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This morning, the Montclair Film Festival announced the Opening, Closing, and Centerpiece titles for 2025. Opening up Montclair will be Noah Baumbach‘s Jay Kelly, while the Centerpiece selections are Hikari‘s Rental Family in Fiction and Ryan White‘s Come See Me in the Good Light in Documentary. As for the Closing movie, that’s going to be David Michôd’s Christy. More below from the festival.
Here is the press release, in part:
Montclair Film has announced the 2025 Opening
Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night Films for the 14th Annual Montclair Film Festival,
taking place October 17-26, 2025 in Montclair, NJ.
On Friday, October 17 at 7:00 PM at The Wellmont Theater, the 2025 festival
opens with JAY KELLY, directed by Noah Baumbach. JAY KELLY, the new film
from Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach, follows famous movie actor Jay Kelly
(George Clooney) and his devoted manager Ron (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. The Montclair Film Festival is proud to present
JAY KELLY as our 2025 Opening Night Film.
JAY KELLY is a Netflix release
On Friday, October 24, at 7:30 PM at The Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper
School Ryan White’s COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT screens as the
festival’s 2025 Documentary Centerpiece. Ryan White’s COME SEE ME IN THE
GOOD LIGHT 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. Montclair Film is
honored to present COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT as our 2025 Documentary
Centerpiece Film.
COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT is an AppleTV+ release
On Saturday, October 25, HIKARI’s RENTAL FAMILY screens as the festival’s
2025 Fiction Centerpiece. Set in modern-day Tokyo, RENTAL FAMILY follows an
American actor (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. The Montclair Film Festival is proud to present HIKARI’s RENTAL
FAMILY as our 2025 Fiction Centerpiece Film.
RENTAL FAMILY is a Searchlight Pictures release
On Sunday, October 26 at 5:00 PM at The Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper
School, David Michôd’s CHRISTY screens as the festival’s 2025 Closing Night
Film. Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney) 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 (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.
Based on remarkable true events, Christy Martin’s story is one of resilience, courage,
and the fight to reclaim one’s life. The Montclair Film Festival is proud to present David
Michôd’s CHRISTY as our 2025 Closing Night Film.
CHRISTY is a Black Bear release
“We are so excited to announce the Opening, Closing, and Centerpiece films of the
2025 Montclair Film Festival,” said Montclair Film Artistic Director Tom Hall. “This year’s
program reflects the vital role filmmakers play in shaping our culture, and we look
forward to continuing to engage our community through the power of film. I cannot wait
to share these movies with our audiences.”
*****
The full 2025 Montclair Film Festival program, including the 2025 Competition Films, will
be announced on Friday, September 26, 2025.
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