‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ to Open 26th Woodstock Film Festival Lineup

The 26th Woodstock Film Festival taking place October 15–19, 2025 will kick off on Opening Night with The Testament of Ann Lee, and Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire headlining on Closing Night film.

Directed by Mona Fastvold (co-writer of The Brutalist), The Testament of Ann Lee examines the life and beliefs of Ann Lee, one of pre-Revolutionary America’s most influential religious figures. The film features Amanda Seyfried (Mank) as well as actor-director Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?). Nelson, who also stars in On the End (screening at the festival), will participate in the panel State of the Artist: How Art Is Shaking the Collective Consciousness alongside Tim Daly (Wings) and Debra Granik (Winter’s Bone).

Dead Man’s Wire recounts the strange, fascinating true story of the 1977 kidnapping that turned aspiring Indianapolis entrepreneur Tony Kiritsis into an eccentric outlaw folk hero. The film stars Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu), Dacre Montgomery (Elvis), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), and Al Pacino (The Irishman).

The festival will feature Jay Kelly, directed by Noah Baumbach and starring George Clooney as the centerpiece film.

Additional highlights include Blue Moon by Richard Linklater, Hedda by Nia DaCosta, Bugonia by Yorgos Lanthimos, The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania, Nuremberg by James Vanderbilt, Is This Thing On? by Bradley Cooper, The Bend in the River by Rob Moss, Hamnet by Chloé Zhao, Yes by Nadav Lapid, Train Dreams by Clint Bentley, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery by Rian Johnson, Ask E. Jean by Ivy Meeropol, Man on the Run by Morgan Neville, Cover-Up by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, Everywhere Man: The Lives and Times of Peter Asher by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine and Steal This Story, Please! by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal which will have its Q&A moderated by V: formerly Eve Ensler, the Tony and Obie award-winning, New York Times best-selling playwright, author, and activist. Free Leonard Peltier by Jesse Short Bull and David France, which first premiered at Sundance, will have its Re-World Premiere featuring powerful new footage of Peltier following his release from prison.

“As we celebrate the 26th year of the Woodstock Film Festival, I am honored to welcome an extraordinary slate of filmmakers whose work reflects the urgency, beauty, and complexity of our times,” said Meira Blaustein, Woodstock Film Festival Co-Founder and Executive Director. “The Hudson Valley once again becomes a gathering place where independent voices converge, sparking dialogue, creativity, and community. This year’s festival not only showcases groundbreaking films and emerging talent, but also reaffirms our enduring commitment to the independent spirit that has defined Woodstock from the very beginning.”

The festival also announced that Uma Thurman has joined the Board of Directors. “The festival is thrilled to welcome Uma as our newest member of the board of directors and looks forward to the exciting possibilities ahead,” said Meira Blaustein.

The Woodstock Film Festival will introduce the inaugural Laurent Rejto Made in the Hudson Valley Award. Named in tribute to the late Rejto, co-founder of the festival and a tireless champion for regional filmmaking, the award celebrates a filmmaker whose work was produced in the Hudson Valley. The award will be presented by Oscar-winning actor Melissa Leo.

This year’s honoree recipients include Ira Sachs for Fiercely Independent Award, presented by filmmaker Larry Fessenden; Tia Lessin and Carl Deal for Art of Activism Award presented by filmmakers Pamela Yates (Granito: How to Nail a Dictator) and Paco de Onis (State of Fear: The Truth About Terrorism); and Laura Poitras for Freedom of Expression Award presented by documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim (The Square, The Great Hack).

NARRATIVE FEATURES

A Break In The Rain, by Don Scardino, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

Adult Children, by Rich Newey, United States, 2024 – New York Premiere

Arco, by Ugo Bienvenum, France, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Blue Moon, by Richard Linklater, United States/Ireland, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Bugonia, by Yorgos Lanthimos, UK, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Christy, by David Michôd, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Concessions, by Mas Bouzidi, United States, 2025 – US Premiere

Dust Bunny, by Bryan Fuller, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Dust To Malibu, by Stephen Ward, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere

Floating Carousel, by Lucy Powers and Delilah Napier, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

Franz, by Agnieszka Holland, Czech Republic/Germany/Poland, 2025 – East Coast Premiere

Hamnet, by Chloé Zhao, UK, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Hedda, by Nia DaCosta, TBD, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Is This Thing On?, by Bradley Cooper, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Idiotka, by Natasya Popov, United States, 2024 – New York Premiere

Jay Kelly, by Noah Baumbach, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Kain, by Gabriel Bauer, Netherlands, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

Magic Hour, by Katie Aselton, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere

Memory Lane (De Terugreis), by Jelle de Jonge, Netherlands, 2024 – New York Premiere

Mildlife, by Cory Thibert, Canada, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

Nuremberg, by James Vanderbilt, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

On The End, by Ari Selinger, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Our Girls, by Mike van Diem, Netherlands/Austria/Belgium, 2025 – North American Premiere

Outdoor School, by Ime Nyong Etuk, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere

