The 47th New York Film Festival

FILM FESTIVAL

by Slant Staff on September 20, 2009 Jump to Comments (0) or Add Your Own

Though fans of Gasper Noé and Tsai Ming-Liang may disagree, this year's New York Film Festival once again brings something like the best—or at least most talked about—Cannes offerings across the pond for their American premiere. While Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds hit theaters weeks ago, the fest, now in its 47th year, offers New Yorkers a first chance to catch other Croisette favorites such as Lars von Trier's already infamous Antichrist (what with all that genital mutilation), Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner The White Ribbon, Alain Resnais's romantic ode-to-cinema Wild Grass, and one of the French festival's surprise critical hits, Corneliu Porumboiu's heady policier Police, Adjective.

But arguably more interesting are the non-Cannes titles scheduled to hit Lincoln Center. While festival faves Catherine Breillat, Todd Solondz, and Manoel de Oliveira return with their latest offerings, a range of savvy, below-the-radar selections like Maren Ade's "unraveling-couple" drama Everyone Else and Chinese filmmaker Zhao Dayong's epic documentary Ghost Town ensure that there are plenty of discoveries to be made for the adventurous festival-goer. A newly restored and remastered print of The Wizard of Oz, a selection of Chinese films from the formative 1949 - 1966 period, and a promising Views from the Avant-Garde program round out the lineup.

Beginning September 21, check back daily as a full review of each festival film will be added to our ongoing coverage. The 47th New York Film Festival will run from September 25 to October 11, 2009. For a complete schedule of films, screening times, and ticket information, please see the Film Society of Lincoln Center's official site. Andrew Schenker