10 Most Anticipated Fall Festival Films of 2025
From Venice to TIFF to NYFF. These are the buzzy titles everyone will be talking about heading into awards season.
Fall movies are finally back!!!!
After the blockbusters of the summer, the true cinephiles are ready to feast on the gourmet platter of films we have on deck this fall.
Starting on Wednesday, the fall film festival season once again gets underway.
Here is the schedule for the 4 major fall film festivals this year:
Venice Film Festival - August 22nd through September 9th
Telluride Film Festival - August 29th through September 1st
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) - September 4th through 14th
New York Film Festival (NYFF) - September 26th through October 13th
After these festivals, the regional film festivals (Chicago, London, Middleburg, Santa Barbara, Savannah, Virginia, etc.) play the best films from the “Big Four” fall festivals.
Over the next six weeks, instant classics will be born, Oscar frontrunners will emerge, and under the radar films will take center stage.
The festival ecosystem is a special place for launching, discovering, and nurturing new films, but can also an unforgiving one. There will be Oscar frontrunners that premiere to poor reception and are never heard from again. There will be films seeking distribution that never find it.
If everything goes right, it can be lightning in a bottle magic. If it doesn’t go well, you can lose momentum before the film even gets released.
High risk. High reward.
Nothing quite like it!
This year I will be at the New York Film Festival, Middleburg Film Festival, and the Virginia Film Festival, so I will report back on what I see up close and in person.
Before we get to my most anticipated films from the upcoming fall festival slate, make sure to catch up on our recent reviews from August!
'Weapons' Review: A Haunting Tale of Grief
Premise - “When all but one child from the same classroom mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.”
'KPop Demon Hunters' Review: Netflix's Animated Surprise of the Year
Premise - “A world-renowned K-Pop girl group balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters.”
'Highest 2 Lowest' Review: Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Reimagine Kurosawa
Premise - “When a powerful music mogul is targeted by a ransom plot, he is forced to fight for his family and legacy while jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.”
'Together' (2025) Review
Premise - “Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie find themselves at a crossroads when they move to the countryside, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.”
10 Most Anticipated Films of the Fall Festivals
Before people start yelling at me in the comments for movies I left off, here were the parameters I set for myself when making this list:
The movie has to be playing fall festivals. This removes films like Marty Supreme & One Battle After Another that I am stoked for, but aren’t playing fall festivals (that we know at this point).
The movie can’t have appeared on my list of “25 Most Anticipated Films of 2025” from earlier in the year. The goal with this new list is to draw attention to films that I haven’t already talked about. This means that the following festival films that I am super pumped for won’t be on the list:
It is okay if the film has already premiered at another festival earlier in the year (like Cannes or Sundance). It just has to be playing at least one fall festival to qualify for this list.
Alright, enough parameters! Let’s get to the list:
Honorable Mentions:
Sirat
Ballad of a Small Player
Frankenstein
The Mastermind
The Secret Agent
Deliver Me From Nowhere
Roofman
Sound of Falling
Rental Family
Father Mother Sister Brother
10. Late Fame
Premise - “Legendary New York poet Ed Saxberger's forgotten works captivate an eccentric group of young creatives, reigniting his artistic passion. Their intrigue intertwines with the bewitching presence of actress Gloria.”
Director - Kent Jones
Noteworthy Cast - Willem Dafoe & Greta Lee
World Premiere Festival & Date - Venice Film Festival on August 30th
Why I am excited - This one doesn’t seem to be getting much buzz ahead of it’s premiere, but I am wondering if it is going to surprise some people. The screenplay was written by Sammy Burch, who was Oscar nominated for her very first screenplay for May December (one of my favorites of 2023). Director Kent Jones has a solid track record. And stars Greta Lee & Willem Dafoe are two of my favorite working actors. Checks more boxes than most movies do!
Oscar Potential - Probably nothing, unless it surprises some people
Release Date - Unknown
9. Bugonia
Premise - “Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.”
Director - Yorgos Lanthimos
Noteworthy Cast - Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and Alicia Silverstone
World Premiere Festival & Date - Venice Film Festival on August 28th
Why I am excited - Yorgos has been on of the greatest runs by any director this century. Many are describing this as his most commercial/accessible movie yet (which is not really something you would use to describe any of his previous films).
Between that, the premise, and the cast, I am sold!
Oscar Potential - Jesse Plemons is the favorite to win Best Actor & there is a chance that it could also get nominated for Best Director & Best Picture
Release Date - October 24th
8. Anemone
Premise - “Family bonds between fathers, sons, and brothers are explored as complex relationships unfold through personal journeys and generational conflicts.”
Director - Ronan Day-Lewis
Noteworthy Cast - Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Bean, and Samantha Morton
World Premiere Festival & Date - New York Film Festival (Date Unknown)
Why I am excited - In 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis announced that he was retiring from acting. Late last year, after a 7 year hiatus, the legend himself announced that he was going to come out of retirement to star in his son’s directorial debut.
