New York Film Festival 2026: James Gray’s ‘Paper Tiger’ will be the Opening Night presentation
James Gray's film 'Paper Tiger' has been selected as the opening night presentation for the 2026 New York Film Festival. The film, starring Adam Driver and Miles Teller, is expected to be a major contender in the upcoming awards season.
Why it matters
The NYFF opening night slot is a prestigious position that often signals a film's importance in the Oscar race.
The New York Film Festival is holding out for a (hometown) hero for its 2026 edition. On Thursday, Film at Lincoln Center announced that James Gray's Paper Tiger will be the Opening Night presentation of the 64th NYFF, scheduled to take place Sept. 25 at Alice Tully Hall in Manhattan. Paper Tiger had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May where Gray was joined by his stars, Adam Driver and Miles Teller. It will open theatrically on Nov. 20 as it seeks to be the writer-director's first feature to break into the Oscar race.
Objective reporting on festival scheduling and industry news.
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