James Gray’s ‘Paper Tiger’ to Open the 64th New York Film Festival

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Jul 16

The Queens-set crime thriller starring Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson will make its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall.

James Gray’s Paper Tiger has been selected as the Opening Night film of the 64th New York Film Festival, Film at Lincoln Center announced Wednesday.

The film will make its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall on Friday, September 25, with Gray and members of the cast and crew expected to attend. The gala screening will officially launch NYFF64, which runs through October 12 and is presented in partnership with Rolex.

Set in 1986 Queens and Brooklyn, Paper Tiger stars Miles Teller as Irwin, an engineer and family man whose pursuit of middle-class stability is threatened when his brother Gary, played by Adam Driver, pulls him into a criminal scheme. A former NYPD officer, Gary becomes involved with Russian criminals attempting to circumvent environmental regulations by dumping oil near the Gowanus Canal, placing Irwin and his family in escalating danger. Scarlett Johansson co-stars as Irwin’s wife, Hester, who is confronting a personal crisis of her own.

The thriller premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and marks Gray’s fourth selection at NYFF. His previous appearances include The Immigrant in the 2013 Main Slate, The Lost City of Z as the 2016 Closing Night selection and Armageddon Time in the 2022 Main Slate and 60th anniversary program.

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Gray described the film as a deeply personal New York story rooted in his upbringing and family experiences, calling the opportunity to return to the festival with the cast and crew “a privilege.” NYFF Artistic Director Dennis Lim praised Paper Tiger as a work of immense emotional power and described it as a career-best achievement from one of New York cinema’s defining filmmakers.

The selection places Gray’s film in a long line of major Opening Night titles that includes After the Hunt, Nickel Boys, May December, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Irishman, Gone Girl and The Social Network. The film will be released by NEON.

NYFF64 passes are currently on sale. Single tickets will become available to the general public on September 15 at noon ET, following presale access for Film at Lincoln Center members and pass holders. Press and industry accreditation remains open through August 14.