Montclair Film Festival Sets 2026 Lineup with McDonagh Opener and Gilroy Closer
Montclair Film Festival has unveiled its complete lineup for the 2026 edition, which runs from Oct. 16 to 25, according to Variety.
The festival opens with “Wild Horse Nine,” directed by Martin McDonagh. The opening screening takes place on Oct. 16 at the Wellmont Theater, the festival’s largest venue in downtown Montclair.
It will close nine days later with “Behemoth!,” directed by Tony Gilroy. The closing screening is set for Oct. 25 at MKA Upper School.
Other highlights in the programme include “La Bola Negra” from Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, “The Debut” from Jesse Eisenberg, and “I Play Rocky” from Peter Farrelly. “I Play Rocky” stars Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone and also features Matt Dillon, and the Zurich Film Festival is hosting its European premiere, according to Deadline.
Montclair has set three centrepiece slots, meaning headline screenings given extra focus mid-festival. The Documentary Centerpiece is “14th,” directed by Ava DuVernay. The Fiction Centerpiece is “Elsinore,” directed by Simon Stone, and the Animation Centerpiece is “Ray Gunn,” directed by Brad Bird.
The festival will also present the 2026 David Carr Award for Truth in Non-Fiction Filmmaking to Ben Klein and Rachel Maddow for “Kill. Bury. Print.” The prize is named for the late journalist and author, and honours work in documentary.
What makes this stand out for audiences is the range. Animation, documentary and fiction sit side by side, with new work from established directors next to festival titles making their way through the autumn circuit.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Sept. 28 for members and at 10 a.m. on Oct. 1 for the public. The 2026 edition is presented by Volvo Car USA, and the programme spans international and independent films, panel discussions, guest appearances and community events across cinemas throughout Montclair.
