The New York Film Festival returns with obsessions, deceptions and monsters

This October, New York City hosts the 64th edition of its prestigious Film Festival, an event that continues to draw global attention for its rich and diverse cinematic presentations. Running through October 12 and spanning all five boroughs, this year’s festival features more than seventy world and U.S. premieres encompassing fiction films, documentaries, shorts, and reissued classics.

Among the most anticipated offerings are films that delve into urgent contemporary themes, including political upheaval, social justice, and technological innovation. Documentaries hold a notable presence, with works examining controversial figures and situations such as Elizabeth Holmes’ final days before incarceration, detailed in Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s “You Can See Everything.” This film provides a rare glimpse into the mindset of the disgraced Theranos founder during a pivotal personal moment.

Geopolitical tensions also surface prominently. Julia Loktev’s sequel “My Undesirable Friends: Part II – Exile” follows Russian journalists navigating exile amid increasing censorship tied to the Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, the North American premiere of “NAZA,” directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, investigates allegations involving AI-assisted targeting by the Israeli military in Gaza, stirring controversy and prompting official Israeli government rebuke.

Celebrated director Ava DuVernay returns with “14th,” a documentary exploring contemporary challenges to civil rights protections enshrined in the 14th Amendment. This film extends her previous critical work on systemic injustice, continuing the festival’s trend of socially engaged storytelling.

The festival also spotlights music and cultural history through unique cinematic experiences. Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall” captures an intimate acoustic performance by the Brooklyn musician Cameron Winter, shot on traditional film formats. Jonathan Glazer’s “Joy of Joys” pairs footage of young London filmmakers with perspectives from youth in conflict zones, drawing parallels between disparate experiences through the lens of artistic expression.

Narrative feature films feature an impressive roster of celebrated actors and auteurs. Pedro Pascal leads “Behemoth!,” a drama about a former prodigy trying to reclaim his life through music session work, from writer-director Tony Gilroy. “Artificial,” a comic-drama by Luca Guadagnino, explores the rise of artificial intelligence through the intertwined stories of pioneering scientists, starring Andrew Garfield and Mark Rylance.

The festival’s opening gala, “Paper Tiger,” directed by James Gray, offers a tense portrayal of a former NYPD officer entangled with Russian organized crime, featuring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller. Other high-profile films include Sandra Hüller’s dual appearances in “Rose” and “Fatherland,” both debuting in New York and showcasing her versatility across historical and political narratives.

International cinema maintains a strong presence with works from acclaimed directors like Werner Herzog, Pedro Almodóvar, and Mike Leigh. Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard” features sisters whose lives are inseparably linked, while Almodóvar’s “Bitter Christmas” presents a layered meta-narrative on filmmaking and identity. Leigh’s “Tender Loving Care” offers a nuanced look at life in post-Brexit Britain.

The festival also honors its history with restored classics such as Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 film “The Devils,” re-screened in its original 35mm format, and a newly restored version of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s “Gone to Earth,” overseen by Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker.

Complementing the diverse screenings are filmmaker conversations featuring notable figures including James Gray, Jim Jarmusch, Mike Leigh, and Ava DuVernay, providing audiences with deeper insights into the creative processes behind the films.

As this edition unfolds, the New York Film Festival continues its tradition of blending entertainment with profound engagement, offering attendees an expansive and thought-provoking panorama of contemporary cinema.