Blockbuster Reveal: New York Film Festival 2026 Unveils Star-Studded Lineup!

The 64th edition of the New York Film Festival (NYFF) has officially unveiled its highly anticipated 32-film main slate, scheduled to run from September 25 through October 12. Artistic director Dennis Lim remarked on the program's profound relevance, stating, "It's hard to recall a prior Main Slate program in which the state of the world has been as urgently reflected in so many creative ways." He emphasized that a cross-section of this lineup offers a vivid picture of contemporary global realities, expressing deep encouragement for introducing New York audiences to the artistry of fearless and imaginative directors.

Anchoring this year's main slate are four prominent world premieres. Tony Gilroy’s “Behemoth!” has been selected as the centerpiece, while Ava DuVernay’s new documentary feature, “14th,” will serve as the closing night selection. Iranian filmmaker Mani Haghighi presents “I Deserve a Lover Whose Every Rise Sets Fiery Dooms Raging Across the Skies,” and Takashi Yamazaki’s monster epic “Godzilla Minus Zero” rounds out these anticipated debuts. The festival will kick off with James Gray’s period thriller “Paper Tiger,” starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller, making its North American premiere.

The lineup heavily features acclaimed titles from the Cannes Film Festival, including several breakouts and prizewinners. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s French-language drama “All of a Sudden” secured a shared best actress prize for Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto. Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri offer their “Mrs. Dalloway” reimagining, “Clarissa,” while Paweł Pawlikowski’s monochrome postwar drama “Fatherland” earned him the best director prize. Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Minotaur,” a Grand Prix winner, also makes a significant appearance. Other Cannes prizewinners include Sandra Wollner’s “Everytime,” which received the Un Certain Regard prize, Emmanuel Marre’s “A Man of His Time” for best screenplay, Valeska Grisebach’s “The Dreamed Adventure” for the Jury Prize, and Marine Atlan’s “La Gradiva,” which won the Critics’ Week Grand Prize.

Beyond the Cannes selections, the main slate includes an array of other buzzy movies. Andrew Haigh's 1950s drama “A Long Winter,” Chris Rock’s Hollywood drama “Misty Green” marking his return behind the camera, and Mike Leigh’s likely final movie “Tender Loving Care” are among the highlights. Other notable entries include Lee Chang-dong’s South Korean drama “Possible Love,” Pedro Almodóvar’s meta-cinematic “Bitter Christmas,” and Ira Sachs’ 1980s New York story “The Man I Love,” featuring Rami Malek. Additional films completing the 32-film program span diverse genres and origins, such as Alain Gomis’ “Dao,” Radu Jude’s “The Diary of a Chambermaid,” Lisandro Alonso’s “Double Freedom,” Nicolás Pereda’s “Everything Else Is Noise,” Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel’s “The Loneliest Man in Town,” Julia Loktev’s “My Undesirable Friends: Part II — Exile,” Angela Schanelec’s “My Wife Cries,” Markus Schleinzer’s “Rose,” and Arthur Harari’s “The Unknown.”

A notable aspect of this year’s festival is the inclusion of 17 directors presenting features in the main slate for the first time. Among these emerging talents are Marine Atlan (“La Gradiva”), Tony Gilroy (“Behemoth!”), William Greaves and David Greaves (“Once Upon a Time in Harlem”), Mani Haghighi (“I Deserve a Lover Whose Every Rise Sets Fiery Dooms Raging Across the Skies”), Emmanuel Marre (“A Man of His Time”), Chris Rock (“Misty Green”), Sompot Chidgasornpongse (“9 Temples to Heaven”), Isabelle Stever (“I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming”), and Andrey Zvyagintsev (“Minotaur”). In a unique distinction, Hong Sangsoo stands as the only filmmaker with two titles in the main selection, showcasing both his 34th feature, “The Day She Returns,” and his 35th, “Nowhere To Lay My Eyes,” the latter starring Kim Min-hee.

Films will be screened in theaters at Lincoln Center, the primary hub, and at four additional venues across New York City. These include the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on Staten Island, and AMC Bay Plaza Cinema in the Bronx, ensuring broad accessibility. The main slate selection committee, instrumental in curating this diverse program, is chaired by Dennis Lim and comprises Florence Almozini, Justin Chang, and Rachel Rosen.

The 64th New York Film Festival promises a rich and expansive cinematic experience, presenting a curated selection that not only entertains but also thoughtfully engages with the contemporary world. Through its array of world premieres, critically acclaimed international features, and a significant showcase of new directorial voices, the festival continues its tradition of highlighting profound and imaginative filmmaking.