New York Film Festival showcases AI, Gaza and family films
The New York Film Festival is under way with a lineup that takes in AI, Gaza, family ties, music and the American dream.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The New York Film Festival is in full swing, with a rich lineup of films that engage with real-life concerns. The programme takes in the conflict in the Middle East, perceived threats to the US Constitution and growing anxiety over artificial intelligence. The event is described as one of America's most prestigious cinema events, and with almost two weeks left to run it is already being judged a success.
Artificial, starring Andrew Garfield, is among the most eagerly awaited films. The comedy-drama revolves around Sam Altman's abrupt firing and then reinstatement as CEO of OpenAI. It is said to capture a critical moment with humour and horror in balance.
Naza, shot in Tel Aviv, has been one of the festival's more controversial entries. It features anonymous nighttime interviews with Israeli intelligence insiders who recount the alleged targeting of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The Israeli military and government have rejected the film's allegations. In New York, its presence provoked protests from people who took issue with it and from those who supported it.
Paper Tiger opened the festival. The New York-set crime drama follows a close-knit family whose lives are upended after they are targeted by the Russian mafia. Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson star. The film is presented as a cautionary tale about becoming too caught up in the material gains of the American dream, while those behind it stress that love and family bonds matter more. It is described as traditional, accomplished filmmaking, with standout performances. Johansson is called a revelation as a wife and mother facing a threat to her family and her own mortality. She has said the film is about the love the characters have for one another and what they are willing to sacrifice.
Tender Loving Care, a British drama from Mike Leigh, also made a positive impact. Leigh, 83, has said it will be his last picture. He reflected on a career of more than 20 films over five decades, made on his own terms without interference. He called that an extremely tough proposition in the current climate.
The festival's centrepiece attraction is Behemoth, starring Pedro Pascal as a cellist. The film is seen as a tribute to the power of music.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| A comedy-drama titled Artificial depicts Sam Altman's abrupt firing and reinstatement as OpenAI CEO and stars Andrew Garfield. | |
| A documentary titled Naza features anonymous nighttime interviews with Israeli intelligence insiders who allege targeting of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. | |
| The Israeli military and government have rejected the allegations made in the documentary Naza. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News treated the festival as a prestige cultural event and framed its programme around the zeitgeist. Its report gave the most space to the AI drama Artificial, the controversial Gaza film Naza and the family crime drama Paper Tiger, with brief mentions of Mike Leigh and Behemoth. The tone was descriptive and largely positive about the festival's standing, while noting protests around Naza.
- “Now, one of America's most prestigious cinema events, the annual New York Film Festival, is in full swing”
- “It really gets across the idea that this is a critical moment, but it does so with humor and horror in perfect balance.”
- “People waited patiently for one of the festival's more controversial films, Naza, shot in Tel Aviv.”
Broadcast Timeline
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