The Daniel Day-Lewis aspect alone is enough to get me excited about the film, but to be frank, I wasn’t really that jazzed to see another Nepo baby get their shot at making a movie.
That all changed the moment the trailer dropped because it seems that Ronan Day-Lewis has the stuff. And his dad is not just taking some nothing part, he seems to be the star.
This legitimately may be the last movie that one of the greatest actors of all time is in. Count me in!
Oscar Potential - Any time Daniel Day-Lewis is in a film, there is a chance that he gets nominated.
Release Date - October 3rd
7. No Other Choice
Premise - “After being unemployed for several years, a man devises a unique plan to secure a new job: eliminate his competition.”
Director - Park Chan-wook
World Premiere Festival & Date - Venice Film Festival on August 29th
Why I am excited - Any time one of the best living directors makes a movie, it is a big deal. While Chan-wook’s filmography is a pretty big blind spot for me, I can’t wait to explore it leading up to what looks to be another excellent film from the master.
Oscar Potential - Maybe Chan-wook gets in for director, but his films have not been very loved by the Academy as of late. It feels like that will change at some point with this new & more international academy, but it is anyone’s guess when that happens.
Release Date - Unknown
6. It Was Just An Accident
Premise - “A small mishap triggers a chain reaction of ever-growing problems.”
Director - Jafar Panahi
World Premiere Festival & Date - It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20th & is set to play TIFF, Telluride, and NYFF this fall.
Why I am excited - This was not on my radar prior to Cannes, but immediately was when it upset Sentimental Value to win the coveted Palme D'or (top prize at Cannes). Five of the past 6 Palme winners have gone on to win Best Picture at the Oscars & two of them went on to win Best Picture (Anora & Parasite). While I don’t expect this to win Best Picture, I would imagine like all Palme winners, it is going to be really really good.
Oscar Potential - It will almost certainly be nominated for Best International Feature & then has a shot to get nominated for Best Director and even Best Picture.
Release Date - October 15th
5. A House of Dynamite
Premise - “Centered on White House staffers grappling with an impending missile strike on America, this gripping drama unfolds in real-time as tensions escalate.”
Director - Kathryn Bigelow
Noteworthy Cast - Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Willa Fitzgerald, Anthony Ramos, Greta Lee, Tracy Letts, and Jonah Hauber-King
World Premiere Festival & Date - Venice Film Festival on September 2nd
Why I am excited - It has been eight years since the world has been blessed with a Kathryn Bigelow film. Any time the director of Point Break, The Hurt Locker, & Zero Dark Thirty makes a film, anticipation is high!
Oscar Potential - Has a chance to get nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, & Best Screenplay.
Release Date - October 24th on Netflix
4. The Testament of Ann Lee
Premise - “An epic fable about religious leader Ann Lee (Seyfried), who was proclaimed by her followers as the female Christ and went on to build one of the largest utopian societies.”
Director - Mona Fastvold
Noteworthy Cast - Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Abbott, Lewis Pullman, & Tim Blake Nelson
World Premiere Festival & Date - Venice Film Festival on September 1st
Why I am excited - If you are new around here, you may not know that I adore musicals. And one of the prominent stars of quite a few blockbuster musicals of the past decade is none other than my queen, Amanda Seyfried. Whether it is Mama Mia, Les Miserable, or Mama Mia 2, I am constantly captivated by her presence and raw talent on screen in musical films. I still think she should have been Glinda in Wicked, but that is besides the point.
Another person who has captured my attention recently is Mona Fastvold. She co-wrote last year’s The Brutalist with her husband, Brady Corbet, & took the film world by storm. Corbet was in the directors chair for the last film, but this time Fastvold is behind the camera for a screenplay that they wrote together.
Either of those things alone would be enough to end up on a list like this, but Amanda Seyfriend + Mona Fastvold + Musical = crazy anticipation for me.
This one is a wildcard. It could be bad, but my hopes are sure high!
Oscar Potential - Amanda Seyfried has a good chance to win Best Actress
Release Date - Unknown
3. Is This Thing On?
Premise - “As their marriage unravels, Alex faces middle age and divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while wife Tess confronts the sacrifices she made for their family-forcing them to navigate co-parenting and identity.”
Director - Bradley Cooper
Noteworthy Cast - Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Bradley Cooper, Sean Hayes, Ciaran Hinds, & Payton Manning
World Premiere Festival & Date- New York Film Festival on October 10th
Why I am excited - Cooper’s version of A Star is Born is one of my favorite films of all time. His follow up to that, Maestro, was one of my favorite films of 2023.
Safe to say I was going to be excited about his next film.
I have heard that this one is tonally VERY different from his first two films and that it likely wasn’t going to be much of an awards player. Thus, my expectations were lowered. I guess even filmmakers need a palate cleanser occasionally as well. And that is what it felt like this whole film was.
