New York Film Festival Opening Night Announced-The Social Network

“It’s exceptionally rare to discover a film that so powerfully captures the spirit of its time; The Social Network is such a film. David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin are a director/writer team, like Lumet and Chayefsky before them, that make this movie not only of the moment, but reflective of larger cultural issues as well, and confirm their position at forefront of contemporary cinema,” says Richard Peña, Selection Committee Chair & Program Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center.

On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new ideaem. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history… but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications. From director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin comes The Social Network, a film that proves you don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, and Ceán Chaffin and based on the book “The Accidental Billionaires” by Ben Mezrich.

Commenting on the Opening Night Selection, Mara Manus, Executive Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, said, “Our mission is to bring our audience films that entertain, spark a dialogue, and speak to the moment. That is the best of what film can do, and it is why The Social Network is the perfect choice to kick off this year’s New York Film Festival. David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin have focused their lenses on a story of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal, with a multifaceted character at the center who is as complex as he is clever. This is just the kind of film that our audience wants to see and we’re thrilled to be hosting the world premiere.”