USA/2022—directed by Laura Poitras | 113 minutes

In her essential, urgent, involving new documentary, Oscar®–winning filmmaker Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) intertwines two narratives: the fabled life and career of era-defining artist Nan Goldin, and the backlash against the Sackler family, owners of the pharmaceutical dynasty that Goldin stood up to by fighting to hold accountable the drug manufacturers behind the opioid crisis.

Following her own struggle with opioid addiction, Goldin, now 68, who rose from the New York “No Wave” underground of the ‘80s to become one of the great photographers of the late 20th century, became an unyielding activist at art institutions around the world that had accepted millions from the Sackler family.

Illustrated with a rich trove of photographs by Goldin, who engagingly narrates her own story, including her suburban upbringing, the loss of her teenage sister, and her fight against AIDS in the 1980s, Laura Poitras’s latest film is a remarkable, empowering work that stirringly connects tragedy with personal responsibility and artistic expression. Winner, Golden Lion for Best Film, 2022 Venice Film Festival.

“Overwhelming. A towering work of shocking intelligence and still greater emotional power.” –Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire 

USA/2024—directed by Sandi DuBowski | 105 min.

The result of 21 years of filming, Sabbath Queen illuminates the lifelong journey of Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis, as he struggles with embracing his destiny,

becoming a drag-queen rebel, a queer bio-dad and the founder of Lab/Shul—an everybody-friendly, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation.

This spirited documentary joins Amichai on his quest to creatively re-examine the concepts of religion and ritual, challenge patriarchy,

champion interfaith love, and stand up for tolerance in an age of turmoil. In English, Hebrew and Yiddish with English subtitles.

This special screening will be followed by a live, in-person Q & A with director Sandi DuBowski.

“A fascinating look at the act of questioning yourself and your family, your surroundings and your decisions.” –Elisabeth Vincentelli, The New York Times

USA, 1977, directed by George Lucas; Ojibwe dub: Canada, 2024, directed by Ellyn Stern Epcar | 121 min.

Experience one of the most iconic films of all time, now presented in Anishinaabemowin, an original language of the Great Lakes region. Anangong Miigaading is part of an effort to preserve the language for future generations.

This Ojibwe dub will be shown with English subtitles and is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation, on view at the DIA through April 5, 2026.

Back by popular demand and landing right in the middle of Thanksgiving weekend, CatVideoFest is the ideal way to shake off the tryptophan and share a few laughs with family, friends, and fellow feline fans. Featuring the year's most delightful, bizarre, and belly-laugh-inducing cat videos, this annual favorite brings together cat lovers for a one-of-a-kind communal experience on the DFT's big screen.

Plus, a portion of proceeds from this screening will be donated to a local cat shelter—so while you’re enjoying the antics on screen, you’re also helping cats in need. Tickets go quickly, and advance purchase is recommended. In English and Feline. (80 min.)

For all ages.

USA/1978 - directed by Sidney Lumet | 134 min.

Ease on Down the Road as you prepare for Thanksgiving with a chance to see The Wiz on the big screen!

Adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name, The Wiz reimagines the classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum with an all-Black cast. Dorothy (Diana Ross), a Harlem schoolteacher finds herself magically transported to the urban fantasy Land of Oz. On her travels seeking help from the mysterious Wiz, Dorothy befriends a Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell) and the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross).

This Universal Pictures and Motown Productions film has become a cult favorite and a Thanksgiving tradition. With strong performances from Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, and brilliant sets by Tony Walton, there is no denying that The Wiz has earned its place as a holiday classic, bringing joy and nostalgia to families year after year. 

After you dance and sing in the aisles, be sure to check out the DIA's newly installed Reimagine African American Art on the second floor!

For families of all ages.

Celebrate the many Latinx cultures, histories, identities and languages from around the world with New York International Children’s Film Festival’s 2025 installment of ¡Hola Cine!.

This collection explores themes of belonging, family, cultural heritage, and coming of age—from a quiet story of self-discovery in rural Peru to whimsical adventures that defy gravity and expectation. Told through animation and live action, in Spanish, Quechua, English, Dutch, and beyond, each film offers a heartfelt glimpse into the many ways young people navigate their worlds. 

Recommended for ages 9+ (70 min.)

Japan, 1957 — Directed by Akira Kurosawa | 109 min.

A vivid, visceral adaptation of Macbeth, Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood sets Shakespeare’s definitive tale of ambition and duplicity in a ghostly, fog-enshrouded landscape of feudal Japan. As a hardened warrior who savagely rises to power, Toshiro Mifune delivers a remarkable, animalistic performance, matched by Isuzu Yamada as his ruthless wife.

Throne of Blood fuses classical Western tragedy with formal elements of Noh theater to create an overwhelming cinematic experience — one of Kurosawa’s undeniable masterpieces, especially in this dazzling new restoration.

The screening will be introduced by Chassica Kirchhoff, DIA Assistant Curator of European Sculpture & Decorative Arts, who will discuss how the film’s extraordinary costume design connects to the current DIA exhibition Guests of Honor: Armor as Fashion. 

China/2024 — directed by Jia Zhangke | 111 min.

The preeminent dramatist of China’s rapid 21st-century growth and transformation, director Jia Zhangke takes his boldest approach yet with the marvelous Caught by the Tides. 

Using footage shot over 23 years,Caught by the Tides is told from the perspective of Qiaoqiao (Zhao Tao) as she wanders an increasingly unrecognizable country in search of her long-lost lover, who left their home city to seek financial prospects. 

At once delicate and narratively breathtaking, Jia’s lyrical new masterwork reminds us of cinema’s unique ability to capture the passage of time and the persistence of change.

Palme d’Or Nominee, Cannes Film Festival. In Mandarin with English subtitles.

"Brilliant. A generous-hearted testament from one of our greatest living filmmakers." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

Japan/1965 — directed by Akira Kurosawa | 185 min.

A magnificent testament to the resilience of human decency, Akira Kurosawa's Red Beard (Akahige) chronicles the tumultuous relationship between an arrogant young doctor and the compassionate director of a clinic for the poor in 19th-century Japan. 

Toshiro Mifune, in his final role for Kurosawa, delivers a commanding and eloquent performance as the dignified yet empathetic older physician who guides his pupil toward maturity, teaching the embittered intern to appreciate the lives of his destitute patients. 

Kurosawa’s epic tapestry of time, place, and emotion has finally received its long-deserved big-screen restoration. 

"A great film. Like Kurosawa’s masterpiece, Ikiru, it fearlessly regards the meanings of life and death." —Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Japan/1962 — directed by Akira Kurosawa | 95 min.

Toshiro Mifune swaggers and snarls to brilliant comic effect in Akira Kurosawa's tightly paced and elegantly designed Sanjuro. A sly companion piece to Yojimbo, the film in which Mifune’s jaded samurai character first appeared, Sanjurofollows the wily swordsman as he helps a group of idealistic young warriors weed out the corrupt influences within their clan. 

In doing so, he turns their hopelessly conservative notion of a "proper" samurai on its ear. This classic character's return delivers a delightful, action-packed adventure that stands confidently on its own. New widescreen restoration!

"Kurosawa’s funniest film, though the tone switches to a magnificent vehemence in the heart-stopping finale." —Time Out (UK)