Nomadland to be NYFF centrepiece

Chloé Zhao film stars Frances McDormand

by Anne-Katrin Titze

Nomadland director Chloé Zhao
Nomadland director Chloé Zhao Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Film at Lincoln Center has announced today that Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland, adapted from Jessica Bruder’s 2017 nonfiction book Nomadland: Surviving America In The Twenty-First Century and produced by Frances McDormand, Peter Spears (Call Me By Your Name), Mollye Asher (The Rider), Dan Janvey (Beasts Of The Southern Wild) and Zhao, will be the Centerpiece selection of the 58th New York Film Festival. The film, shot by Joshua James Richards (Zhao’s The Rider, Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country) stars McDormand as Fern, David Strathairn, and includes nomads Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells “as Fern’s mentors and comrades.”

Frances McDormand as Fern in Chloé Zhao's Nomadland
Frances McDormand as Fern in Chloé Zhao's Nomadland

“We knew that Chloé Zhao’s masterful film, Nomadland, deserved a central spot at the New York Film Festival as soon as we saw it,” said Eugene Hernandez, Director of the New York Film Festival. "We’re elated to share Chloé and Fran’s remarkable achievement with New York audiences this fall." “We are honored to have Chloé back at the festival with her most ambitious and moving work to date,” said New York Film Festival Director of Programming Dennis Lim. “Anchored by Frances McDormand’s indelible performance, Nomadland is a road movie for our precarious times, and it establishes Chloé as one of the most clear-eyed and humane observers of life on the American margins.” “I'm very excited and proud that Nomadland will screen at NYFF. I learned how to make films in New York City, at NYU. This wonderful, brave, and inspiring city means a lot to me. I’m so thankful for NYFF to invite me back to connect with its audiences,” said Chloé Zhao.

Nomadland will be released in the US this fall by Searchlight Pictures.

The 2020 New York Film Festival runs from September 25 through October 11, 2020

Share this with others on...
News

Expanding the possible Fernanda Salgado on fantasy, reality, Jan Švankmajer and Ana, En Passant

A burning thing Sneha Mehta and Teddy Stern on falling in love with Mumbai, and making Getar Hero

Nothing is impossible Paul Rowley on moving to New York, the Pulse massacre, and Gays Against Guns

‘The only thing that makes a story universal is emotions’ Warsaw’s Industry panel discuss reaching audiences abroad

The only thing worth saying Chuko and Arie Esiri on adapting Mrs Dalloway and making Clarissa

European Film Academy shortlist announced 68 features vie for nomination

More news and features

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the London Film Festival and Newfest.



We're looking forward to the Belfast Film Festival, Halloween Frightfest, the Cheltenham International Film Festival and the Leeds International Film Festival.



We've recently brought you coverage of the New York Film Festival, Grimmfest, Beyond Fest, the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon, Instagram and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


London Winners announced


Tallinn Black Nights UK co-production joins Works In Progress


Warsaw What Belongs To Others takes top prize


Tallinn Baltic Competition, Rebels With A Cause and Critics' Picks titles announced


Dinard I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning named Best Film