"May December" to Kick Off 61st New York Film Festival

The latest film by auteur Todd Haynes, titled "May December," is set to inaugurate the 61st annual New York Film Festival on September 29, according to festival organizers. The film, which stars Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, premiered to considerable acclaim at Cannes, with Netflix snatching up its North American rights for a lofty $11 million following an intense bidding war. Bringing its North American premiere to the media-rich city of New York marks another notable accomplishment for the film.

Though the New York festival has previously opened with significant world premieres, notably "The Irishman" in 2019, it's not uncommon to present non-premiere openers. This year's opening film, "White Noise", for instance, had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. A significant portion of this year's NYFF, besides the star-studded inaugural night, is expected to comprise various world premieres during its 17-day run. Further details about the remaining festival line-up will be announced soon.

"May December" explores the life of TV star Elizabeth (played by Portman) as she immerses herself in the lives of Gracie (Moore) and her much-younger spouse, Joe (Charles Melton). The purpose of this immersion exercise is for Elizabeth to prepare for her new on-screen role portraying Gracie. As Elizabeth delves deeper into their lives, the unsettling truths of their scandalous lives emerge, stirring up suppressed, intense emotions. The script, penned by first-time screenwriter Samy Burch, will see the film land in US theaters on November 17, followed by a December 1 release on Netflix.

Sharing his elation, Haynes commented on the honor of opening the Festival, a cultural institution that he described as a cornerstone in his creative journey. The festival's Artistic Director, Dennis Lim, heralded "May December" as a masterclass in writing, acting, and directing, lauding Haynes as a brilliant cinematic provocateur and a master in directing actors.

Known for his 1987 short film "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story" and pivotal features including "Poison" and "Far from Heaven," Haynes has bagged an Oscar nomination, multiple Emmy nods, and a solid presence as a NYFF stalwart during his illustrious career. The selection committee for NYFF's Main Slate includes Florence Almozini, Justin Chang, K. Austin Collins, and Rachel Rosen.

And now, let's strike up the band on this noteworthy news.

There's something terribly Hollywood glam about an all-night bidding war, isn’t there? And when the property in question is a Todd Haynes flick with top-of-their-game talents like Portman and Moore, it's no surprise Netflix was all in. Still, whether or not the streaming giant recoups its multimillion-dollar investment remains, like any good cliffhanger, to be seen.

Portraying a star, studying a star to become a star on-screen: Portman’s role blurs reality and fiction in such a delightful way, it’s probably going to prove irresistible to audiences. It’s like peering through a glass cathedral into the method-acting confession booth - and who could resist that window into the actor’s process?

As for Haynes, it seems like he’s hitting a career stride that others can only dream of. You have to respect a man who can wrangle Barbie dolls into an acclaimed short film and delivers Oscar-nom-worthy drama. One can only dare to hope he’s got a few more narrative rabbits to pull out of his tricksy cinematic hat.

So, as the lights dim and the film festival's curtains draw back this autumn, make sure you've got your popcorn, people. "May December" promises to be a veritable feast of acting talent and cinematic prowess. And we’re here for it, Haynes and co. We're here and ready with the biggest tub of popcorn we can find.