’12 Years a Slave’ to Get U.S. Premiere at New York Film Festival

Steve McQueen‘s 12 Years a Slave will get its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival, it was announced Friday.

The director and castmembers Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Adepero Oduye, Paul Dano and Alfre Woodard will be on hand to present the film.

The movie tells the true story of a free black man, Solomon Northup, from upstate New York, played by Ejiofor, who’s sold into slavery and has to fight for his freedom. Fassbender plays a malevolent slave owner. Brad Pitt also stars as a Canadian abolitionist.

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The premiere, set for Oct. 8, will be presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Film Comment magazine.

“I am honored that 12 Years a Slave will be presented at the New York Film Festival in association with Film Comment,” McQueen said in a statement. “For me, this feels like a true homecoming for Solomon, as he was from New York, and I’m delighted that his story can be celebrated here.”

Fox Searchlight is set to release 12 Years a Slave on Oct. 18. The movie is getting a sneak peek at the Telluride Film Festival before playing the Toronto Film Festival in September.