We are thrilled to announce that FAMILIAR TOUCH (dir. Sarah Friedland), made with the support of Women Make Movies’s Production Assistance Program, will open the prestigious 54th edition of New Directors/New Films, presented by The Museum of Modern Art and Film at Lincoln Center. This highly anticipated festival will run from April 2 to April 13, 2025.
A major highlight of this year’s New Directors/New Films, FAMILIAR TOUCH marks Friedland’s stunning feature debut. The film has already made waves on the international stage, having won three top prizes at the 2024 Venice Film Festival Orizzonti Competition, including the Lion of the Future. Featuring a powerful and nuanced performance by acclaimed actress Kathleen Chalfant, FAMILIAR TOUCH is a deeply moving and sophisticated exploration of aging, intimacy, and human connection. The film redefines the coming-of-age genre through the lens of elderly experiences, challenging assumptions about identity, perception, and relationships in later life.
Co-chair and FLC Programmer Dan Sullivan described the film as, “a sophisticated and boundlessly sensitive subversion of the coming-of-age film that challenges our preconceptions about the subjectivity of the elderly.”
Since 1972, New Directors/New Films has been a vital platform for new and emerging filmmakers, showcasing bold, risk-taking works that highlight the vitality of global cinema. The 2025 edition will present 24 features and nine short films, with 20 U.S. or North American premieres representing diverse themes such as community, political realities, family histories, and artistic expression.
Tickets and VIP Passes for New Directors/New Films Are available here.
