IFC Center Celebrates 20th Anniversary With 20 Films for 20 Years

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Aug 29

Written By Jonathan P. Moustakas

The beloved New York arthouse marks two decades with a lineup of landmark films, spanning cult classics, international gems, and audience favorites.

The iconic downtown arthouse looks back on two decades of groundbreaking cinema with a two-part retrospective program featuring films from Miranda July, David Lynch, Barry Jenkins, Bong Joon Ho, and more.

The IFC Center is turning 20, and to mark the milestone, the West Village theater is pulling out all the stops. Beginning August 29, the venue launches 20 Films for 20 Years, a two-part retrospective spotlighting the movies and filmmakers that have defined its history since opening in 2005.

The series will screen one title from each year IFC Center has been in operation, starting with Part 1 (2005–2014) running August 29–September 4, followed by Part 2 (2015–2024) September 26–October 2. The lineup showcases everything from cult midnight fare to Oscar winners, bringing back films that left an indelible mark on audiences.

Highlights From the Program

Friday, August 29: Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), Miranda July’s boundary-breaking debut that embodies the daring spirit of indie cinema.

Saturday, August 30: Parasite (2019), Bong Joon-ho’s Palme d’Or and Oscar winner that drew packed IFC houses before conquering the world.

Sunday, August 31: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Wes Anderson’s bittersweet New York story of family dysfunction and eccentric charm.

Monday, September 1: Moonlight (2016), Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning masterpiece, first championed by IFC audiences before it became a global sensation.

Wednesday, September 3: Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Guillermo del Toro’s haunting dark fairy tale that became a touchstone for fantasy on the big screen.

Other selections include Carol, The Act of Killing, Boyhood, Shoplifters, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire — films that reflect IFC’s commitment to supporting daring voices and cinematic visionaries.

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Part 1 also features David Lynch’s Inland Empire (2006), Barry Jenkins’ debut Medicine for Melancholy (2008), and Richard Linklater’s landmark Boyhood (2014). Midnight screenings include Tom Six’s infamous The Human Centipede(2009), alongside Gaspar Noé’s Enter the Void (2010) and Gregg Araki’s Kaboom (2011) in rare 35mm presentations.

Part 2 continues the celebration with Juliette Binoche in Olivier Assayas’ Clouds of Sils Maria (2015), Kirsten Johnson’s acclaimed Cameraperson (2016), Bill Morrison’s Dawson City: Frozen Time (2017) — complete with a Q&A — and Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winner Titane (2021). Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera (2024), Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters (2018), and Laura Poitras’ All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022) round out the lineup.

In honor of the anniversary, IFC is offering a special “2 for 20” ticket pack—two films for $20, or $18 for members. The program not only celebrates two decades of adventurous programming but also pays tribute to the loyal audience that has made the theater a downtown fixture.

“The last twenty years were made possible by our dedicated audience of curious, open-minded film lovers who are always up for something new,” the Center said in its announcement. “We truly can’t do this without you.”

— IFC CENTER

20 FILMS FOR 20 YEARS