James Gray's 'Paper Tiger' Opens 64th New York Film Festival

James Gray’s crime drama Paper Tiger will open the 64th New York Film Festival, serving as the event’s Opening Night selection. The North American premiere is scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2026, at Alice Tully Hall, Film at Lincoln Center, with the director and cast in attendance.

The film, set in 1986 Queens and Brooklyn, follows engineer Irwin (Miles Teller) who is drawn into a shady oil‑dumping scheme by his brother Gary (Adam Driver), a former NYPD cop, endangering his family, including his wife Hester (Scarlett Johansson). Reported cast members also include Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway in earlier announcements. The festival slot places Paper Tiger on the Main Slate, highlighting its artistic merit ahead of a wider theatrical release.

The selection underscores Gray’s long‑standing relationship with the New York Film Festival, marking his fourth film to be featured on the Main Slate and positioning the movie for critical attention during the fall awards season.