Out Standing, by Mélanie Charbonneau, Canada, 2025 – US Premiere

Park Avenue, by Gaby Dellal, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Peter Hujar’s Day, by Ira Sachs, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Rental Family, by HIKARI, United States/Japan, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Sentimental Value, by Joachim Trier, Norway/France/Denmark/Germany, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Sirāt, by Óliver Laxe, France/Spain, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Solomamma, by Janicke Askevold, Norway/Latvia/Lithuania/Denmark/Finland, 2025 – US Premiere

Sylvania, by Kyle Smith, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

The Floaters, by Rachel Israel, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere

The Lure Of Ponies – A Spellbound Attic Mystery, by Beck E. Underwood, United States, 2025 – US Premiere

The Plague, by Charlie Polinger, Romania/United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

The Secret Agent, by Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazil/France/Netherlands/Germany, 2025 Hudson Valley Premiere

The Voice of Hind Rajab, by Kaouther Ben Hania, France/Tunisia, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Train Dreams, by Clint Bentley, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, by Rian Johnson, United States, 2025, – Hudson Valley Premiere

Yes, by Nadav Lapid, France/Israel/Cyprus/Germany, 2025 – North American Premiere. Co-presented by Albi.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

A Life Illuminated, by Tasha Van Zandt, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

An Eye For An Eye, by Tanaz Eshaghian, Iran/United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Arrest The Midwife, by Elaine Epstein, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere

Ask E Jean, by Ivy Meeropol, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere

Coexistence, My Ass!, by Amber Fares, United States/France, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Come See Me In The Good Light, by Ryan White, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Comparsa, by Doug Anderson and Vickie Curtis, Guatemala/United States, 2025 – New York Premiere

Cover-Up, by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Cutting Through Rocks, by Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, Iran/Germany/United States/Netherlands/Qatar/Chile/Canada, 2025 – New York Premiere

Everywhere Man: The Lives And Times of Peter Asher, by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere

Fatal Watch, by Mark Benjamin and Katie Carpenter, United States/Fiji/New Zealand/Ghana, 2025 – New York Premiere

Free Leonard Peltier, by Jesse Short Bull and David France, United States, 2025 – RE-WORLD PREMIERE (features new footage of Peltier’s release from prison since WP at Sundance)

Holding Liat, by Brandon Kramer, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Love + War, by E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Man On The Run, by Morgan Neville, United States, United Kingdom, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Opryland USA: A Circle Broken, by Brandon Vestal, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere

Remaining Native, by Paige Bethmann, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Restoring A Legacy: “The Struggle Against Terrorism” By Philip Guston, Laura Furcic, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

River of Grass, by Sasha Wortzel, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Seeds, by Brittany Shyne, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Selena y Los Dinos, by Isabel Castro, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

Starman, by Robert Stone, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere

Steal This Story, Please!, by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere

Teenage Waste Land, by Amanda Mcbaine and Jesse Moss, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

The Ark, by Jeremy Chilnick and Viacheslav Rakovskyi, Ukraine, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

The Bend in the River, by Rob Moss and executive produced by Joel Coen and Frances McDormand, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere

The Keeper, by Jon Bowermaster, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

The Perfect Neighbor, by Geeta Gandbhir, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

SHORTS SELECTIONS

ANIMATION SHORTS

1981, by Carolyn London and Andy London, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
A Grieving Heart, by Wendy Chong Zhao, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
A Parable, by Jeremiah Dickey, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Butterfly Kiss, by Zohar Dvir, Germany/Israel, 2024 – New York Premiere
By My Own, by Liz Blazer and Lauren Weinstein, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Cardboard, by Jean-Philippe Vine, UK, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Éiru, by Giovanna Ferrari, Ireland, 2024 – New York Premiere
Forevergreen, by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Girls Night Out, by Ashley Sengstaken, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Godzilla’s Day Off!, by Myra Sito Velasquez, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
I Beg Your Pardon, by John W. Lustig, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
Icarus Too, by Mike Enright, United States, 2025 – US Premiere
Impossible Journey, by YUCA, Brazil/United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
In the Morning, by Candy Kugel, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Knitty Gritty, by Hannah Mangione, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Last Year…, by Emmett Goodman, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Les Bêtes, by Michael Granberry, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Little Shrew (Snowflake), by Kate Bush, UK, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Mistletoe, by Andrea Schmitz and Andrea Sparacio, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
No Free Brains, by Ciara Sergi, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Phantasmagoric, by Adam J. Fuchs, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere
Poppa, by Peter Ahern, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Snow Bear, by Aaron Blaise, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Swipe, by Patrick Smith, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
The Dream Machine, by Jimmy Marble, United States, 2024 – East Coast Premiere
Tuna Tartare, by Lena Greene, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere
Two Black Boys in Paradise, by Baz Sells, UK, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Whale 52 – Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale, by Daniel Neiden and Bill Plympton, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

