# Brothers’ clash with Russian mob to open New York Film Festival

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/paper-tiger-with-adam-driver-and-scarlett-johansson-to-open-new-york-film-festival/
- Published: 2026-07-16T17:32:24+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-17T00:13:14+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/awards/paper-tiger-new-york-film-festival-opening-night-2026-1236812082/
- Topics: Americas, Celebrity, Entertainment, Film, World

## Key points

- "Paper Tiger" opens the New York Film Festival on 25 September 2026.
- Stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller; directed by James Gray.
- Crime drama follows brothers entangled with the Russian mob in 1986 New York.

## Summary

James Gray's crime drama "Paper Tiger," starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller, will open the 64th New York Film Festival on 25 September with its North American premiere. It marks Gray's fourth film to screen at the festival and his first since 2022's "Armageddon Time," continuing a strong track record of NYFF openers that have gone on to major awards recognition.

Set in 1986, the film follows two brothers, Irwin (Teller) and Gary Pearl (Driver), after Irwin becomes entangled with the Russian mob through a scheme to clean up New York's Gowanus Canal, leaving his former-cop brother Gary to bail him out. The film, produced by Neon, previously premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival to a seven-minute standing ovation. Historically, 13 of the 64 films that have opened NYFF since 1963 later received best picture Oscar nominations, though only "Chariots of Fire" (1981) went on to win; Gray and cast members are expected to attend the New York screening.

## Coverage

- [Variety: Brothers’ clash with Russian mob to open New York Film Festival](https://variety.com/2026/film/awards/paper-tiger-new-york-film-festival-opening-night-2026-1236812082/)
- [The Hollywood Reporter: NY Film Festival Sets James Gray’s ‘Paper Tiger’ as Opening Night Film](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/paper-tiger-2026-ny-film-festival-opening-night-1236649741/)
- [Deadline: James Gray Crime Thriller ‘Paper Tiger’ To Open New York Film Festival](https://deadline.com/2026/07/new-york-film-festival-opening-night-james-gray-paper-tiger-1236983888/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.