Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’ to Premiere at New York Film Festival

Film at Lincoln Center has chosen Sofia Coppola’s highly anticipated film, Priscilla, as the Centerpiece selection for the 61st New York Film Festival (NYFF). The A24 production stars Cailee Spaeny in the captivating role of Priscilla Beaulieu, the enigmatic wife of the legendary Elvis Presley, portrayed by Jacob Elordi. This mesmerizing tale of love and devotion is set to make its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall on October 6, marking a significant moment on the festival’s calendar.

Coppola, renowned for her ability to delicately portray the inner lives of her characters, explores the untold story of Priscilla, the woman who knew Elvis most intimately. Based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, the film offers a fresh and intimate perspective on one of America’s most revered cultural icons.

Priscilla takes the audience on an evocative journey through time, tracing Priscilla’s life from her formative years as a teenage army youth in West Germany to the surreal experience of becoming a part of Elvis’s world at Graceland. Coppola’s screenplay artfully weaves together the moments of tenderness, love, and vulnerability shared between the two iconic figures.

The New York Film Festival, running from September 29 to October 15, will open with Todd Haynes’ May December, featuring stellar performances from Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. However, it is Coppola’s Priscilla that promises to captivate audiences with its exploration of an enduring love story that has shaped the hearts of millions.

Sofia Coppola’s previous films, such as On the Rocks and Marie Antoinette, have been celebrated selections at the NYFF, making her return with Priscilla highly anticipated. The film boasts Philippe Le Sourd as the cinematographer, masterfully capturing the visual essence of the era, while original music by Phoenix enhances the emotional depth of the narrative.

In expressing her excitement, Sofia Coppola shared, 

I am honored to be back at the New York Film Festival with my new film and to be telling Priscilla Presley’s story, the unseen side of a great American myth.

As the festival eagerly awaits the premiere of Priscilla, audiences can expect an unforgettable cinematic experience that delves into the heart and soul of an iconic love story, portrayed with depth, sensitivity, and reverence.