The 64th New York Film Festival begins on September 25, and so far three films have been announced, including the opening and closing night selections.
As one of the longest-running and most revered film festivals in the world, there’s always anticipation over what will premiere.
This year’s festival is shaping up to be promising, with the first three announcements already generating excitement.
Film News Blitz writer Jude Chisman outlines what we know so far.
Opening night: Paper Tiger
The festival opens with Paper Tiger, directed by New York-born James Gray.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it competed for the Palme d’Or.
It received a 10-minute standing ovation, making it a fitting choice to open the festival.
The crime drama stars Miles Teller, Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.
Set in 1980s Queens, New York, it follows a pair of brothers. The two become entangled with the Russian mafia, testing their bond and their belief in the American dream.
New York Film Festival Artistic Director Dennis Lim described the film as a “career-best achievement.”
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Centrepiece: Behemoth!
Behemoth!, directed by fellow New York filmmaker Tony Gilroy, will premiere as the festival’s centerpiece in October.
The Academy Award-nominated director is best known for his work on the Bourne franchise and for creating the Star Wars prequel series Andor.
The film stars Pedro Pascal, Olivia Wilde and Eva Victor.
It follows Alex (Pascal), a cellist rebuilding his life after leaving a toxic relationship with his ex, played by Wilde.
In the second “career-best” performance highlighted at this year’s festival, Pascal’s work has received widespread praise.
Closing night: 14TH
Closing the festival on October 9 is Ava DuVernay’s documentary 14TH, a decade after her acclaimed documentary 13TH also closed the festival.
Serving as a spiritual follow-up, 14TH explores how America’s 14th Amendment is being challenged, building on the themes of 13TH, which examined the loopholes of the 13th Amendment.
The documentary features contributions from a range of American legal experts, cultural commentators, and current and former senators. Among them are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Senator Jeff Flake, and cultural commentator Hasan Piker.
Lim again praised the film, saying: “Ava has made a film that shows us precisely what led us here, and what is at stake right now.”
These three films will join the likes of Pulp Fiction, The Darjeeling Limited, Life of Pi and Gone Girl as titles screened at the New York Film Festival.
They are only the first announcements for this year’s festival, with many more feature films, shorts and retrospectives still to be revealed.
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