abramoff (left); John Wells’ drama about downsizing, “The Company Men,” with Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Kevin Costner; and an ensemble tribute to Tom Hooper’s “The King’s Speech,” with Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.

“Special Screenings” will include Werner Herzog’s 3D documentary “Cave of Forgotten Dreams,” John Sayles’ “Amigo” and two films high on the Oscar radar, Nigel Cole’s “Made in Dagenham” and John Cameron Mitchell’s “Rabbit Hole.”

Passes and tickets are currently on sale for AFI Fest events. At a later date, free tickets to all screenings will be made available.

Information is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST.

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