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The Contenders 2026
October 28, 2026 – December 17, 2026
The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art presents its selection of the best and boldest films of 2026 for the 19th annual edition of The Contenders, running October 28 through December 17, 2026.
Opening the series is Obsession, directed by Curry Barker and starring Inde Navarette and Michael Johnston. The breakout horror hit captured huge audiences worldwide and has placed Barker at the top of the list of new filmmakers to watch. The screening on October 28 will be followed by a conversation with Barker, moderated by filmmaker Rian Johnson.
Closing the series on December 17 is a 35mm presentation of The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland. Nolan returns to The Contenders for the fifth time with his ambitious adaptation of Homer’s epic poem.
Organized by the Department of Film.
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
La Gradiva. 2026. France. Directed by Marine Atlan. Courtesy 1-2 Special
Bunker. 2026. France/Spain. Directed by Florian Zeller. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics
Club Kid. 2026. USA. Directed by Jordan Firstman. Courtesy A24
Dao. 2026. France/Senegal/Guinea-Bissau. Directed by Alain Gomis. Courtesy Janus Films
Das geträumte Abenteuer (The Dreamed Adventure). 2026. German/France/Bulgaria/Austria. Directed by Valeska Grisebach. Courtesy Janus Films
Iron Boy. 2026. France/Belgium. Directed by Louise Clichy. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classic
Josephine. 2026. USA. Directed by Beth de Araujo. Courtesy Sumerian Pictures
Nuestra tierra (Our Land). 2026. Argentina/USA/Mexico/France/Netherlands/Denmark. Directed by Lucrecia Martel. Courtesy Strand Releasing
Obsession. 2026. USA. Directed by Curry Barker. Courtesy Focus Features
Queen at Sea. 2026. UK/USA. Directed by Lance Hammer. Courtesy Greenwich Entertainment
The Samurai and the Prisoner (黒牢城). 2026. Japan. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Courtesy Janus Films
The Invite. 2026. USA. Directed by Olivia Wilde. Courtesy A24
Yes. 2026. France/Israel/Cyprus/Germany. Directed by Nadav Lapid. Courtesy Kino Lorber
Disclosure Day. 2026. USA. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Courtesy Universal Pictures
I Want Your Sex. 2026. Directed by Gregg Araki. Courtesy Magnolia Pictures
La Bola Negra. 2026. Spain/France. Directed Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi. Courtesy Netflix
Possible Love (가능한 사랑). 2026. South Korea. Directed by Lee Chang-dong. Courtesy Netflix
Project Hail Mary. 2026. USA. Directed by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller. Courtesy Amazon MGM Studios
Send Help. 2026. USA. Directed by Sam Raimi. Courtesy 20th Century Studios
The Debut. 2026. USA. Directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Courtesy A24
The Odyssey. 2026. USA/UK. Directed by Christopher Nolan. Courtesy Universal Pictures
Wild Horse Nine. 2026. UK/USA/Chile. Directed by Martin McDonagh. DCP courtesy Searchlight Pictures