New York Film Festival Unveils Spotlight Slate With Tom McCarthy’s ‘A Statement,’ Jonathan Glazer’s ‘Joy of Joys’ and More
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- New York Film Festival revealed its 64th edition Spotlight lineup spanning 13 features and 10 shorts, with the festival running Sept. 25–Oct. 12 across Lincoln Center and all five boroughs.
- Tom McCarthy's "A Statement" leads the slate — an ensemble piece built around a pivotal 1980 climate change conference, starring Paul Giamatti, John Turturro, Paul Rudd, Amy Ryan, Evan Peters and Tatiana Maslany, set for release from Sony Pictures Classics.
- Jonathan Glazer reunites with composer Mica Levi for "Joy of Joys," a documentary chronicling London schoolkids filming the War Child Records benefit album "HELP (2)" at Abbey Road for children in conflict zones.
- Takashi Yamazaki's "Godzilla Minus Zero" landed the Spotlight Gala slot on Sept. 26, the follow-up to the franchise's recent visual effects Oscar winner.
- Werner Herzog returns to NYFF with "Bucking Fastard" starring real-life sisters Kate and Rooney Mara — his first festival appearance in more than four decades, since "Fitzcarraldo" closed Venice in 1982.
- Cannes transfers fill out the slate with Cristian Mungiu's Palme d'Or–winning "Fjord" (starring Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan), Jordan Firstman's directorial debut "Club Kid," and Louis Clichy's Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize winner "Iron Boy."
- Nonfiction and posthumous additions include the late Eleanor Coppola's behind-the-scenes account of daughter Sofia's 2006 "Marie Antoinette," Maiken Baird's "Edward Said: Between Worlds," and Albert Serra's "Sixteen Moments of My Life."
Why it matters: For awards-season strategists, NYFF64 functions as a prestige launchpad — Sony Pictures Classics is already positioned behind McCarthy's ensemble piece. The slate also marks Werner Herzog's first festival appearance in over 40 years, since 'Fitzcarraldo' closed Venice in 1982.
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