Lauren Rivera 
The annual Montclair Film Festival, hosted by nonprofit Montclair Film, is returning to the MTC for its 14th year. Happening from October 17th to 26th for 2025, the festival will feature screenings of newly released films, panels, and special events. Read on for what to know about the 14th annual Montclair Film Festival, happening this October in Montclair, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Montclair Film
About the Montclair Film Fest
The 14th annual Montclair Film Festival will be a multi-day event showcasing special screenings, panels, and more. This year, it takes place from October 17th to 26th.
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Confirmed screening locations include The Wellmont Theater at 5 Seymour Street, Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School at 6 Lloyd Road, and the historic Bellevue Theater at 260 Bellevue Avenue.
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On September 3rd, Montclair Film announced the festival’s opening, closing, and centerpiece films, which feature a mix of narrative + documentary films and star actors including George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Brendan Fraser, Sydney Sweeney, and more. Though it has yet to be confirmed, Montclair attendees are hoping for the attendance of Adam Sandler, who spent his summer in New Jersey filming his newest project, Roommates. The full program, including competition films and scheduled panels, will be announced on September 26th, 2025.
“We look forward to continuing to build connections through the power of film, and cannot wait to celebrate this year’s program with audiences,” Montclair Film Artistic Director Tom Hall said in a statement.
Tickets can be purchased through the Montclair Film website.
Schedule of Events: Opening, Closing, + Centerpiece Films
Opening Night — Friday, October 17th at 7PM
JAY KELLY at The Wellmont Theater
The Montclair Film Festival will open with the new Netflix release Jay Kelly. Directed by Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach, this film follows movie actor Jay Kelly, played by George Clooney, and his manager Ron, played by Adam Sandler, as they embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they’ve made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind.
Documentary Centerpiece — Friday, October 24th at 7:30PM
COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT at The Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School
Ryan White’s Come See Me in Good Light screens as the festival’s 2025 Documentary Centerpiece. This film is a poignant and unexpectedly funny love story about poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley facing an incurable cancer diagnosis with joy, wit, and an unshakable partnership. Through laughter and unwavering love, they transform pain into purpose and mortality into a moving celebration of resilience.
Fiction Centerpiece — Saturday, October 25th
HIKARI’s RENTAL FAMILY (location TBD)
Screening as the 2025 Fiction Centerpiece of the festival, Hikari’s Rental Family is a film set in modern-day Tokyo. The film follows an American actor played by Brendan Fraser who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
Closing Night — Sunday, October 26th at 6PM
CHRISTY at The Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School
Christy, directed by David Michôd, will screen as the festival’s 2025 Closing Night Film. The film follows Christy Martin, played by Sydney Sweeney, who never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim, played by Ben Foster. But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.
2025 Festival Honors
Opening night on October 17th will feature New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy as Honorary Chairs. The festival will also honor Nicolas Britell with the 2025 Composer Award. Attendees can look forward to a post-screening Q&A with Nicolas Britell as he discusses his score for Jay Kelly.
On Saturday, October 18th, filmmaker Spike Lee will be honored with the 2025 Filmmaker Tribute. The event, taking place at 3:30PM at The Wellmont Theater, will showcase a conversation led by Stephen Colbert, highlighting Mr. Lee’s remarkable career as one of today’s foremost cinematic artists, with a special emphasis on his newest film, Highest 2 Lowest. At 7:30PM, screenwriter Will Tracy will be honored with the 2025 Screenwriter Award, following a screening of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia.
Over at the MKA Upper School, the festival will honor Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Co-Chair and CEO Pamela Abdy with the 2025 Visionary Award on October 18th. Pamela Abdy will join Montclair Film Artistic Director Tom Hall for an in-depth conversation exploring her exceptional career as a creative executive, with a spotlight on her company’s 2025 slate of box office hits, including A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Apple’s F1, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Weapons, The Conjuring: Last Rites, and the upcoming One Battle After Another.
On Sunday, October 19th, at 5PM at The Bellevue Theatre, the festival will honor director Shih-Ching Tsou with the 2025 Breakthrough Director. This will follow a screening of her new film, Left-Handed Girl, which has been selected as Taiwan’s submission for the Best International Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards.
At The Bellevue Theatre on October 25th at 7:30 PM, directors Mark Oberhaus and Laura Poitras will be honored with the 2025 David Carr Award for Truth in Non-Fiction Filmmaking for their film Cover-Up, described as a “probing portrait of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh.” This award is presented annually in honor of “Mr. Carr’s passion for the truth and his commitment to great journalism,” Montclair Film shared with MG.
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