Aaron D. Campbell

Used to create a customizable rotating slideshow highlighting certain posts or 
pages. You can choose which posts or pages are featured by simply checking a 
checkbox on the write posts/page screen. The plugin uses the new post thumbnail 
functionality added in WordPress 2.9.
Requires PHP5.

Featured Content Showcase

Used to create a customizable rotating slideshow highlighting certain posts or pages.  Uses jQuery, which comes with WordPress (no conflicts).

sumitsurai

This plugin allows you to create unlimited custom groups of featured posts. 
Admin can create unlimited groups and assign the posts under one or multiple groups. 
The widget section allows the admin to show these groups of featured posts. The widget section is hugely customizable to enter HTML and CSS to give the featured posts blocks the desired look. 
Please refer to the help section for more details.

Featured Posts with Multiple Custom Groups (FPMCG)

This plugin allows you to create unlimited custom groups of featured posts.

Featured Content Showcase vs Featured Posts with Multiple Custom Groups (FPMCG)