The New York Film Festival’s Spotlight lineup has been unveiled. There a few big surprises.
Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie’s HBO series “The Curse” starring Emma Stone will premiere its first three episodes, totalling 159 minutes. The Film Stage’s Jordan Raup says he’s heard it's “better than any film released so far this year”. Sold!
Garth Davis’ “Foe” with Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan, will also world premiere. Hayao Miyazaki’s highly anticipated “The Boy and the Heron,” will have its U.S. premiere following its TIFF North American premiere.
Other titles in Spotlight include Harmony Korine’s “AGGRO DR1FT,” Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man,” Sean Price Williams’ “The Sweet East,” and Trân Anh Hùng’s “The Taste of Things” (formerly known as “The Pot-Au-Feu.”)
Steve McQueen’s “Occupied City,” Errol Morris’ “The Pigeon Tunnel,” and Frederick Wiseman’s “Menus-Plaisirs Les Troisgros” are the documentary selections.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ 2022 short film “Bleat,” again starring Emma Stone, will be presented in 35mm with live musical accompaniment, plus there will be an extended conversation with Pedro Almodóvar following his 30-minute film “Strange Way of Life.”
I had previously mentioned that NYFF were mixed on Fennell’s “Saltburn” and Payne’s “The Holdovers,” so their notable absences here make sense.
The 2023 NYFF will take place September 29 through October 15, 2023.
Paul Greengrass’ "The Uprising," starring Andrew Garfield, opened to $3.2M from 2,068 theaters this weekend. Yikes. The budget hasn’t been disclosed, but is said to be in the $20-$30M range.