2015 New York Film Festival

The 2015 New York Film Festival has locked in its main slate of features, with a total of 26 films on the roster including the world premiere of Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies” with Tom Hanks, as well as festival-circuit buzzmagnets including Todd Haynes’ “Carol,” Michael Moore’s “Where to Invade Next,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Lobster” and John Crowley’s “Brooklyn.”

The New York Film Festival has become an increasingly important stop for features angling for awards-season attention, lending a patina of prestige to the titles that earn a spot on the competitive, tightly curated main slate of 25 to 30 films. Recent NYFF alumni including “Gone Girl” (2014), “Life of Pi” (2012) and “The Social Network” (2010) went on to become serious players in the annual movie-industry trophy derby, as did “Hugo” (2011), which bowed as one of the festival’s “secret screenings.”

As always, the latest NYFF slate includes a robust segment of international films of note, including Michel Gondry’s “Microbe & Gasoline,” Miguel Gomes’ three-part documentary-fantasy hybrid “Arabian Nights,” Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Journey to the Shore,” Hou Hsiao-hsien’s “The Assassin,” Chantal Akerman’s “No Home Movie” and Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s “Cemetery of Splendour.”

Touchstone release “Bridge of Spies” centers on the true story of a Cold War-era spy swap, with Hanks starring as the lawyer negotiating the trade and Tony winner Mark Rylance appearing as the Soviet agent who’s traded for a U.S. pilot. Spielberg directs a script by Matt Charman and Joel and Ethan Coen.

NYFF organizers have already announced the films to score special screenings during the 2015 edition, with Robert Zemeckis’ “The Walk” opening the festival, Danny Boyle’s “Steve Jobs” set for centerpiece and Don Cheadle’s “Miles Ahead” as the closer. Sidebar programming will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 53rd New York Film Festival runs Sept. 25-Oct. 11, although the festival’s opening night screening of “The Walk” will screen Sept. 26 in order to avoid logistical snarls caused by the Pope’s simultaneous visit to New York City.

THE 53rd NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL MAIN SLATE

Opening Night: The Walk

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Centerpiece: Steve Jobs

Director: Danny Boyle

Closing Night: Miles Ahead

Director: Don Cheadle

Arabian Nights: Volume 1, The Restless One

Arabian Nights: Volume 2, The Desolate One

Arabian Nights: Volume 3, The Enchanted One

Director: Miguel Gomes

The Assassin

Director: Hou Hsiao-hsien

Bridge of Spies

Director: Steven Spielberg

Brooklyn

Director: John Crowley

Carol

Director: Todd Haynes

Cemetery of Splendour

Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Les Cowboys

Director: Thomas Bidegain

Don’t Blink: Robert Frank

Director: Laura Israel

Experimenter

Director: Michael Almereyda

The Forbidden Room

Directors: Guy Maddin & Evan Johnson

In the Shadow of Women / L’Ombre des femmes

Director: Philippe Garrel

Journey to the Shore / Kishibe no tabi

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

The Lobster

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Maggie’s Plan

Director: Rebecca Miller

The Measure of a Man / La Loi du marché

Director: Stéphane Brizé

Mia Madre

Director: Nanni Moretti

Microbe & Gasoline / Microbe et Gasoil

Director: Michel Gondry

Mountains May Depart

Director: Jia Zhangke

My Golden Days / Trois Souvenirs de ma jeunesse

Director: Arnaud Desplechin

No Home Movie

Director: Chantal Akerman

Right Now, Wrong Then

Director: Hong Sangsoo

The Treasure / Comoara

Director: Corneliu Porumboiu

Where To Invade Next

Director: Michael Moore