The 2015 New York Film Fest has locked in its main slate of features, with a total of 26 films on the roster including the world premiere of Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies” with Tom Hanks, as well as festival-circuit highlights Todd Haynes’ “Carol,” Michael Moore’s “Where to Invade Next,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Lobster” and John Crowley’s “Brooklyn.”
The New York Film Fest has become an increasingly important stop for features angling for awards-season attention, lending a patina of prestige to the titles that earn a spot on the competitive, tightly curated main slate of 25 to 30 films.
Recent NYFF alumni including “Gone Girl” (2014), “Life of Pi” (2012) and “The Social Network” (2010) went on to become serious players in the annual movie-industry trophy derby, as did “Hugo” (2011), which bowed as one of the festival’s “secret screenings.”
As always, the latest NYFF slate includes a robust segment of international films of note, including Michel Gondry’s “Microbe & Gasoline,” Miguel Gomes’ three-part documentary-fantasy hybrid “Arabian Nights,” Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Journey to the Shore,” Hou Hsiao-hsien’s “The Assassin,” Chantal Akerman’s “No Home Movie” and Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s “Cemetery of Splendour.”
The NYFF organizers have already announced the films to score special screenings during the 2015 edition, with Robert Zemeckis’ “The Walk” opening the festival, Danny Boyle’s “Steve Jobs” set for centerpiece and Don Cheadle’s “Miles Ahead” as the closer. Sidebar programming will be announced in the coming weeks.
The 53rd New York Film Festival runs September 25-October 11, although the festival’s opening night screening of “The Walk” will screen Sep 26 in order to avoid logistical snarls caused by the Pope’s simultaneous visit to New York City.
THE 53rd NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL MAIN SLATE
Opening Night: The Walk
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Centerpiece: Steve Jobs
Director: Danny Boyle
Closing Night: Miles Ahead
Director: Don Cheadle
Arabian Nights: Volume 1, The Restless One
Arabian Nights: Volume 2, The Desolate One
Arabian Nights: Volume 3, The Enchanted One
Director: Miguel Gomes
The Assassin
Director: Hou Hsiao-hsien
Bridge of Spies
Director: Steven Spielberg
Brooklyn
Director: John Crowley
Carol
Director: Todd Haynes
Cemetery of Splendour
Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Les Cowboys
Director: Thomas Bidegain
Don’t Blink: Robert Frank
Director: Laura Israel
Experimenter
Director: Michael Almereyda
The Forbidden Room
Directors: Guy Maddin & Evan Johnson
In the Shadow of Women / L’Ombre des femmes
Director: Philippe Garrel
Journey to the Shore / Kishibe no tabi
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
The Lobster
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Maggie’s Plan
Director: Rebecca Miller
The Measure of a Man / La Loi du marché
Director: Stéphane Brizé
Mia Madre
Director: Nanni Moretti
Microbe & Gasoline / Microbe et Gasoil
Director: Michel Gondry
Mountains May Depart
Director: Jia Zhangke
My Golden Days / Trois Souvenirs de ma jeunesse
Director: Arnaud Desplechin
No Home Movie
Director: Chantal Akerman
Right Now, Wrong Then
Director: Hong Sangsoo
The Treasure / Comoara
Director: Corneliu Porumboiu
Where To Invade Next
Director: Michael Moore
