Ruth Bader Ginsburg Drama 'On the Basis of Sex' to Open AFI Fest 2018

“On the Basis of Sex,” the drama that tells the story of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, will open the 2018 AFI Fest, the American Film Institute announced Tuesday.

The film will have its world premiere at the festival’s opening night gala that is taking place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Nov. 8. AFI Fest will run until Nov. 15.

Felicity Jones stars as Ginsburg, and Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Jack Reynor, Cailee Spaeny, Sam Waterston and Kathy Bates also star. Mimi Leder directs while Daniel Stiepleman wrote the screenplay.

See Video: Felicity Jones Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg in First Trailer for 'On the Basis of Sex'

Robert Cort will produce, while Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King of Participant Media will executive produce.

“AFI was founded to celebrate excellence in the art form and to ensure it for future generations,” said Bob Gazzale, president & CEO of AFI. “‘On the Basis of Sex’ brings these dual mandates together as one — a story essential to our times and a triumph for one of the first female directors at the AFI Conservatory. It’s our honor to shine a proper light upon Mimi and this landmark film.”

Also Read: Armie Hammer Joins Ruth Bader Ginsburg Biopic 'On the Basis of Sex'

Leder added, “As one of the first women ever admitted to the AFI Conservatory, it’s particularly meaningful to me that ‘On the Basis of Sex’ will open AFI Fest 2018. My time at the Conservatory was a life-changing experience and informed my creative journey. I am forever grateful. The origin story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in this 25th anniversary year of her appointment to the Supreme Court, couldn’t come at a more important moment in our history nor be shown at a more relevant place than AFI Fest, a symbol of artistic integrity and the enduring power of cinema. I hope girls and young women in particular will see the film and find inspiration to realize their own unlimited potential.”

“On the Basis of Sex” follows the young Ginsburg as she teams up with her husband Marty (Hammer) to bring a groundbreaking case before the U.S. Court of Appeals, hoping to overturn gender discrimination.

The drama will be released on Dec. 25, just in time for Ginsburg’s 25th anniversary on the Supreme Court.

Party Report: Miley Cyrus and Bill Murray Are New Drinking Buddies at George Clooney's AFI Bash (Photos)

George Clooney's costars (like Cate Blanchett), pals (like Julia Roberts) and studio heads flooded the home of the Oscars to honor him with the AFI Life Achievement Award on Thursday. Bill Murray and Miley Cyrus' backstage party for two topped the social scene at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
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Three-and-a-half years in, George and Amal are still newlyweds, right?
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Shirley MacLaine pulled an Adrien Brody by stealing a kiss. Clooney produced "The Graduate" spinoff "Rumor Has It" with MacLaine and...
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Jennifer Aniston (far right) with Courtney Cox, Jimmy Kimmel head writer Molly McNearney, and Cindy Crawford posed together. Didn't we just hear that that a "Friends" reunion was "never happening"?

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Clooney's close pal and Casamigos Tequila partner Rande Gerber was on the scene.
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Kimmel (here with Laura Dern backstage) plugged and chugged the pricey booze on stage. With Gerber and developer Mike Meldman, they sold the brand last year in a deal valued at up to $1 billion.
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A billion is what Warner Bros. would love to get out of Cate Blanchett's "Ocean's 8," which opened the morning after. The studio heads hanging with Blanchett, Paramount's Jim Gianopulos and Sony's Tony Vinciquerra, probably have other ideas.
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After Clooney's private gathering of friends at Craig's on Thursday night after the show, the party rolled over to Friday night. The three amigos behind Casamigos - Mike Meldman (left), Gerber (with Crawford), and Clooney - hosted a "House of Friends" dinner at TAO Hollywood. About 100 of their personal friends took over the entire bottom floor of the restaurant for a relaxed, casual, non-pretentious, non-Hollywood (e.g. no red carpet, no randoms) night of tequila and mezcal cocktails from a custom Casamigos bar, sitdown sushi and sweets, and celebration.
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Those flash bulbs popping on Selma were the paps capturing Ryan Seacrest and friends on the way in...
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Inside, he headed right for Clooney.
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For Maria Menounos, a longtime friend of the Casamigos crew, it was an especially poignant birthday on Friday night. A year ago to the day, she had brain surgery to remove a brain tumor. She looked happy and healthy on Friday night and was in high spirits. "I’m so thankful to be healthy and happy today as I turn 40," she posted earlier in the day. "God blessed me with a new lease on life."
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As the DJ spun throwback classics ("Rumors" from Timex Social Club, Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody") guests like the Medavoys (Nicholas, Mike, and Irena), social and fashion captain Rachel Zalis, Hunter and Will Meldman, Thea Andrews, author Angella Nazarian, and Casamigos CEO Lee Einsidler stunned diners elsewhere in the restaurant who only gradually noticed the constellation in their midst.
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The night before back at AFI, the entourage was more business-hours corporate: AFI CEO Bob Gazzale (in deep center) and Clooney's long time publicist and body man Stan Rosenfield (on the chunky cell phone on the red carpet in a nod to the 90's) keep it close.
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From AFI, "Ghostbusters" and "Meatballs" fans would have had a geek meltdown over Murray and director Ivan Reitman just casually hanging out nearly 40 years later.
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There will be a lot more speeches and montages and a lot less of the fun table hopping (with "Ocean's 11" costar Don Cheadle) when TNT airs the AFI show as a 90-minute special on TNT on June 21.
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O Trophy Designer, Where Art Thou? The underwhelming physical prize Clooney took home looks like it may have come from "Star Search"... and it really doesn't matter. With two Oscars, an Emmy, four Golden Globes, a BAFTA, a congratulatory message from President Obama, and near universal approval, the 2018 Life Achievement honoree had a trophy-worthy career long before he got one that matches his hair color.

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Inside the industry’s toast to the actor-producer-politico at the home of the Oscars

George Clooney's costars (like Cate Blanchett), pals (like Julia Roberts) and studio heads flooded the home of the Oscars to honor him with the AFI Life Achievement Award on Thursday. Bill Murray and Miley Cyrus' backstage party for two topped the social scene at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

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Party Report: Miley Cyrus and Bill Murray Are New Drinking Buddies at George Clooney's AFI Bash (Photos)

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