7 Big Questions About Oscar Hopefuls at New York Film Festival

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As a film fan, I always look forward to the New York Film Festival because it feels like the last big moment before Oscar season really heats up. It comes after Venice, Telluride, and Toronto, and it’s the final opportunity for a film to generate major buzz. After New York, we’ll start seeing a lot of publicity, awards from critics groups, and of course, everyone talking about the movies, but nothing boosts a film’s chances at the Oscars quite like a fantastic reception at one of these festivals. It really sets the stage for everything to come.

This year’s film festival includes several highly-awaited movies debuting this fall. Highlights include Julia Roberts starring as a college professor grappling with difficult choices in Luca Guadagnino’s *After the Hunt*, Jeremy Allen White of *The Bear* portraying Bruce Springsteen in *Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere*, and Bradley Cooper’s latest film as director, the comedy-drama *Is This Thing On?* Before the festival begins Friday night with a showing of *After the Hunt*, we’re taking a closer look at the films with the most to gain over the next two weeks and what success could mean for them.

If you haven’t signed up for the Vulture Movies Fantasy League yet, or you’re still deciding which films to pick, this preview can help! Just a reminder: the first deadline is tonight. You can still join after tonight, but your movie choices will be limited. You can find all the details and submit your team on the MFL website.

Now, let’s talk NYFF and beyond.

Can New Yorkers Salvage the Hollywood Darling Jay Kelly?

Despite George Clooney’s popularity around Lake Como, his performance in Noah Baumbach’s new film, *Jay Kelly*, didn’t generate much excitement at the Venice Film Festival. Reviews called it touching, but not groundbreaking – a typical, rather than exceptional, Baumbach movie. The film received a warmer reception at Telluride, and its premiere at the New York Film Festival will be crucial in determining its fate. A lot of awards hopes are pinned on *Jay Kelly*, including a potential Best Actor nomination for Clooney himself. Adam Sandler and Billy Crudup, both part of the supporting cast, are also being considered for awards, with many hoping Sandler will finally receive his first Oscar nomination. While American awards season doesn’t always follow the lead of European festivals, even with more international voters now at the Academy, a disappointing premiere in New York could signal trouble for the film’s chances.

Jay Kelly is out November 14. It’s a $30 pick in the MFL.

Will Jeremy Allen White emerge from Lincoln Center as an Oscar contender?

The Telluride Film Festival premiered the new Bruce Springsteen biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, but its success will really be measured by how audiences respond closer to Springsteen’s home state of New Jersey. Jeremy Allen White, known for his intense role in The Bear, takes on the more laid-back persona of “The Boss.” Though some question whether White can convincingly portray Springsteen, Timothée Chalamet’s critically acclaimed performance as Bob Dylan – which earned him an Oscar nomination – suggests this transformation is possible. This year’s Best Actor race is already competitive, with Michael B. Jordan playing dual roles, Leonardo DiCaprio reuniting with Paul Thomas Anderson, and Chalamet taking on another challenging part.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is out October 24. It’s a $25 pick.

Did Daniel Day-Lewis do it again?

After an eight-year break from acting – following his Oscar-nominated role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s *Phantom Thread* – Daniel Day-Lewis returns in his son Ronan Day-Lewis’s first film as a director, *Anemone*. Any new Daniel Day-Lewis film is a major event, especially considering his last movie screened at the New York Film Festival was a surprise showing of *Lincoln* in 2012. *Anemone* tells the story of two long-separated brothers, played by Day-Lewis and Sean Bean, with Day-Lewis’s character living a secluded life in the woods. It’s likely this film will quickly become an Oscar contender.

Anemone is out October 10. It’s a $5 pick.

Will Bradley Cooper be able to rein it in?

Bradley Cooper’s latest film as director, *Is This Thing On?*, starring Will Arnett, will be the closing film at the festival on October 10th. This marks Cooper’s return to the festival after *Maestro* screened there in 2023, following its debut in Venice. The *Maestro* screening was notable for the presence of Leonard Bernstein’s family and Cooper himself, who quietly watched from the audience due to the ongoing strike. Like *Maestro*, his new film is a biopic, and Cooper has already earned two Best Picture nominations as a director, creating high expectations. However, his serious demeanor and increasingly private nature have made audiences both eager and wary of his work. While skepticism surrounds the new film, there’s also a chance it could be a surprisingly great success, so early reactions from screenings will be particularly important.

Is This Thing On? is out December 19. It’s a $15 pick.

Will Luca Guadagnino’s provocative After the Hunt play well uptown?

The New York Film Festival audience tends to be politically liberal and appreciate challenging films – they were the same viewers who found satisfaction in the tense scene in *Tár* with the Juilliard student. It will be interesting to see how this group, located near Columbia University, responds to Luca Guadagnino’s *After the Hunt*, a film exploring conflict between generations and accusations within a university setting, which received harsh reviews after its debut in Venice. Many believe the film’s fate hinges on a positive reception in New York, as it needs critical acclaim to succeed.

After the Hunt is out October 10. It’s a $20 pick.

What does the international slate have in store?

The competition for Oscars is now heavily influenced by international films, and this year looks to be the same. Films like Joachim Trier’s *Sentimental Value* and Jafar Panahi’s *It Was Just an Accident* are already generating awards buzz. If you’re still choosing films for your Oscar pool, paying attention to the New York Film Festival can help you find lesser-known movies – those costing around $2 or $3 – that could be key to winning. Keep an eye out for Brazilian film *The Secret Agent*, Park Chan-wook’s *No Other Choice*, the Spanish film *Sirāt*, Germany’s Oscar submission *Sound of Falling*, and Sony Pictures Classics’ Japanese take on *Hamlet*, called *Scarlet* – all of which are currently valued at around $3 or less.

Which inexpensive movies will emerge as Movies Fantasy League bargains?

The New York Film Festival represents a final opportunity for smaller, more subtle films to gain momentum for awards consideration. While Jim Jarmusch’s *Father Mother Sister Brother*, which won a major prize at Venice, features stars like Adam Driver and Cate Blanchett, many believe it may be too understated to succeed during awards season – Jarmusch himself has often been overlooked by the Oscars. Similarly, films by acclaimed directors Richard Linklater (*Nouvelle Vague*) and Kelly Reichardt (*The Mastermind*), both boasting strong casts, didn’t make a huge splash at festivals like Cannes and Telluride, failing to stand out against international contenders. These films need to generate buzz in New York to have a chance at broader recognition; otherwise, their awards potential will likely be limited to independent film circles.

Other Movies to Keep an Eye On

If people start talking about these movies, they could become popular – and offer a good return on investment if the cost is reasonable.

Here’s a list of films and their prices: Kathryn Bigelow’s *A House of Dynamite* costs $15, Mary Bronstein’s *If I Had Legs I’d Kick You* is $8, Richard Linklater’s *Blue Moon* is also $8. *Pillion* by Harry Lighton and *A Private Life* by Rebecca Zlotowski are both $5. *The Perfect Neighbor* from Geeta Gandbhir, *Cover-Up* by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, and *Late Fame* by Kent Jones each cost $2. Finally, *Rose of Nevada* by Mark Jenkin is available for $1.

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2025-09-25 17:56