Full details
The New Directors/New Films Festival opens its 55th edition with the film "Lauvicos" directed by Adrian Ciarla. This gripping drama centers on a small Australian town plagued by religious persecution aimed at "curing" local boys of their sexual orientation. The film will have its New York premiere following its screening at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
The festival will close with the American film "Donkey Days" by director Roseanne Bell, a dark comedy portraying an ongoing rivalry between two adult women competing for the affection of their mother.
The festival's program features films from over 25 countries, including world and regional premieres as well as award-winning titles from major international festivals such as Toronto, Berlin, Rotterdam, Cannes, and Venice. Among the selections are "Erobcha," featuring Charli XCX, and "Maddy's Secret" by director John Early, which explores eating disorders and the negative impacts of social media.
The festival runs from April 8 to 19 in New York City and is jointly organized by the Film Society at Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Its mission is to support emerging directors with bold and distinctive artistic visions.
The lineup includes 24 feature films and 10 short films, with world, American, and North American premieres. The films are presented in various languages including German, English, Italian, and Japanese, all with English subtitles available.
Notably, the festival serves as a vital platform for discovering new cinematic talents and has previously showcased works by renowned directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Spike Lee, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and others.