Financial crisis drama ‘The Big Short’ to close the AFI Fest on Nov. 12

The American Film Institute announced Tuesday that the AFI Fest’s closing-night presentation will be the world premiere of “The Big Short,” the real-life story of four Wall Street outsiders who bet against the big banks ahead of the global financial crisis of the late 2000s.

Directed by Adam McKay (“Anchorman”) and based on author Michael Lewis’ bestseller “The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine,” the film will screen on Nov. 12 at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

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“Great movies demand that we look at our nation and ourselves with an unblinking eye,” AFI Fest director Jacqueline Lyanga said in a statement. “ ‘The Big Short’ is the perfect exclamation point to our presentation of the year’s best films for its equally humorous, humbling and heart-pounding take on today’s America.”

Boasting a starry ensemble cast that includes Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Marisa Tomei, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling, the Paramount Pictures and New Regency Enterprises film comes to theaters in limited release Dec. 11 and then opens wide Dec. 23, squarely in the heart of awards season.

The 29th edition of the AFI Festival will take place Nov. 5-12 at various theaters in Hollywood. The full lineup and schedule will be announced in October. For more information go to AFI’s website.

Twitter: @joshrottenberg