‘The Debut,’ directed by Jesse Eisenberg, to open San Diego International Film Festival

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Kicking off this year’s San Diego International Film Festival is a movie that showcases the power and pull of performing.

“The Debut” stars Julianne Moore as Mona Friedman, a shy housewife whose life is upended after she’s cast in a bit part at a small community theater in New Jersey. Paul Giamatti co-stars as the production’s demanding director.

During the musical comedy, produced by Emma Stone and also starring Halle Bailey, Bernadette Peters, Mona becomes an enthusiastic method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role — even if it means warring against its director.

“I felt like it was a great film to kick the festival off,” said festival co-founder and CEO Tonya Mantooth.

“It’s funny, it’s poignant, it’s heartfelt and Julianne Moore is brilliant,” she added. “I think she will absolutely be nominated for Best Actress and I believe Paul Giamatti will be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. It is really a delight.”

The film is written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. He’s best known for playing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in “The Social Network” (2010) for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.

This is the second film Eisenberg has directed, after the comedy-drama “When You Finish Saving the World” (2022) which stars Moore and Finn Wolfhard as a mother and son who have a contentious relationship.

“He’s also in ‘The Debut,” he has a smaller role,” Mantooth said of Eisenberg. “He’s an incredible talent.”

“The Debut,” 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at the LOT movie theater, La Jolla. An opening night pre-party is planned for 5:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, see the SDIFF Opening Night page.