End of an Era for NYFF, The Dawn of a New One or More of the Same?

Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton at the New York Film Festival opening night party. Photo by Brian Brooks/indieWIRE

“It’s a reflection of the times,” Film Society of Lincoln Center executive director Mara Manus began in a conversation with indieWIRE today, “It was clear to me, when I started this job, that we couldn’t go to a studio or distributor this year and ask them to write this huge check.”

“I actually think it’s a wonderful idea,” Sony Pictures Classics Michael Barker told indieWIRE today. His company has the festival’s opening night (Resnais’ “Wild Grass”), closing film (Almodovar’s “Broken Embraces”), as well as Michael Haneke’s “White Ribbon.” “[Alice Tully Hall] is a wonderful place to hang out after, to watch a movie,” he continued, supportive of the change, “It’s a celebration of the new theater.”

In future years, the party may move to a new venue, perhaps somewhere else at Lincoln Center. It seems unlikely that it would return to Tavern on the green with a formal gala. “[There is] no more black tie,” proclaimed Manus, reiterating the point. But, she added, laughing, “We are going to require people to wear clothes.”

“It’s a bit tough on these smaller films to be saddled with that financial burden,” Barker continued, in the separate conversation. “With a film like this one—I think the film is intimate, light, breezy—being in ATH will be nice and conducive to the classiness of the film.”

Tavern on the Green on the opening night of the New York Film Festival. Photo by Brian Brooks/indieWIRE

Rumors of the opening night change have been circulating in New York recently and lead to a bit of nostalgia among many insiders. The gala became a fixture at Tavern on the Green in the mid-‘80s when Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran” opened the festival, and over the years, from “Pulp Fiction” in 1994 to more recent openers like “Dancer in the Dark,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” “Mystic River” or “The Darjeeling Limited,” it was a hot spot for celebs, industry, media and patrons. In the last several years, it became a new tradition for younger industry folks to typically head to downtown restaurant Village for a late night (in fact, very late) unofficial party. That won’t be happening this year either. The restaurant closed earlier this month.

Aside from the opening night changes, those who worried that the arrival of Mara Manus nearly year ago would result in a programatic shift for the New York Film Festival can rest assured. The ‘09 fest roster features just as many international auteurs as previous years. The changes being touted by Manus, and program director Richard Pena, are based in a new ticketing system aimed at making the event more accesible to attendees.

Touting Accesibility

“I was hired to grow the organization,” Mara Manus explained, noting that her goal is, “to provide greater access” to the festival and the Film Society’s year round programming. Prior to heading the group, Manus said she found it nearly impossible to secure tickets to NYFF screenings, she’d instead rely on filmmaker friends. Indeed, getting advance tickets to the New York Film Festival involved mailing a blank check to the Film Society with an order form and then waiting to see which selections were filled. Not any more.

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