NARRATIVE SHORTS

4th of July, East New York, by Wale Olukayode, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
African Family Dinner, by Ibrahim Mursal, Norway/Sudan/Somalia, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Around the Bend, by Tzvi, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere
Azi, by Montana Mann, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Blair’s Craft Projects, by Jack Warren, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Bootie’s, by Milana Vayntrub, United States, 2025 – – Hudson Valley Premiere
Collectors, by Susan C. O’Brien, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Dear Shop Girl, by Nira Burstein, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Dead Serious, by Myriam Schroeter and Lizi Latimer, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Deuce, by Margot Budzyna, United States, 2024 – New York Premiere
DISC, by Blake Rice, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Don’t Tell Mama, by Chloe Leigh King, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
Eloise and the Dress, by Rachael Sonnenberg, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting, by Alexander Thompson, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Gloria, by Kim Blanck, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Goat, by Judith Nini Kibinge, Kenya, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Holy Smokes, by Gabby Fiszman and Isabella Ares, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
How to Shoot a Ghost, by Charlie Kaufman, United States/Greece, 2025 – North American Premiere
I’m Glad You’re Dead Now, by Tawfeek Barhom, France/Greece/Palestine, 2025 – New York Premiere (Cannes Film Festival 2025 Palme d’or)
Lightning Bug, by Zane Pais, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Long Pork, by Iris Dukatt, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
MAGID / ZAFAR, by Luís Hindman, UK, 2025 – East Coast Premiere
Manal Issa, 2024 by Elisabeth Subrin, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Maqluba, by Mike Elsherif, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Meow, by Sarah Meital Benjamin, Israel, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Nwa (Black), by Hans Augustave, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Original Sin, by Amrou Al-Kadhi, UK, 2025 – US Premiere
Poreless, by Harris Doran, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
RISE, by Jessica Rowlands, Zimbabwe, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Sheep, by Hadi Babaeifar, Iran, 2024 – New York Premiere
Skin, by Urvashi Pathania, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere
Spaghetti, by Charissa Kroeger, United States, 2024 – East Coast Premiere
Stalling, by Jasia Kau, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
Susana, by Amandine Thomas and Gerardo Coello Escalante, Mexico/United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
The Non-Actor, by Eliza Barry Callahan, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
The Light, by Nikola Duravcevic, United States, 2025 – US Premiere
The Littles, by Andrew Duplessie, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Thin Places, by Brit Hensel, United States, 2024 – New York Premiere
Wait, Your Car?, by Reece Feldman, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
White Agbada, by Lande Yoosuf, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Wild Animals, by David B. Jacobs, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Zari, by Shruti Parekh, United States/India, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

All the Walls Came Down, by Ondi Timoner, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere
Carol & Joy, by Nathan Silver, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Classroom 4, by Eden Wurmfeld, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
Country Doctor, by Shari Cookson and Nick E Doob, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Fir Traders, by Sara Goldblatt, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Freeman Vines, by André Robert Lee and Tim Kirkman, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner, by Brad Bailey, United States, 2024 – East Coast Premiere
Hold Me Close, by Aurora Brachman and LaTajh Simmons-Weaver, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
Honky Tonk Wednesdays, by Al Markman, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Into the Dark, by Fiona Otway, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
Last Days on Lake Trinity, by Charlotte Cooley, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Mystery Seeds, by Nathan Truesdell, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Oh Yeah!, by Nick Canfield, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Si La Isla Quiere (Island Willing), by Cece King, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Teaching America, by Anurima Bhargava, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
The Fault Line, by Brydie O’Connor, United States, 2025 – East Coast Premiere
The Long Walk: The Story of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, by Shruti Ganguly, India/United States/France/Canada, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
The New Yorker Theater: A Talbot Legacy, by Sergio Maza, United States/Argentina, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
This Land, by Mike Bradley, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
We Were the Scenery, by Christopher Radcliff and Pierre Brouillette-Hamelin, United States/Canada, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Women Laughing, by Kathleen Hughes and Liza Donnelly, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE

FILM SCHOOL SHORTS

Finely-crafted and distinctive narrative and documentary shorts from up and coming visionary film school students.

Are You Having Fun?, by Nicole Cone, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Dawn’s World, by Natalie Mora Horberg, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
Hotspot, by Hudson Price, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
How I Learned to Die, by Manya Glassman, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
St. Joe’s Hoes, by Khushali Haji, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
The Wrath of Othell-Yo!, by Kwesi Jones, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere

YOUTH FILM LAB

A year-round Woodstock Film Festival filmmaking program culminating with a three-week summer filmmaking intensive where teenagers produce three short narrative and documentary films.

Este Es Mi Hogar, This Is My Home, by Aurora Garcia, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
The Whole Wide City, by Ada Wilson and Aoife Bronston, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
The Poster, by Sunday Ault Nolan, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere

TEEN FILMS

View documentary and narrative shorts by tomorrow’s filmmakers.

Dancing in the Stars, by Lazar Jovanović, Serbia, 2025 – East Coast Premiere
Forgot, by Jiahe Guo, China, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
Grace, by Joy Harjo, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere
My Shadow Is Brighter, by Ella Paulos, United States, 2025 – New York Premiere
Second Chance, by India Anne Mitchell, United States, 2025 – Hudson Valley Premiere
So Far Away, by Sydney Sidor, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
Somewhere Else, by Will Fox, United States, 2025 – WORLD PREMIERE
To Be an American, by Addison Steen, United States, 2024 – Hudson Valley Premiere