Julia Roberts stars in Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt”, opening the New York Film Festival with a gripping tale of power, morality, and scandal.
Luca Guadagnino’s highly anticipated film After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, has been selected as the opening night feature of the 63rd New York Film Festival.
The movie will have its North American premiere at the festival, screening at Alice Tully Hall on September 26. Guadagnino and cast members are expected to attend the event.
After the Hunt is a gripping drama that delves into the ripple effects of a sexual assault allegation on an Ivy League campus. Julia Roberts plays Alma Olsson, a Yale philosophy professor whose professional and personal life is upended when her PhD student, Maggie (played by Ayo Edebiri), accuses Alma’s longtime colleague and friend Henrik (Andrew Garfield) of sexual assault.
The scandal challenges Alma’s identity, beliefs, and past decisions, as tensions rise and the veneer of privilege on campus starts to crack. Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny also co-star in this thought-provoking film, with a script penned by Nora Garrett.
The movie is backed by Amazon MGM Studios and will first make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival before heading to New York. Guadagnino is no stranger to the New York Film Festival, having previously showcased films like Call Me by Your Name and Queer there.
In a statement, Guadagnino called it a “tremendous responsibility and honor” to open the festival. He praised the NYFF for its commitment to showcasing bold and compelling cinema from around the world.
Festival artistic director Dennis Lim described After the Hunt as a “complex, grown-up movie” that balances meaningful themes with captivating storytelling, solidifying Guadagnino’s status as one of the most versatile and daring filmmakers working today.
The New York Film Festival, a major stop on the awards season circuit, will run through October 13. After the Hunt continues the festival’s tradition of launching high-profile films, following previous openers like The Irishman, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and May December.
