‘After the Hunt’ Stars Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield Open New York Film Festival 2025

Julia Roberts calls it one of her “top three” New York moments as Luca Guadagnino’s latest thriller ignites the 63rd NYFF.

The 63rd New York Film Festival kicked off Friday night with the world premiere of After the Hunt, Luca Guadagnino’s provocative new psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield. The star-studded opening took place at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, where Guadagnino, in a sequined gray suit jacket, introduced the film to a packed house of festivalgoers.

Roberts, returning to the NYFF spotlight for the first time in decades, was visibly moved as she addressed the crowd. “I moved to New York when I was 17 years old — and I’m 57. This is top 3 great achievements of my New York life,” she said, drawing warm applause from the audience.

Directed by Guadagnino and written by Nora Garrett, After the Hunt follows Alma (Roberts), a college professor whose life is upended when her protégé Maggie (Edebiri) accuses Hank (Garfield), Alma’s close friend and colleague, of sexual assault. What unfolds is a morally intricate drama that avoids easy answers and dives headfirst into ethical ambiguity, campus politics, and personal reckoning.

“This film was made to make you talk about it and fight over it, and be laughing and being desperate and happy,” Guadagnino told the crowd with a smile, emphasizing the movie’s intention to provoke passionate conversation.

The evening brought out the full cast and creative team, including co-star Michael Stuhlbarg, screenwriter Nora Garrett, and even Julia’s niece Emma Roberts. Garrett shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote from the carpet, highlighting a key confrontation scene between Garfield and Roberts: “That was Andrew’s first day on set, and he just knocked it out of the park. I almost started crying.”

Scroll through photos from the NYFF premiere below:

Speaking about the film’s morally gray characters and emotionally charged dialogue, Garrett explained her process: “I was an actor, and so much of the acting training I got was about being on your character’s side — even if you don’t agree with them. I think I did the same thing with the dialogue — I hope.”

After the screening, the cast and guests made their way to Tavern on the Green for the opening night afterparty, where attendees snacked on mini lobster rolls, meat skewers, and fingerling potatoes under the stars. Guadagnino arrived an hour later — still in his shimmering jacket — mingling with cast, crew, and industry insiders celebrating the official kickoff to NYFF 2025.

After the Hunt opens in select U.S. theaters on October 10, followed by a wider release on October 17. With powerhouse performances and a razor-sharp script, the film is already generating early Oscar buzz — and giving the 63rd NYFF a politically charged, emotionally layered start.

Joanthan P. Moustakas

Jonathan P. Moustakas founded The Cinema Group in 2020 during the challenges of the pandemic, after losing the vital ability to find community in theaters and escape through the captivating magic of cinema. Feeling profoundly cut off from the vibrant film community he cherished, he sought to create a welcoming home for dedicated cinema fans while providing engaging, daily curated content that resonates with their passions. Years later, The Cinema Group has blossomed from a small collective of loyal fans into a thriving brand that reaches millions of audiences every month across a diverse array of platforms and mediums.

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