Montclair Film Festival Is Back and It’s Right Around the Corner!
Written by cupor1 on October 16, 2025
by Jake Pino
It’s that time of the year again, (no I’m not talking about fall), I’m talking about the 14th annual Montclair Film Festival, taking place October 17th – 26th in Montclair, NJ.
The festival includes approximately 135 films, with 60 features and 75 shorts. There will also be panel discussions, podcast tapings, and a tribute conversation dedicated to Spike Lee. Venues for the festival include The Wellmont Theater, Montclair Kimberley Academy, and the newly reopened 103-year-old Bellevue Theatre.
The 2025 Montclair Film Festival will open on Friday, October 17, at 7:00 PM at The Wellmont Theater with the film “Jay Kelly,” directed by Academy Award® nominee Noah Baumbach. The movie stars George Clooney as Jay Kelly and Adam Sandler as his manager, Ron, who tells the story of their journey across Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they’ve made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind. Following the film screening, an opening-night party will also take place.
On Sunday, October 26, at 6:00 PM, the film “Christy” by David Michôd will be shown at The Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School as the closing movie of the 2025 festival. Christy Martin (played by Sydney Sweeney) grew up in a small town in West Virginia. She never thought she’d go beyond her hometown until she discovered she was good at boxing. With hard work and determination, she began boxing professionally, guided by her trainer and husband, Jim (played by Ben Foster). In the ring, Christy is fierce, but her biggest challenges are outside the ring: dealing with her family, her identity, and a difficult relationship. Based on real events, Christy’s story is about courage, resilience, and fighting to take control of her life.
Tickets are on sale right now via montclairfilm.org. Passes and single tickets range from affordable options for students and families to VIP packages; many screenings include post-film discussions with directors and cast.
