Columbia Filmmakers Head to the 2026 New York Film Festival
Several Columbia filmmakers are preparing for their films to screen at the 2026 New York Film Festival.
This year’s New York Film Festival marks the 64th year of the celebrated annual event. Held at Lincoln Center, the festival highlights "the most significant films from around the world. Since its inception in 1963, NYFF has played a pivotal role in shaping film culture, presenting a curated selection of bold and remarkable works by acclaimed directors alongside emerging talents.” NYFF 2026 will run from September 25 through October 12, 2026.
“You could take any cross section of this lineup and come away with a vivid picture of what our present looks, sounds, and feels like," said Dennis Lim, Artistic Director, New York Film Festival. "I’m deeply encouraged to be able to introduce New York audiences to works by so many fearless, imaginative directors whose artistry has been inspired by the shared realities of our world.”
Read on to learn more about the films by Columbia filmmakers which will screen at this prestigious festival:
Bardi
Bardi, a film from director Tala Hadid '05, holds an honored position at the festival as the centerpiece of NYFF’s Current’s section. The Artistic Director of the New York Film Festival, Dennis Lim, explained that, “The Currents lineup pushes against the conventions of cinematic form, putting into relief the standardization that dominates the film landscape.” The film examines the fraternal world of a group of horse-riders in central Morocco, as they take part in an equestrian military ritual that dates to the 16th century. The film will screen on October 1 and October 2.
Edward Said: Between Worlds
Edward Said: Between Worlds was directed by Maiken Baird (CC '89). The film, which screened earlier this month at the Toronto International Film Festival, braids together footage from interviews, public appearances, and other documentaries about the renowned Palestinian scholar filmed during his prime, delivering "a moving portrait in Said's own words." It will screen on September 30, October 1, and October 2.
Clarissa
This feature-length film, directed by brothers Arie Esiri '19 and Chuko Esiri, also screened earlier this month at the Toronto International Film Festival and features an exciting new take on the classic novel Mrs. Dalloway. Starring Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo, it sets Virginia Wolf’s classic tale in modern-day Lagos. Clarissa's earlier screening at TIFF marked the film's North American Premiere. The film can be seen at NYFF on October 4 and October 5.
The House Call
The House Call by Eliza Barry Callahan '22 (CC '17) will screen as part of this year's shorts program. Starring Victoria Peretti, the film tells the story of a veterinarian who drives through the dark to check on a prized white horse, only to be caught up in the intrigues of its shady owners, and a probing late-night conversation about classical philosophy, modern dance, and the nature of vocation. The House Call, alongside the other short films in the program, will screen on October 7 and October 8.
The Remotes
The Remotes was executive produced by Valerie Castillo Martinez '16 and follows a grieving detective who finds himself increasingly ensnared while investigating a case involving a sinister navigation app causing physical and psychological damage. It screened earlier in the fall as part of the TIFF Wavelengths program. This screening at NYFF will represent the film's United States premiere. The film will run on October 2 and October 3.