AFI Fest: ‘American Sniper’ locked and loaded as 2014 ‘secret screening’

Clint Eastwood’s military drama “American Sniper” will debut Tuesday night in the “secret screening” slot at this year’s AFI Fest, festival organizers have announced. The film will screen at 9 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Opening in limited release on Christmas Day from Warner Bros. and expanding Jan. 16, the fact-based drama stars Bradley Cooper as the late Navy SEAL and sharpshooter Chris Kyle, a Texas native who served four tours of duty in Iraq and became known as the most accurate marksman in U.S. military history. His lethal aim even earned him the nickname “the Devil of Ramadi” from Iraqi insurgents.

“American Sniper” is based on Kyle’s bestselling 2012 memoir of the same name and also stars Sienna Miller, Max Charles and Luke Grimes. The film is a passion project for Cooper, who has been working to bring the story to the big screen since before Kyle’s tragic death in February 2013 at the hands of a troubled veteran.

Eastwood directed the film from a script by Jason Hall.

“Clint Eastwood is an American icon,” AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale said in a statement. “His are stories that stand the test of time, and we are proud and honored to unveil his latest masterpiece.”

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