The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today that Ben Stiller's highly anticipated adaptation of James Thurber's classic short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty which also stars Stiller alongside Kristen Wiig, will make its World Premiere on Saturday, October 5 as the Centerpiece Gala presentation for the upcoming 51st New York Film Festival (September 27 - October 13).
NYFF's Director of Programming and Selection Committee Chair, Kent Jones said, "Ben Stiller has expanded on James Thurber's beloved short story and crafted a beautifully lyrical comic epic, grounded in present day realities and concerns. He is wonderful in the lead, Kristen Wiig is nothing short of magical as the woman of his dreams, and it's great to see Shirley MacLaine in perfect form.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one terrific ride, and I'm thrilled that we're able to present it as our Centerpiece screening."
Stiller directs and stars in the remake of James Thurber's classic story (first published in The
New Yorker in 1939) of a day-dreamer who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. When his job along with that of his co-worker (Kristen Wiig) are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined. Shirley MacLaine, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Patton Oswalt and Sean Penn also star. The
20th Century Fox release is set to open wide on Christmas Day.
Ben Stiller said, "I am incredibly honored and excited to have
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty premiere in the New York Film Festival. When I first heard, I wanted to make sure it was the one at
Lincoln Center and not one in Utica or somewhere. Making this film has been a wonderful collaboration with a really special screenwriter, Steve Conrad, and all the extremely talented cast and crew who worked on this movie. Having grown up a few blocks away on Riverside Drive, I couldn't be happier to have it premiere here."
Rose Kuo, the Executive Director of the Film Society of
Lincoln Center, said "Ben Stiller has long demonstrated an ability to mesh comic imagination with an eye toward the cultural
Zeitgeist and
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is his crowning achievement. We are very excited to welcome him for his debut at the New York Film Festival. We know he grew up in the neighborhood and we realized that he was too talented to keep out forever."
FilmLinc Daily Managing Editor Brian Brooks spoke with Stiller about THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, the film's selection for NYFF's Centerpiece Gala, looking ahead to the debut of the film and his "homecoming" to NYFF and
Lincoln Center. That interview can be found at Filmlinc.com
The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring top films from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones also includes: Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Cinematheque Programming; Gavin Smith, Editor-in-Chief, Film Comment; Amy Taubin, Contributing Editor, Film Comment and Sight and Sound; and Marian Masone, FSLC Associate Director of Programming.
NYFF previously announced Paul Greengrass's CAPTAIN PHILLIPS as its Opening Night Gala selection.
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