Natalie Portman’s ‘Jackie’ Set for AFI Fest Gala Screening

Dave McNary

The American Film Institute has selected Fox Searchlight’s “Jackie,” starring Natalie Portman and directed by Pablo Larraín, as a Centerpiece Gala at the AFI Fest on Nov. 14 at the TCL Chinese.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and has been set for a Dec. 2 opening. The film is a psychological portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy in the days following the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963.

The film also stars Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup and John Hurt. Producers are Juan De Dios Larraín, Darren Aronofsky (AFI Class of 1992), Mickey Liddell, Scott Franklin and Ari Handel.

The AFI Fest opens Nov. 10 with Warren Beatty’s “Rules Don’t Apply.” The festival has also announced that it will host the world premiere of Robert De Niro’s “The Comedian” on the following night.

The festival has also set a Nov. 13 tribute screening of Isabelle Huppert’s “Elle,” a Nov. 15 gala for “La La Land” and a Nov. 16 gala for Annette Bening’s “20th Century Women.”

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Annette Bening's '20th Century Women' to Screen at AFI Fest

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