Film at Lincoln Center has officially unveiled the Spotlight lineup for the 64th New York Film Festival, adding a roster of feature narratives, documentaries, and short films to the festival schedule. The 2026 edition is set to take place from September 25 through October 12, 2026.
Headlining the section is the world premiere of A Statement, directed by Academy Award winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight). Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, the ensemble drama is set around a 1980 Florida conference where scientists, activists, and policymakers gather to draft a Congressional report concerning the emerging issue of global climate change. The cast includes Paul Giamatti, John Turturro, Paul Rudd, Amy Ryan, Evan Peters, and Tatiana Maslany.
The Spotlight selection also features the New York premieres of Jesse Eisenberg’s musical project The Debut, following his feature directorial effort A Real Pain, and Jordan Firstman’s comedy Club Kid. Additionally, the lineup includes Cristian Mungiu’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Fjord, starring Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan, alongside Noah Segan’s The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, starring John Turturro.
Documentary and archival inclusions encompass Jonathan Glazer’s 38-minute film Joy of Joys, which captures behind-the-scenes recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios for the War Child Records charity album HELP(2); Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard; Maiken Baird’s Edward Said: Between Worlds; Albert Serra’s Sixteen Moments of My Life; and the late Eleanor Coppola’s behind-the-scenes documentary Making Marie Antoinette, focusing on the production of Sofia Coppola’s 2006 historical feature.
The Spotlight program includes 10 short films, featuring world premieres from directors Charlotte Wells (New York Never Let Me Down) and Kleber Mendonça Filho (South of Tehran). The festival previously announced Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus Zero as its Spotlight Gala world premiere, joining Main Slate selections Paper Tiger by James Gray (Opening Night), Behemoth! by Tony Gilroy (Centerpiece), and 14th by Ava DuVernay (Closing Night).
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