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The Contenders 2025
November 06, 2025 – January 07, 2026
The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art announces its selection of the best and boldest films of 2025 for the 18th annual edition of The Contenders, running November 6, 2025, through January 7, 2026.
Opening the series is Dead Man’s Wire, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Bill Skarsgård, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino, which premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2025. The film, soon to be released by Row K Entertainment, is a visceral retelling of a 1977 kidnapping with powerful contemporary parallels.. The screening on November 6 will be followed by a conversation with acclaimed director Gus Van Sant.
Closing the series on January 7, 2026, is Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie and starring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow. The first solo directorial effort by Josh Safdie is an electrifying reimagining of the sports movie, as a young ping pong star strives for greatness in the 1950s.
Film at MoMA is made possible by CHANEL.
Additional support is provided by the Annual Film Fund. Leadership support for the Annual Film Fund is provided by The Contemporary Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art, Agnes Gund through The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art, the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), and The Young Patrons Council of The Museum of Modern Art.
Press Kit
Images
Sotto le nuvole (Below the Clouds). 2025. Italy. Directed by Gianfranco Rosi. Courtesy MUBI
Rosemead. 2025. USA. Directed by Eric Lin. Courtesy the filmmakers
Eddington. 2025. USA. Directed by Ari Aster. Courtesy A24
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. 2025. USA. Written and directed by Mary Bronstein. Courtesy A24
It Was Just an Accident. 2025. Iran/France/Luxemoub. Directed by Jafar Panahi. Courtesy NEON
The President’s Cake. 2025. Iraq. Directed by Hasan Hadi. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics
Sound of Falling. 2025. Germany. Directed by Mascha Schilinski. Courtesy MUBI
Dead Man’s Wire. 2025. USA. Directed by Gus Van Sant. Courtesy Stefania Rosini SMPSP
Grand Tour. 2024. Portugal/Italy/France. Directed by Miguel Gomes. Courtesy MUBI
Harvest. 2024. UK/USA/Germany/France. Directed Athina Rachel Tsangari. Courtesy MUBI
La grazia. 2025. Italy. Directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Courtesy MUBI
After the Hunt. 2025. USA. Directed by Luca Guadagnino. Courtesy Amazon MGM Studios