AFI picks "Defiance" to close fest

Edward Zwick's "Defiance" has been selected to close AFI Fest 2008.

The film, directed and co-written by Zwick, is based on the true World War II story of three Jewish brothers who form an anti-Nazi movement that saved the lives of over 1200 Jews while hiding out in the dense woods of Nazi-occupied Poland. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star.

Zwick is an AFI alumnus and has been a directing fellow since 1975.

"As part of the AFI family, I am deeply honored they have chosen 'Defiance,' a ten year labor of love, as their closing night film," Zwick said. "As a student at the AFI, I was encouraged to tell stories with meaning and purpose and I have tried to hold onto that belief in my career."

The film will have its world premiere closing night November 9 at ArcLight Hollywood's Cinerama Dome Theatre.