Farewell to the New York Film Festival and to New York City as there is truly nothing quite like the rhythm of these past few days. Stepping out of Lincoln Center into the cool autumn air, surrounded by fellow cinephiles, film critics, the press,  and  filmmakers address electric atmosphere of full auditoriums, is a feeling that stays with you long after the final credits roll.

​Leaving the city always carries a bittersweet sting, but returning home with notebooks full of thoughts, a restored passion for storytelling, and unforgettable memories makes every moment worth it.

This year’s New York Film Festival proved to be an exceptionally impressive showcase of world cinema, packed with an array of strong, masterfully crafted films. Although scheduling conflicts kept me from catching James Gray’s opening night selection Paper Tiger during the festival runs, rest assured that a full review will be coming as soon as I catch up with it. In the meantime, here is a quick review recap of my absolute favorites from this year’s festival lineup:

1. ​Fjord (d. Cristian Mungiu) An intense, masterfully acted drama starring Sebastian Stan that chillingly examines morality, tension, and human frailty across cold Scandinavian landscapes. 4/4

2. ​Possible Love (d. Lee Chang-dong) A brilliantly unfolding story of economic precarity where the lives of two couples collide with immense emotional depth. 4/4

3. ​All of a Sudden (d. Ryusuke Hamaguchi) A subtle, exquisitely paced drama that explores human connection and grief with Hamaguchi’s signature precision. 4/4

4. ​Minotaur (d. Andrey Zvyagintsev) With his first film in nearly 10 years , Russian auteur Andrey Zvyagintsev latest work is a haunting, visually striking exploration of power, isolation, and institutional decay that demands full attention. 4/4

5. ​The Debut (d. Jesse Eisenberg) A sharp, insightful, and surprisingly poignant tragicomedy about ambition and creative anxiety. 3.5/4

6. ​Club Kid (d. Jordan Firstman) A wildly hilarious yet remarkably soulful satire that balances irreverent humor with authentic emotional depth. 3.5/4

7. ​Tender Loving Care (d. Mike Leigh) An intimate, beautifully observed character study filled with naturalistic performances and profound domestic truths. 3.5/4

8. ​14th (d. Ava DuVernay) A monumental, powerfully stirring work of historical gravity that commands your focus from start to finish. 3.5/4

9. ​Fatherland (d. Paweł Pawlikowski) A stark, gorgeously shot monochrome piece of cinema exploring identity, memory, and exile. 3/4

10. ​Bucking Fastard (d. Werner Herzog) An eccentric, fascinatingly quirky document of human resilience told through Herzog’s uniquely singular lens. 3/4

11. ​Behemoth! (d. Tony Gilroy) While it features solid moments, this heavily anticipated centerpiece ultimately stumbles under an uneven script and a structurally bloated narrative that squanders much of its dramatic momentum. 2.5/4

12. ​Bitter Christmas (d. Pedro Almodovar) Though visually striking, this meta-exercise feels increasingly familiar, often replacing Almodovar’s usual emotional resonance with heavy-handed melodrama and repetitive narrative tics. 2.5/4

Until next time, New York.