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.