New York Film Festival 2015: Main Slate Includes Oscar Contenders 'Bridge of Spies' and 'Carol'
The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the main slate to the 53rd New York Film Festival.
The festival will include 26 films from a variety of directors, both returning and newcomers. However, one of the most interesting things about this year is the Main Slate will host four World Premieres.
The most surprising of these is Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies," which stars Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance and tells the Cold War story of the 1962 exchange of a U-2 pilot for a Soviet agent. The film is obtaining Oscar buzz and is sure to be a big hit at the festival. It is also a return for Spielberg who last presented an unfinished cut of "Lincoln" at the New York Film Festival in 2012. The other world premieres are Laura Israel's "Don't Blink: Robert Frank," Robert Zemeckis' "The Walk" and Don Cheadle's' "Miles Ahead."
As always the festival will present a number of Cannes Film Festival films, including Best Director winner Hou Hsiao-hsien's "The Assassin." As expected Todd Haynes's "Carol," starring Best Actress winner Rooney Mara is skipping both Telluride and Toronto in favor of a New York slot. Also in show are Stéphane Brizé's "The Measure of a Man," starring Best Actor winner Vincent Lindon, Jury Prize winner "The Lobster" and Un Certain Regard Best Director winner Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Journey to the Shore."
The Un Certain Talent Prize winner Corneliu Porumboiu's "The Treasure" will also screen after missing out on the Oscar submission for Romania. Nanni Moretti's "Mia Madre" will also be part of the lineup.
Other notable directors returning to NYFF with new works include Michael Moore with "Where To Invade Next" and Hong Sangsoo with "Right Now, Wrong Then." French director Arnaud Desplechin will present his acclaimed "My Golden Days," starring Mathieu Amalric and newcomers Quentin Dolmaire and Lou Roy-Lecollinet. The film premiered at Cannes to great reviews.
Another notable mention is John Crowley's "Brooklyn," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is being touted as a major Oscar contender. Miguel Gomes' six-hour "Arabian Nights" will also play at the festival in three parts after having made a splash at Cannes this past May.
Finally the centerpiece film of the year is "Steve Jobs" directed by Danny Boyle and starring Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet.
The New York Film Festival is expected to run from Sept. 25 to Oct. 11