We are almost over the summer slump and the fall film festival circuit is gearing up. One of the biggest is the New York Film Festival, and they’ve just announced two new galas. They will welcome David Cronenberg for the first time with his Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud pic A Dangerous Method, starring Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Vincent Cassel. Also announced is Pedro Almodovar‘s The Skin I Live In starring Antonio Banderas, which we quite liked at Cannes.
At the same time, Sony Pictures Classics have announced new release dates for two of their major Oscar contenders, both playing at the NYFF. A Dangerous Method will open on November 23rd, 2011 next to limited releases of The Artist and The Descendants. Opening wide will be Arthur Christmas, Hugo, The Muppets and Piranha 3DD.
They’ve also announced the US release date for the NYFF opening night film, Roman Polanski‘s Carnage. The dramedy starring Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly, Jodie Foster and Christoph Waltz will bow on December 16th, 2011. This will be next to another big awards contender, The Iron Lady, as well as wide releases of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
Check out the press release for the NYFF announcement below, for the festival that runs September 30th – October 16th.
New York, NY, August 15, 2011 – The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced the first-time addition of two Galas to join the Opening, Centerpiece and Closing Night Galas for the upcoming 49th New York Film Festival (September 30 – October 16) with David Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD set to screen on Wednesday, October 5 and Pedro Almodovar’s THE SKIN I LIVE IN on Wednesday, October 12.
“We’re delighted to be welcoming David Cronenberg to the festival for the first time and to be welcoming back one of the NYFF’s closest friends, Pedro Almodovar,” says Richard Peña, Selection Committee Chair & Program Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center. “It’s a special pleasure to introduce our audiences to exciting new work by two of contemporary cinema’s most challenging artists.”
Scheduled at Alice Tully Hall on Wednesday, October 5 will be David Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD. Adapted by Christopher Hampton from his play The Talking Cure, the film chronicles the ever-shifting relationship between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Basking at first in Freud’s approval and encouragement, Jung increasingly questions his theories and methods. At the heart of their dispute is their rival approaches to the beautiful yet deeply unbalanced Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightly), who eventually draws each man under her spell. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, the Sony Pictures Classics release also stars Vincent Cassel and Sarah Gordon. The film is set for a November 23 release.
Presented the following Wednesday, on October 12, will be Pedro Almodóvar’s THE SKIN I LIVE IN. Reuniting the director with Antonio Banderas, the star of several of his early films, this dramatic thriller was written by Almodovar in collaboration with brother and producer, Agustin, based on Thierry Jonquet’s novel Mygale. Dr. Robert Ledgard (Banderas) is a world famous plastic surgeon who argues for the development of new, tougher human skin; unbeknownst to others, Dr. Ledgard has been trying to put his theory into practice, keeping a young woman, Vera (Elena Anaya), imprisoned in his mansion while subjecting her to an increasingly bizarre regime of treatments. Fascinated by the thin layer of appearance that stands between our perception of someone and that person’s inner essence, Almodóvar here addresses that continuing theme in his work in a bold, unsettling exploration of identity. Almodóvar regular Marisa Paredes offers another winning performance as Marilia, Ledgard’s faithful assistant. A Sony Pictures Classics release is scheduled to open October 14.
Commenting on the first-time addition of the two Galas to join the Opening, Closing and Centerpiece events headlining the NYFF lineup this year, Rose Kuo, Executive Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, said, “This year has seen a great deal of growth for us with the opening of our new Film Center and we are thrilled to continue that expansion at this year’s NYFF. We will be offering more screenings, panels, and family events as well as these two new marquee nights that feature highly anticipated fall films.”