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).

nutttaro

WP Featured Posts is a plugin choose featured posts, sortable and sticky custom post type.
Features:
<ul>
<li>Easy for choose featured posts.</li>
<li>Easy for ordering featured posts.</li>
<li>Support custom post types.</li>
<li>Sticky custom post types for sticky posts at first.</li>
<li>The plugin is lightweight.</li>
<li>Compatible with WPML.</li>
</ul>

WP Featured Posts

WP Featured Posts is a plugin choose featured posts, sortable and sticky custom post type and compatible with WPML.

Featured Content Showcase vs WP Featured Posts