The Irishman to open 57th New York Film Festival

Martin Scorsese film will screen at Alice Tully Hall

by Anne-Katrin Titze

"It’s an incredible honour that The Irishman has been selected" - Martin Scorsese
"It’s an incredible honour that The Irishman has been selected" - Martin Scorsese Photo: Niko Tavernise/Netflix

Film at Lincoln Center announced this afternoon that the world premiere of Martin Scorsese's The Irishman, based on Charles Brandt’s nonfiction book I Heard You Paint Houses, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci is the Opening Night Gala selection of the 57th New York Film Festival.

“The Irishman is so many things: rich, funny, troubling, entertaining and, like all great movies, absolutely singular,” said New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones. “It’s the work of masters, made with a command of the art of cinema that I’ve seen very rarely in my lifetime, and it plays out at a level of subtlety and human intimacy that truly stunned me. All I can say is that the minute it was over my immediate reaction was that I wanted to watch it all over again.”

Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

“It’s an incredible honour that The Irishman has been selected as the Opening Night of the New York Film Festival. I greatly admire the bold and visionary selections that the festival presents to audiences year after year,” said Martin Scorsese. “The festival is critical to bringing awareness to cinema from around the world. I am grateful to have the opportunity to premiere my new picture in New York alongside my wonderful cast and crew.”

The selection committee, chaired by Jones, also includes Dennis Lim, FLC Director of Programming, and Florence Almozini, FLC Associate Director of Programming.

The Irishman will be screened at Alice Tully Hall on Friday, September 27.

The Irishman will be released in select theatres and on Netflix later this year.

The 2019 New York Film Festival runs from September 27 through October 13.

Share this with others on...
News

Home truths Marijana Janković on Balkan representation, and the immigrant question of belonging

The division belle Suzannah Herbert on facing the US' troubled history and making Natchez

Spin-off alchemy Claude Schmitz on bringing back cop pairing for Conrad & Crab – Idiotic Gems

Past crime Christoffer Boe on creating a world for his period mystery Special Unit - The First Murder

It Was Just An Accident screenwriter arrested in Iran Jafar Panahi speaks out

Sundance announces winners Josephine, Nuisance Bear, Shame And Money and To Hold A Mountain take top prizes

More news and features

Interact

As we move into 2026, don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.

With awards season in full flow, you can keep track of the latest news on that here:

César nominations Nouvelle Vague leads the race for France's biggest awards

BAFTA nominations One Battle After Another and Sinners almost neck and neck

Golden Eddies Nominations for editing brilliance announced

OFCS Awards One Battle After Another triumphs; Sinners dominates