‘The Artist’ gala screening at AFI Fest

“The Artist” star Jean Dujardin hits the red carpet screening with his costar Uggie the Dog. Dujardin plays the swashbuckling silent film actor George Valentin, who struggles with the 1920s entertainment industry’s transition from silent films to talkies. Uggie plays his companion Jack.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Berenice Bejo plays Peppy Miller, a girl in the crowd who gets a big break in the film when she meets George.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

John Goodman plays Kinograph Studios head Al Zimmer in the film. Zimmer offers George an upcoming look at the talkie venture, which George rejects almost immediately.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Uggie, a Jack Russell terrier, gets a close-up in his bow tie.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Missi Pyle, right, and her sister Meredith Pyle, get close on the red carpet. Missi plays Constance, one of George’s costars, in “The Artist.”  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Berenice Bejo greets Uggie the dog, carried by Jean Dujardin.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Ed Lauter plays “the distinguished gentleman” in the silent film.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

James Cromwell plays George’s chauffer Clifton in the film.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Penelope Ann Miller plays George’s long-suffering wife Doris, who is appalled by Peppy’s spotlight.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Malcolm McDowell, who plays the butler in the film, arrives with his wife, Kelley Kuhr.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

“Two and a Half Men” actor Joel Murray plays a police officer in the film.   (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Ken Davitian plays a pawnbroker in the silent film.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Beth Grant plays Peppy’s maid.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Ben Kurland plays a casting assistant in “The Artist.”  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Jen Lilley plays an onlooker in the film.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

French actress Roxane Mesquida.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

French film director Luc Dardenne and writer Jean Pierre Dardenne attend the screening. Their film “The Kid With a Bike” is also showing at the AFI Film Festival.   (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

“Call Me Fritz” actress Joanna Cassidy.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

“W.E.” actress Natalie Gal.  (Katy Winn / Associated Press)

Jean Dujardin, left, actress Berenice Bejo and director Michel Hazanavicius pose together at the after-party for the AFI screening of “The Artist.”  (Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)