AFI Fest Sets World Premiere Of Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Here’ As Centerpiece Gala

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today that the World Premiere of Robert Zemeckis’ Here has been selected as the Centerpiece Gala at this year’s AFI Fest.

The TriStar movie will make its grand splash at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Oct. 25. The pic opens on Nov. 1.

Here, produced by Miramax, reteams the Oscar winning Forrest Gump filmmaker with his cast of Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.

Here is billed as an original drama about multiple families and a special place they inhabit. The story travels through generations, capturing the human experience in its purest form. Forrest Gump scribe Eric Roth and Zemeckis adapted the screenplay from the acclaimed same-name graphic novel by Richard McGuire. Pic also stars Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery. Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Derek Hogue and Bill Block produce.

“Robert Zemeckis is, first and foremost, a master storyteller – and, uniquely, one who has spent a lifetime utilizing the latest technologies to tell the human story,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “Here presents a profoundly powerful emotional experience while also bringing the art of film into the future.”

Ahead of the Centerpiece Screening, AFI will laud Zemeckis with a Directors Spotlight on Thursday, Oct. 24. The evening will feature clips from his work and an in-depth conversation with Zemeckis about his illustrious career that includes several groundbreaking, emotional and innovative films from Forrest Gump to Here.

Said Zemeckis, “AFI serves as a valued institution in the important preservation and celebration of motion pictures, and it is an honor to premiere Here at AFI Fest. I hope audiences will enjoy the film as much as Tom, Robin, Eric and I loved reuniting to bring this story to the screen.”

As previously announced, the World Premiere of the documentary film, Music by John Williams, from Lucasfilm Ltd, Amblin Documentaries and Imagine Documentaries will open the 38th AFI Fest on Wednesday, Oct. 23.