Steven Spielberg’s new film ‘Lincoln’ premieres at AFI Film Festival (Video)

“Lincoln” had its premiere during AFI Fest 2012 presented by Audi at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on November 8, 2012 in Hollywood, California. “Lincoln” was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and David Strathairn.

Posing for photographs at the red carpet premiere were director Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, filmmaker Jon Favreau, Grainger Hines, cinematrographer Janusz Kaminski, Jo Champa, Gulliver McGrath, writer Doris Kearns Goodwin, filmmaker David Oyelowo, Walton Goggins, Bruce McGill, Hal Holbrook, AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale, Teresa Palmer, writer Tony Kushner, Joseph Cross, Gregory Itzin, David Costabile, Camryn Manheim, Jared Harris, Tommy Lee Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, James Spader, Gloria Reuben, Dakin Matthews, Robert Herjavec, Mike Shiflett, Jessica Oyelowo, Eliza Baldi, Kevin Ryan, AFI FEST Director Jacqueline Lyanga, AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale, Walton Goggins, Jessica Capshaw, Julie White, Joseph Cross, David Warshofsky, Lisa Benavides, Tim Blake Nelson, Teresa Palmer, Mike Shiflett, Kate Capshaw, Destry Allyn Spielberg, Sasha Spielberg, Gregory Itzin, Judie Itzin and Dawn Jones.

In “Lincoln,” as the Civil War continues to rage, America’s president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

“Lincoln” debuted at the New York Film Festival last October and will be put in a limited release on Friday, November 9. It will battle for box office dollars with the new Bond flick “Skyfall,” the romantic drama “A Royal Affair,” and the comedy “Nature Calls.”

“Lincoln” is rated PG-13 for an intense scene of war violence, some images of carnage and brief strong language and has a run-time of 2 hours and 29 minutes.

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Whatever your movie choice this week, please remember your movie theater etiquette: silence your cell phones & no texting, please don’t talk during the film and remove your children if they become a distraction to other audience members. Don’t forget that laughing, crying and cheering are always approved behavior and even encouraged.

-Kay Shackleton is a film historian with special focus on Silent Films, see her work at SilentHollywood.com