Ava DuVernay’s “14th” to Close 2026 New York Film Festival

Film at Lincoln Center announced that Ava DuVernay’s documentary “14th” will make its world premiere as the closing-night selection of the 64th New York Film Festival (NYFF) on Oct. 9. The film will screen at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, with DuVernay and several participants in attendance.

The Wrap

Ten years after DuVernay’s first NYFF documentary, “13th,” opened the 54th edition in 2016, she returns with a sequel that shifts focus from the 13th Amendment’s abolition of slavery to the 14th Amendment’s guarantees of birthright citizenship, due process, equal protection and the prohibition on insurrection by elected officials. The earlier film argued that loopholes in the 13th Amendment helped produce today’s mass incarceration of Black Americans.

IndieWire

During the Trump administration, an executive order sought to restrict birthright citizenship, prompting a legal challenge that the Supreme Court struck down by a 6-3 vote in June. DuVernay frames “14th” as a response to what she and the festival describe as a “distressing new reality” in which the amendment’s tenets are under systematic attack.

IndieWire

• Ava DuVernay — director, producer, and founder of ARRAY.

Hollywood Reporter

• Netflix — streaming platform slated to release the documentary later in 2026.

Hollywood Reporter

• Film at Lincoln Center — organizer of NYFF and presenter of the closing night.

64th New York Film Festival Announces Ava DuVernay’s ’14th’ as Closing Night Selection

• Dennis Lim — NYFF artistic director.

64th New York Film Festival Announces Ava DuVernay’s ’14th’ as Closing Night Selection

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — U.S. Representative featured in the film.

Deadline Hollywood

• Stacey Abrams — former Georgia state representative and legal commentator featured in the film.

IndieWire

• Eric Foner — historian featured in the film.

Hollywood Reporter

• “Exactly a decade after ’13th’ opened the New York Film Festival, it feels especially meaningful to return with ’14th’ as the 2026 Closing Night Selection,” — Ava DuVernay

IndieWire

• “We are honored to close this edition of the New York Film Festival with Ava DuVernay’s supremely timely follow-up to ’13th,’” — Dennis Lim, NYFF artistic director

IndieWire

• Festival dates: NYFF runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 12.

Variety Magazine

• Closing-night slot: Oct. 9 for the world premiere of “14th.”

The Wrap

• Historical link: “13th” opened NYFF in 2016 (the 54th edition).

IndieWire

• Legal context: The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in June struck down the Trump administration’s executive order targeting birthright citizenship.

IndieWire