The 63rd New York Film Festival (NYFF63) revealed its Spotlight lineup, highlighting the much-anticipated Martin Scorsese documentary premiere directed by Rebecca Miller. Scheduled between September 26 and October 13, 2025, the festival will also showcase Daniel Day-Lewis’ first acting role since 2017 in the film Anemone, along with new works from Richard Linklater. These selections emphasize the festival’s commitment to showcasing films with both historical significance and compelling artistry.
Among the highlighted films are family drama Anemone, directed by Ronan Day–Lewis and featuring Daniel Day-Lewis, alongside Ben Stiller’s intimate documentary about his parents, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost. Other notable entries include Linklater’s Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague, Mamoru Hosoda’s animated Scarlet, and Sundance standout documentary The Perfect Neighbor by Geeta Gandbhir. The festival’s robust program offers a diverse range of cinema reflecting contemporary and classic themes.
Springsteen’s Early Career Explored in Spotlight Gala Screening
Opening the festival’s gala presentations is Scott Cooper’s biographical drama Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. The film focuses on a critical phase in Bruce Springsteen’s early career during the 1980s, contemporaneous with his Nebraska album and the demos for Born in the U.S.A. Jeremy Allen White delivers a powerful performance as Springsteen, capturing both the creative intensity and personal struggles behind the artist’s songwriting.
The narrative delves into Springsteen’s familial challenges and battles with depression, enriching the portrayal beyond mere biography. The film’s ensemble cast features Jeremy Strong as Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau and other notable actors including Stephen Graham and Gaby Hoffmann. Produced by Scott Cooper and a team including Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is set for a 20th Century Studios release.
Anemone Marks Daniel Day-Lewis’ Return to Acting
In a highly anticipated world premiere, Anemone spots Daniel Day-Lewis in his first screen role in eight years. Directed by Ronan Day-Lewis in his debut, the film is a poignant family drama set in Northern England that follows two brothers navigating the legacy of political and personal violence. The story begins as Sean Bean’s character embarks on a journey to reconnect with his estranged brother, played by Day-Lewis, unfolding a complex relationship shaped by past trauma.
The film’s emotional depth is enhanced by standout performances from Samantha Morton and Samuel Bottomley, with evocative widescreen cinematography by Ben Fordesman adding to its immersive quality. Anemone marks a significant moment not only for Daniel Day-Lewis’ return but also as a powerful display of familial reconciliation. Focus Features will release the film.
Richard Linklater Returns with Two New Films at NYFF63
Richard Linklater, a familiar figure at the New York Film Festival, presents two entries this year. Blue Moon explores the tumultuous final months of lyricist Lorenz Hart’s life, portraying his grappling with fame, loss, and the evolving Broadway landscape. Ethan Hawke gives a mesmerizing performance as Hart during the premiere of Oklahoma!, and the film includes award-winning performances from Andrew Scott and supporting roles by Margaret Qualley and Bobby Cannavale.
Nouvelle Vague, Linklater’s affectionate tribute to French New Wave cinema, recreates the 1959 making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless. It centers on Godard’s aspiration to mark his own creative place amid renowned critics turned filmmakers. Shot in black-and-white, the film captures the spirit of artistic freedom and revolutionary filmmaking, releasing through Netflix.
International Highlights Showcase Variety of Storytelling Styles
The festival further enriches its lineup with several international premieres. Paolo Sorrentino offers La Grazia, an intimate portrait of a retiring Italian president confronting aging and political legacy. Featuring Toni Servillo, this film balances political drama with human vulnerability and airs on MUBI.
Mamoru Hosoda returns with Scarlet, a visually stunning Japanese animated film inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It follows a princess navigating the Land of the Dead while seeking revenge and redemption, blending traditional storytelling with contemporary anime aesthetics. Scarlet will be from Sony Pictures Classics.
Rebecca Zlotowski’s A Private Life provides a French-language thriller starring Jodie Foster as an American psychoanalyst investigating the suspicious death of a patient in Paris. The cast includes Daniel Auteuil and Mathieu Amalric, with the film offering a tense, nuanced exploration of loss and truth in an urban setting, to be released by Sony Pictures Classics.
Compelling Social and Political Documentaries in the Spotlight
Several documentaries present socially relevant narratives, including The Perfect Neighbor by Geeta Gandbhir. This film offers a detailed investigation into the racially charged killing of Ajike Owens in Florida, using police body-camera footage to explore themes of violence, racial tension, and justice under the Stand Your Ground law. Netflix will distribute the documentary.
In a U.S. premiere, Sepideh Farsi’s Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk follows photojournalist Fatma Hassouna’s life under siege in Gaza through her smartphone footage, capturing the resilience amidst conflict. Kino Lorber will release this intimate and powerful film.
Ben Stiller’s Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost is a heartfelt documentary about his parents‘ iconic comedy partnership. Using a wealth of recorded materials and family contributions, the film offers both humor and honesty, tracing the dynamics within a show-business family across generations. Apple Original Films is backing the release.
Short Films Program Reflects Diverse Voices and Styles
NYFF63’s Shorts sections feature a curated selection of short films exploring different themes and formats. Spotlight Shorts include Radu Muntean’s Index, a suspenseful tale of a forest ranger uncovering unsettling activity; Gabriel Abrantes’ animated Arguments in Favor of Love focusing on the end of a relationship; Abdellah Taïa’s Cairo Streets capturing a personal search in 2007 Cairo; and Alice Diop’s Fragments for Venus, which juxtaposes classical art with contemporary street life.
New York Shorts showcases works like Bingham Bryant’s Doomed and Famous, which follows an exhibition at the Miguel Abreu Gallery, and Eve Liu’s energetic and sharply humorous Nervous Energy, produced by Spike Lee. Other titles include Mary Rose McClain’s February Omen, which connects familial superstitions with urban life, Nathan Silver’s Carol & Joy documenting the bond between Carol Kane and her mother, and David Cardoza’s Turtle Sandwich, a vivid portrayal of childhood in New York City streets.
NYFF63’s Broader Impact and Future Prospects
The 63rd New York Film Festival offers an expansive and rich cinematic experience, blending high-profile premieres like the Martin Scorsese documentary and Daniel Day-Lewis’ comeback with international and socially engaged films. By bringing together a range of voices from emerging filmmakers to established auteurs such as Paolo Sorrentino and Richard Linklater, the festival reaffirms its status as a global cultural event.
This year’s program underscores filmmaking’s power to illuminate complex human experiences, cultural histories, and ongoing social issues. For attendees and cinephiles worldwide, NYFF63 promises an opportunity to engage deeply with innovative and resonant stories, shaping conversations around film and society well beyond its October closing date.
