Yorgos Lanthimos’s “The Favourite” will play on Opening Night is the 56th New York Film Festival (September 28-October 14).
The Fox Searchlight Pictures release will premiere at Alice Tully Hall in New York on Friday, September 28, 2018 and open in theaters November 23, 2018.
The Favourite is set during the height of the War of Spanish Succession as Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz), and her servant Abigail Hill (Emma Stone) fight to the death to win the body and soul of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). The brilliant performances by Weisz, Stone, and Colman bring Lanthimos’s vision for a18th-century England to life.
Kent Jones, New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair, said “The Favourite is a lot of things at once, each of them perfectly meshed: a historical epic; a visual feast; a wild, wild ride; a formidable display of the art of acting from Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Olivia Colman, abetted by a brilliant cast; a tour de force from Yorgos Lanthimos. And… it’s a blast. We’re very excited to have it as our opening night film.”
When asked about his film’s premiere in the festival, Lanthimos said, “It’s a great privilege to be showing The Favourite for the opening night of the New York Film Festival, which is a very special place for the film. I had a wonderful experience screening The Lobster at this distinct festival and I’m looking forward to sharing The Favourite with audiences in New York. I was envisioning this film for many years and eventually had a lot of fun making it.”
The New York Film Festival runs over the course of 17 days and highlights some of the world’s best cinema made by both celebrated and up-and-coming filmmakers. In addition to chairman Kent Jones, the selection committee also includes Dennis Lim and Florence Almozini.
Tickets to the 56th New York Film Festival are available to the general public on September 9, though festival and VIP passes are on sale now.
