Tony Gilroy, Pedro Pascal’s ‘Behemoth!’ to World Premiere as NYFF Centerpiece Selection

Film at Lincoln Center has named Tony Gilroy’s “Behemoth!” as the centerpiece selection of the 64th New York Film Festival.

The film will have its world premiere at Alice Tully Hall on Friday, Oct. 2, with Gilroy, its star Pedro Pascal, and additional members of the cast in attendance. Presented by Film at Lincoln Center in partnership with Rolex, the 64th New York Film Festival (NYFF64) will take place from Sept. 25 through Oct. 12.

Pascal stars as Alex, a cellist picking up the pieces of a fractured life. A former child prodigy living in the shadow of a storied musical family, Alex has left his position with an orchestra in Chicago after fleeing a soured relationship with a manic ex (Olivia Wilde) and returns to Los Angeles to record Hollywood film scores and resolve unfinished family business. “Behemoth!” features a supporting cast that includes Eva Victor, Alexa Swinton, Kaya Ralls, Erik Griffin, JoBeth Williams and Margarita Levieva, with Hank Azaria and Will Arnett. It’s a Searchlight Pictures release.

Gilroy wrote and directed the Oscar-winning “Michael Clayton” and created the Emmy-winning “Andor.” He also wrote the first three “Bourne” films and co-wrote “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

“I have been orbiting NYFF for the great majority of my life,” said Gilroy. “I was baptized by ‘Fitzcarraldo.’ I was tending bar across the street and a customer tipped me a single ticket. It was a bad seat to the most remarkable screening I’d ever attended. There were many memorable nights to follow. The Centerpiece invitation is a fantasy I’ve conjured more times than I care to admit. NYFF has always been the benchmark for me; the opportunity to premiere a film I cannot wait to show, in that hall, to that audience, feels every bit as thrilling as I’d imagined. I’m honored.”

“We are delighted to present the world premiere of Tony Gilroy’s anticipated return to the big screen as this year’s NYFF Centerpiece,” said Dennis Lim, NYFF artistic director. “There is so much to savor in this immaculately crafted film, from its creative use of music to its note-perfect ensemble cast. Holding it all together is a tour de force by Pedro Pascal, one of the performances of the year from one of our true movie stars.”