But then the stills were released.. And then the logline was released..
And you better believe my anticipation shot right back up.
In Bradley we trust!
Oscar Potential - There is alot unknown at this point, but it probably is not an Oscar player this year. There is an outside chance it could pop up with nominations in Screenplay, Director, Acting awards, and even Best Picture.
Release Date - December 19th
2. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Premise - “With her life crashing down around her, Linda tries to navigate her daughter's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.”
Director - Mary Bronstein
Noteworthy Cast - Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien, A$AP Rocky, & Christian Slater
World Premiere Festival & Date - It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24th. It then played the Berlin International Film Festival (where Byrne won the Silver Bear for best leading performance). It is expected to play at TIFF, Telluride, and NYFF this fall.
Why I am excited - To put it frankly, this looks like what everyone hoped Nightbitch would be last awards season. Those who have seen the film are describing it as a “female version of Uncut Gems”. That sounds like high praise to live up to, but when you realize that Josh Safdie is a producer, you realize it may actually be true. Sign me up for an anxiety filled ride!
Can’t wait for a Rose Byrne Oscar campaign!
Oscar Potential - Rose Byrne has a good chance to be nominated & potentially win Best Actress
Release Date - October 10, 2025
1. Sentimental Value
Premise - “An intimate exploration of family, memories, and the reconciliatory power of art.”
Director - Joachim Trier
Noteworthy Cast - Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning, & Cory Michael Smith
World Premiere Festival & Date - It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21st & is set to play TIFF, Telluride, and NYFF this fall.
Why I am excited - Back during the pandemic, Joachim Trier took the film world by storm with The Worst Person in the World. It ushered in a new generation of cinephiles & catapulted to one of the best films of the century. Safe to say, there was going to be massive anticipation for his next film. Then when it was announced that he would be running it back with Renate Reinsve (seen earlier this year in Armand), the anticipation grew even more.
All that said, the buzz around Sentimental Value since it premiered at Cannes has far exceeded even what I could have imagined. It has been out of this world. The buzz was so good coming out of the festival that it was actually a bit surprising that it didn’t win the top prize at Cannes. Nonetheless, this is not only one of the best reviewed films of the year, but has already cemented itself as a major player in the Oscar race this year.
Great director, great cast, compelling themes, excellent reviews, and a captivating trailer.
What more do you need to be excited?
Oscar Potential - This one is likely going to be a big Oscar player. Here is the current outlook:
Likely to be nominated for Best Picture & could even win.
Clear favorite to win Best International Feature.
Stellen Skarsgård is a frontrunner to win Best Supporting Actor.
Renate Reinsve has a strong chance to be nominated for Best Actress
Elle Fanning has a chance to get nominated for Best Supporting Actress
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas has an outside chance to get nominate for Best Supporting Actress
Joachim Trier has a good chance to be nominated for Best Director
It has a strong chance to be nominated & win Original Screenplay
Release Date - November 7, 2025
I often only find myself excited about films in development when they are helmed by a director I trust. It’s really hard to get excited for a log line and not know what the quality will be. We have all fallen for a Netflix log line that sounded appealing but then you could tell instantly that it was going to be a tough.
I think it is partly why studios like A24 or Neon have become so successful. You know that when you see their logo, there will at least be some standard for quality.
Every now and then though, something comes along that changes all of that. There will be a logline and stars attached that get me hook line and sinker to the point that the director attached doesn’t even matter.
That happened a few weeks ago when I hear about Winter Games
Here is the log line for the film - “Set in the high-stakes arena of the Winter Olympics, the film follows a perpetually overlooked skier and a self-sabotaging hockey legend who collide at their breaking points. Their unexpected connection threatens her chance for a medal and his shot at a comeback as they navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village.”
Then I learned that Miles Teller is set to play the hockey legend & Hailee Steinfeld is set to play the skier.
SIGN ME UP!
I am not sure why, but a romance set inside the world of the Olympic village feels like a movie that should already exist. There is always something so intriguing and fascinating about that village world every time the Olympics rolls around.
I really hope they lean into all of the different dynamics that must exist in the Olympic village & amongst the athletes themselves. Whether it is the celebrations after a medal is one or the heartbreak of losing after you have dedicated years of your life to get to that point.
It just feels very high stakes, yet intimate set inside the village itself. I really hope it ends up being as good as it is inside my head.
Time will tell!
'Wolf of Wall Street' (2013) Review
Premise - “Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.”
To see past editions of Retro Recs, click here
That is all for now!
As always, enjoy some great films until next time,
Aaron Nolan
Thank you for putting this list together! These are the types of films that I love watching. I need to look at your other film lists!
Thanks Aaron. Love that you added trailers! I’ll be missing Telluride for the first time in 7 years but I’ll catch a few of these at the Philly Film Festival!