Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar to Open AFI Fest

J.Edgar will debut at this year’s AFI Film Festival one week before it’s official limited release November 9. (via Steve Pond at The Wrap)

Over the past decade, four other films directed by Eastwood have made the American Film Institute’s annual list of the year’s best movies: “Mystic River” in 2003, “Million Dollar Baby” in 2004, “Letters from Iwo Jima” in 2006 and “Gran Torino” in 2008.

“Clint Eastwood is an American icon – one whose work as a director, actor, producer and composer not only stands the test of time, but also continues to add new, rich chapters with each passing year,” AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale said in the press release announcing the booking. “ … What an honor it is for the American Film Institute to premiere his latest contribution to America’s cultural legacy.”

The 25th Annual AFI Fest takes place from November 3 through November 10