James Gray’s Paper Tiger to open New York Film Festival
The Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson crime thriller will make its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall on Sept. 25.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
James Gray’s New York-set crime thriller Paper Tiger has landed the big first-night slot at the 64th New York Film Festival.
Film at Lincoln Center said the Neon release will open the festival on Sept. 25 with its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall. Gray is expected to attend the gala screening with members of the film’s cast and crew.
The movie stars Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson. Neon plans to release it in theaters on Nov. 13, according to the announcement.
Paper Tiger first screened in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Its New York Film Festival bow will mark Gray’s fourth appearance at NYFF, following The Immigrant in 2013, The Lost City of Z in 2016 and Armageddon Time in 2022.
A Queens and Brooklyn crime story
Set in 1986 Queens and Brooklyn, Paper Tiger follows Irwin, played by Teller, a family man and engineer chasing a more comfortable middle-class life.
The story turns darker when Irwin’s brother Gary, played by Driver, draws him into a crooked money-making scheme. Gary is described in the festival announcement as a former NYPD officer who believes he can profit from a plan involving the Russian mafia dumping oil by the Gowanus Canal.
Instead, the scheme puts Irwin and his family in danger. Johansson plays Irwin’s wife, Hester, while Gavin Goudey and Roman Engel play the couple’s sons.
Gray called the film personal and tied directly to the city that shaped him. “I’m immensely grateful to be welcomed back to this remarkable festival,” Gray said in the announcement. “This deeply personal film is rooted in New York City; from my upbringing to life-changing family experiences.”
He added that returning with a cast and crew that includes many New Yorkers was “a privilege,” and thanked the festival team.
Gray returns to familiar ground
NYFF Artistic Director Dennis Lim described Gray as a longtime presence at the festival and praised Paper Tiger as a major work in the filmmaker’s career.
“James Gray has been a fixture at the New York Film Festival for many years, and we are thrilled to welcome him back as our Opening Night filmmaker with a career-best achievement,” Lim said. He called the film “a movie of immense emotional power” and described Gray as one of New York’s major filmmakers.
The New York Film Festival began in 1963 and presents a curated lineup of international films selected from the year’s festival circuit, along with world premieres, revivals and talks. The 2026 edition is scheduled to run from Sept. 25 through Oct. 12.
Lim chairs this year’s Main Slate Selection Committee, which also includes Florence Almozini, Justin Chang and Rachel Rosen.
Gray was born in New York City, grew up in Queens and studied at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television. He made his feature directing debut at 25 with Little Odessa, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
His later credits include The Yards, We Own the Night, Two Lovers, The Immigrant, The Lost City of Z, Ad Astra and Armageddon Time, the last of which was inspired by his childhood in 1980s Queens.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.