The New York Film Festival has announced the 32 films selected for its 64th edition, including new works from James Gray, Tony Gilroy, and Ava DuVernay. The lineup outlines the festival’s opening, centerpiece, and closing selections ahead of its Sept. 25 to Oct. 12 run in New York.
Key Takeaways
- The New York Film Festival announced its 32-film main slate for the 64th edition.
- James Gray’s Paper Tiger will open the festival.
- Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! has been selected as the centerpiece gala.
- Ava DuVernay’s 14th will close the festival with its world premiere.
- The lineup includes new films from several internationally recognized directors.
The New York Film Festival 2026 main slate has been announced by Film at Lincoln Center, confirming the 32 films selected for the festival’s 64th edition. The lineup includes opening, centerpiece, and closing selections from James Gray, Tony Gilroy, and Ava DuVernay, while bringing together new features and documentaries from filmmakers representing multiple countries and filmmaking traditions.
The festival is scheduled to take place from Sept. 25 through Oct. 12 in New York City. Most of the films have already appeared or are expected to appear at other international festivals, while several titles will make their world premieres during the event.
New York Film Festival Announces 32 Main Slate Films
Film at Lincoln Center confirmed that 32 films have been chosen for the festival’s principal lineup. The annual main slate remains the centerpiece of the event and includes feature films and documentaries from established directors working across narrative and nonfiction cinema.
The selection spans productions from North America, Europe, and Asia, bringing together filmmakers returning to the festival alongside several first-time selections. The lineup forms the core schedule of screenings that will take place throughout the festival.
The announcement follows an earlier confirmation that Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus Zero, the sequel to Godzilla Minus One, will receive its world premiere during the festival on Sept. 26 as a special presentation outside the main slate announcement. Readers interested in festival previews can also explore Tribeca Festival Opens 25th Anniversary Event in New York.
Festival organizers stated that all 32 selected films will screen during the event, which runs for nearly three weeks at Film at Lincoln Center’s venues in New York.
Opening, Centerpiece and Closing Films Confirmed
James Gray Opens the Festival
James Gray’s Paper Tiger has been selected as the festival’s opening-night film.
The crime drama is set in Queens and stars Adam Driver and Miles Teller. Its selection places Gray at the forefront of this year’s festival activities as audiences gather for the opening presentation on Sept. 25.
Tony Gilroy Receives Centerpiece Gala
Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! has been named the festival’s centerpiece gala.
The film stars Pedro Pascal as a cellist and is one of the few entries in this year’s main slate that will make its world premiere during the New York Film Festival. The centerpiece gala traditionally serves as one of the signature events within the festival schedule.
Ava DuVernay Closes the Event
Ava DuVernay’s documentary 14th will close the festival.
The documentary will receive its world premiere in New York and examines the history and continuing debate surrounding the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The film follows DuVernay’s earlier documentary 13th, which explored the 13th Amendment and the U.S. criminal justice system. Additional context on her impact in cinema is available in women transforming modern filmmaking.
With its closing-night selection, 14th becomes one of the festival’s highest-profile documentary presentations.
Returning Directors Join the 2026 Lineup
The 2026 main slate includes several filmmakers who have previously presented work at the New York Film Festival.
Pedro Almodóvar returns with Bitter Christmas, while Ryusuke Hamaguchi joins the lineup with All of a Sudden.
Andrew Haigh’s A Long Winter has also been selected, alongside Radu Jude’s The Diary of a Chambermaid.
The lineup further includes Possible Love from Lee Chang-dong, Tender Loving Care from Mike Leigh, Fatherland from Paweł Pawlikowski, and The Man I Love from Ira Sachs.
The collection of returning directors represents multiple national cinemas and a broad range of filmmaking styles while reinforcing the festival’s emphasis on internationally recognized auteurs. The festival’s blend of artistic and cinematic expression echoes themes explored in cinema and visual art intersections.
Festival organizers also stated that the selected works present a mix of narrative features and documentaries across diverse subjects and creative approaches.
Additional Films Expand the Festival Selection
Documentary Selections
Several nonfiction films are included in this year’s lineup.
William and David Greaves’ documentary Once Upon a Time in Harlem has been selected for the festival.
Julia Loktev’s My Undesirable Friends: Part II — Exile also joins the lineup as the continuation of the filmmaker’s documentary project examining contemporary political dissent in Russia.
The inclusion of these titles expands the festival’s documentary offerings alongside DuVernay’s 14th.
International Features
Chris Rock’s Misty Green is among the films selected for the New York Film Festival after its scheduled premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The festival’s international selections also feature filmmakers from Europe and Asia, reflecting the event’s continued emphasis on presenting films from a wide range of creative voices.Â
The lineup combines established directors with new projects that will reach New York audiences during the festival’s scheduled screenings.
Festival Schedule Sets Stage for September Opening
The New York Film Festival will run from Sept. 25 through Oct. 12 at Film at Lincoln Center.
The event will begin with Paper Tiger, continue with the centerpiece gala presentation of Behemoth!, and conclude with the world premiere of 14th.
Alongside the principal lineup, audiences will have the opportunity to attend screenings featuring films announced separately from the main slate, including Godzilla Minus Zero.
The festival schedule brings together feature films and documentaries across multiple screening days, giving audiences access to the complete 32-film main slate during the event.
The announcement establishes the framework for this year’s festival activities while confirming the directors and films that will form the centerpiece of the 64th edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What films open and close the New York Film Festival 2026?
James Gray’s Paper Tiger will open the festival, while Ava DuVernay’s documentary 14th will close the event.
Which movie is the centerpiece of the 2026 New York Film Festival?
Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!, starring Pedro Pascal, has been selected as the festival’s centerpiece gala.
Which directors are included in the 2026 New York Film Festival main slate?
The lineup includes James Gray, Ava DuVernay, Tony Gilroy, Pedro Almodóvar, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Andrew Haigh, Radu Jude, Lee Chang-dong, Mike Leigh, Paweł Pawlikowski, Ira Sachs, Chris Rock, Julia Loktev, and William and David Greaves.
When will the 2026 New York Film Festival take place?
The festival is scheduled to run from Sept. 25 through Oct. 12, 2026, in New York City.
How many films are included in the 2026 New York Film Festival main slate?
The New York Film Festival announced a total of 32 films for its 64th edition main slate.
