The Big Short Closes the Audi-Presented AFI Film Fest

The 29th AFI Film Fest came to a close in a big way: with the world premiere of Paramount Pictures and Regency Enterprises’ The Big Short—and an accompanying slew of star power.

Stars Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carrell, Marisa Tomei, Hamish Linklater, Finn Wittrock and Melissa Leo were all present and accounted for at the Audi-presented film festival on Thursday evening at Hollywood’s TLC Chinese Theatre, though co-star Brad Pitt—who actually kicked off the festival with By the Sea on Nov. 5— was noticeably absent.

The film, which officially opens in theaters on Dec. 11, is a serious look (in a sometimes tongue-in-cheek way given that McKay is the director; he’s Will Ferrell’s producing partner at Gary Sanchez Productions) at the housing bubble collapse of 2008.  The screenplay was written by McKay and Charles Randolph; it is based on the Michael Lewis book, “The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine.”

VIP guests at the fete were invited to eat, drink and be merry prior to and after the premiere at Audi’s Sky Lounge in the Roosevelt Hotel, where the film’s official afterparty also happened to be taking place.

Audi, who has sponsored AFI Film Fest for twelve consecutive years, also had their brand-new 2016 Audi TTS on site.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Audi