Mimi Leder’s On the Basis of Sex will Open the AFI Fest

The AFI, after New York, is last chance Texaco for Oscar movies and has been known to launch a contender or two, like Selma, like American Sniper.

The film will be released theatrically on December 25th, but will open the AFI Fest in early November. The fest takes place November 8–15, 2018. The full festival lineup and schedule will be unveiled in October.

On the Basis of Sex will be a dramatic telling of the compelling early life of living legend Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The documentary RBG is a must-see, and one of the most uplifting films you’ll see all year. The film stars Felicity Jones as Ginsberg, and also stars Armie Hammer as her beloved husband Marty. Kathy Bates, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston also star.

“As one of the first women ever admitted to the AFI Conservatory, it’s particularly meaningful to me that ON THE BASIS OF SEX will open AFI FEST 2018,” said Mimi Leder. “My time at the Conservatory was a life-changing experience and informed my creative journey. I am forever grateful. The origin story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in this 25th anniversary year of her appointment to the Supreme Court, couldn’t come at a more important moment in our history nor be shown at a more relevant place than AFI FEST, a symbol of artistic integrity and the enduring power of cinema. I hope girls and young women in particular will see the film and find inspiration to realize their own unlimited potential.”

“This bold story of an incredible woman is the perfect film to launch this year’s AFI FEST in the backyard of Hollywood, and to a community of avid movie lovers,” said Michael Lumpkin, Director, AFI Festivals. “Mimi Leder’s timely tale resounds with the themes of this year’s festival, a showcase for powerful films that speak to the here and now.”