Film at Lincoln Center announced this afternoon that Todd Haynes’s “May December” will open the 61st New York Film Festival, making its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall on September 29th.
That means it won’t be going to either Tellluride or Toronto. Haynes’ brilliant melodrama will be sticking with a showy New York City premiere. Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman and Charles Melton are expected to attend, unless a SAG strike halts their appearances.
In a statement, Haynes remarked, “We are all so proud and moved to have been invited to open the New York Film Festival with the North American premiere of ‘May December.’ It is a festival that plays a role in my work and life like no other in the world since it enshrines the cultural life of this city, which is both my creative home as a filmmaker and, as ever, the eternal site of artistic possibility.”
Before its debut at Cannes, “May December” had no U.S. distribution. Then Netflix bought it for a large sum during the festival. This is the kind of kitschy, purposely campy, film that, although well reviewed, would have maybe had a tough time finding an audience at arthouse cinemas.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved this film, but Netflix buying “May December” for $11 million at least gives it a major platform. I get it, the times have changed, what’s the value of such a niche film out there in the market? Not much.
What the streaming giant will now give Haynes’ film is the biggest audience of his career but, in doing so, continue to bury the theatrical arthouse business. I suspect the fact that this film is based on the Mary Kay Letourneau story will be part of Netflix’s marketing, millions will watch it out of curiosity.
“May December” will be released in theaters on November 17th and on Netflix’s global streaming service December 1st.