New York Film Festival Updates: ‘Gone Girl’ Adaptation Starring Ben Affleck To Open Festival, Edward Snowden Documentary ‘CITIZENFOUR’ Gets World Premiere

The New York Film Festival is the next major stop for most films planning to have a spot on the Oscar shortlists in February. This year, two films that have yet to make their debut will enter the race to the Dolby theater during the festival. David Fincher's latest, "Gone Girl," which stars Ben Affleck, is set to premiere as the opening ceremony film. Additionally, "CITIZENFOUR," a documentary about whistleblower Edward Snowden, has just nabbed a spot in the festival's main slate.

Recently, Ben Affleck spoke to Screenrant about his upcoming role in "Gone Girl," the film adaptation of the novel by Gillian Flynn: "I actually think this is the perfect date movie...it's the kind of movie that a husband and wife could talk about afterwards. I think a man and a woman would have different takes on what happens." While most people might be looking for Affleck to suit up as Batman in upcoming DC Comics "Batman V Superman," they should remember that not too long ago the actor was winning a Best Picture Oscar for "Argo."

As for whether "Gone Girl" will get him back to this year's Academy Awards, the fact that it's a film directed by David Fincher and an adaptation of a novel that critics loved are good predictors that the film could impress. It's set for its world premiere at the New York Film Festival's opening night, and will get a theatrical release on October 3rd.

There are plenty of other great films on the slate for this year's festival, but one in particular might be necessary viewing for anyone following U.S. politics these days. That film is "CITIZENFOUR," a new documentary directed by Laura Poitras. The official New York Film Festival site describes the film as "a 100% real-life thriller unfolding minute by minute before our eyes." The subject matter of the film is Edward Snowden, the now famous whistleblower who exposed "massive covert surveillance" run by the NSA.

According to Deadline, "CITIZENFOUR," "from RADiUS, in association with Participant Media and HBO Documentary Films, opens theatrically on October 24." That's good news for those of us not lucky enough to attend the actual festival, which begins on September 26th.