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The New Directors/New Films festival hits New York, and brings Charli XCX along with it
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Apr 6, 2026
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By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Apr 6, 2026
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For more than half a century, the New Directors/New Films festival has introduced New York audiences to filmmakers who’d go on to become household names: Christopher Nolan, Spike Lee, Wong Kar Wai.
The festival, a partnership between Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art, returns this week for its 55th run.
“ Our hope is that we're catching very important artists on the brink, right when they're about to break out,” said Film at Lincoln Center Programmer Dan Sullivan. “ The festival's hit rate is pretty good.”
This year’s selection includes 24 feature-length films and 10 shorts. The lineup highlights movies from Germany, Japan, Mexico and India.
One clear standout is “Erupcja” from director Peter Ohs. While the director’s name may be new to you, his lead actress is probably not; the film’s protagonist is played by British pop star Charli XCX. Her character, a party girl on vacation to Warsaw with her boyfriend, reconnects with an old flame named Nel (Lena Góra).
The two descend into a mutually destructive mania, Ohs’ camera capturing the alternating Soviet and classical architecture of the city as a steady synth beat drives the plot forward.
“Erupcja” is cowritten by Jeremy O. Harris, creator of the Broadway hit “Slave Play,” who also plays a supporting role in the new movie. Harris and Ohs will be doing a Q&A at each of the two screenings. Both events have already sold out — but standby tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Charli XCX is not on the lineup, but organizers said they “hope” she might make a surprise appearance.
Another film being shown is a deeply moving documentary with unfortunate new relevance. “Do You Love Me,” the feature debut by Lebanese director Lana Daher, is a 76-minute film entirely constructed of archival material. Daher weaves an impressionistic narrative from movies, TV clips, home videos, photography, oral testimony and pop music.
“For a country so often associated with war, violence, and destruction, the film becomes an act of remembrance,” MoMA Film Department Curator La Frances Hui said. The movie is “an effort to preserve and reconstruct collective memory amid rubble and recurring bombardment.”
“The Prophet,” a black-and-white feature from Mozambique, depicts a Christian preacher dabbling with witchcraft to gain healing powers and grow his dwindling congregation. Director Ique Langa shot the film in his father’s hometown over nine years, casting local residents in many of the major roles.
Organizers say choosing the festival’s roster every year is a daunting but inspiring task. Sullivan and Hui said they comb through both major and lesser-known major international film festivals and argue over them incessantly.
“Through some strange alchemical process and many, many hours of debate, we somehow wind up with this line-up of films,” Sullivan said.
“What is really thrilling about the festival is that no one knows much about these new directors, so we really want the audience to be as bold and adventurous as the filmmakers themselves,” Hui said.
Her advice for first-time festival goers: “Just embrace challenges and surprises.”
New Directors/New Films will run from April 8 through 19, with many filmmakers scheduled to attend in person. Tickets are available online.
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Walter Wuthmann
Walter Wuthmann is a reporter covering public safety and the legal system.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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