‘Bridge of Spies’ to Premiere at New York Film Festival

Steven Spielberg’s ‘Bridge of Spies’ to Premiere at 2015 New York Film Festival

Variety – Aug. 12, 2015

By Gordon Cox

The 2015 New York Film Festival has locked in its main slate of features, with a total of 26 films on the roster including the world premiere of Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies” with Tom Hanks, as well as festival-circuit buzzmagnets including Todd Haynes’ “Carol,” Michael Moore’s “Where to Invade Next,” Yorgos Lanthinmos’ “The Lobster” and John Crowley’s “Brooklyn.”

The New York Film Festival has become an increasingly important stop for features angling for awards-season attention, lending a patina of prestige to the titles that earn a spot on the competitive, tightly curated main slate of 25 to 30 films. Recent NYFF alumni including “Gone Girl” (2014), “Life of Pi” (2012) and “The Social Network” (2010) went on to become serious players in the annual movie-industry trophy derby, as did “Hugo” (2011), which bowed as one of the festival’s “secret screenings.”

As always, the latest NYFF slate includes a robust segment of international films of note, including Michel Gondry’s “Microbe & Gasoline,” Miguel Gomes’ three-part documentary-fantasy hybrid “Arabian Nights,” Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Journey to the Shore,” Hou Hsiao-hsien’s “The Assassin,” Chantal Ackerman’s “No Home Movie” and Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s “Cemetery of Splendour.”

Touchstone release “Bridge of Spies” centers on the true story of a Cold War-era spy swap, with Hanks starring as the lawyer negotiating the trade and Tony winner Mark Rylance appearing as the Soviet agent who’s traded for a U.S. pilot. Spielberg directs a script by Matt Charman and Joel and Ethan Coen. Read more here.