..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

October 22, 2008

For Immediate Release:

AFI FEST 2008 PRESENTED BY AUDI ANNOUNCES
THE CANCELLATION OF
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “THE SOLOIST”
 AS OPENING NIGHT FILM

FESTIVAL WILL ANNOUNCE NEW OPENING NIGHT FILM TOMORROW

Los Angeles, CA, October 22, 2008—AFI FEST 2008 presented by Audi: AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival announces THE SOLOIST has been pulled as the Festival’s Opening Night Gala presentation. AFI FEST will announce its new Opening Night film tomorrow.
   
In a joint statement from Paramount Pictures, Dreamworks Pictures and Participant Media: “Due to the change in THE SOLOIST release date, we unfortunately had to withdraw from the AFI FEST Film Festival. It was an honor to be invited as the Opening Night film and we are very grateful to the festival for their support and understanding. THE SOLOIST filmmakers, DreamWorks, Universal, Participant and Paramount are very proud of this film and we are excited and committed to bring it to the world in March.”
  
“While we are greatly disappointed that AFI FEST will not have the opportunity to offer the World Premiere of THE SOLOIST, AFI's priority is to honor the artists. We wish to be supportive in any endeavor that will help a film of this quality reach a greater audience,” said AFI FEST Artistic Director Rose Kuo.

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