October 23, 2025 through October 27, 2025 |

New Orleans Film Society Announces Opening Night Film, feature documentary Michalopoulos – The Art Of Celebration, plus 133 Films in Competition at the 36th Annual New Orleans Film Festival Presented by Andscape

 The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) announced today the first wave of titles for the 36th annual, Oscar®-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF), including the festival’s opening night film, Michalopoulos: The Art of Celebration (a feature documentary from director Sean O’Malley and produced by WLAE) plus 133 films in competition. In addition, NOFS is thrilled to announce a new three-year partnership with Andscape, the Black-led media platform under The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, as the Presenting Sponsor of NOFF 2025. This landmark collaboration kicks off with an exclusive screening of STAY, Andscape’s newest original scripted feature, a supernatural thriller directed by Jas Summers and starring Megalyn Echikunwoke and Mo McRae.

After receiving over 3,700 submissions from 125 countries, NOFF 2025 is proud to showcase 130+ films in-person at The Broad Theater, Contemporary Art Center, The Prytania Theatre, The Mahalia Jackson Theater, The Historic New Orleans Collection and the New Orleans Jazz Museum October 23-27 and virtually October 23- November 2 through the NOFF Virtual Cinema (available globally). The festival’s films in competition lineup is now live at neworleansfilmsociety.org.

VIEW THE FULL LIST OF FILMS IN COMPETITION HERE. 

*For media use only. Please direct readers to view films at neworleansfilmsociety.org. 

All Access Passes are now available for purchase, with Individual tickets on sale to NOFS members on October 9 (12 PM CST) and general public on sale October 16 (12 PM CST). Additional programming, including Spotlight Films, Special Presentations and Filmmaker Conference programming will be announced in the coming weeks. 

ANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP

Andscape is a Black content studio that explores the depth of Black identity through its power in sports and culture. Magnified by the power and reach of The Walt Disney Company, the Andscape umbrella includes daily journalism, film, television, book publishing and music. Through this partnership, Andscape will help shape future programming and deepen NOFS’s impact across the Southern film community.

“This partnership with Andscape reflects everything the New Orleans Film Society stands for—bold storytelling, cultural connection, and elevating underrepresented voices,” said Dodd Loomis, Interim Executive Director of NOFS. “We’re honored to screen STAY, a film that exemplifies Andscape’s vision and our shared commitment to powerful, identity-driven cinema.”

“Andscape is proud to begin our sponsorship of the New Orleans Film Festival—an institution that champions bold, authentic storytelling,” said Sabrina Clarke, Director of Experiential Storytelling & Operations at Andscape. “As a Black-led media platform devoted to telling stories that center the Black experience, Andscape is committed to amplifying new and necessary voices. Partnering with NOFS is a powerful extension of that mission. New Orleans, with its deep cultural roots and rich narrative tradition, is the perfect city to exhibit STAY—a project that reflects the kind of layered, resonant storytelling we strive to elevate.”

STAY follows Kiara and Miles Williams as they navigate a fractured relationship haunted by grief and paranormal encounters. The film explores themes of love, loss, and emotional renewal through a culturally resonant lens. It represents Andscape’s bold approach to genre filmmaking and commitment to emotionally complex Black storytelling. 

OPENING NIGHT: Michalopoulos: The Art of Celebration

NOFF 2025 will open at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts on Thursday, October 23, with the film Michalopoulos: The Art of Celebration, a feature documentary from director Sean O’Malley and produced by WLAE, who last year brought NOFF the profile of artist George Rodrigue. 

No artist has captured the heartbeat and spirit of New Orleans like James Michalopoulos. From his whimsical, slanted houses to the glowing skies that crown them, his paintings distill the city’s rhythms, colors, and contradictions. The film follows the self-taught artist to never-before-seen locations—from an eccentric chateau in Burgundy to his cattywampus New Orleans home and a former funeral parlor turned vibrant Frenchmen Street studio.

Rooted in a city both fragile and resilient, Michalopoulos: The Art of Celebration is as much about preserving New Orleans’ soul as it is about the extraordinary career of an artist who paints the way the city feels.

133 FILMS IN COMPETITION

Founded in 1989, NOFS has championed the voices of independent filmmakers for over 36 years. As one of the few Oscar®-qualifying festivals in all three short film categories, NOFF continues to draw over 12,000 attendees and 250+ filmmakers to New Orleans each year. In 2025, NOFF received over 3,700 submissions—only 133 selected, highlighting its 3% acceptance rate and commitment to exceptional curation.

After receiving 3,700 submissions from 125 countries for the 36th anniversary of the festival, NOFF’s seasoned team of programmers selected a slate of 133 films in competition that represent a wealth of perspectives. These include 27 feature films (16 documentaries, 11 narrative features) and 106 short films. 

VIEW THE FULL LIST OF FILMS IN COMPETITION HERE. 

For more information about the New Orleans Film Festival, visit neworleansfilmsociety.org. Learn more about Andscape at andscape.com. 

HOW TO ATTEND NOFF 2025

Festival-goers can purchase an All Access Pass, good for all in-person and NOFF Virtual Cinema screenings, parties and events; or purchase individual tickets for each screening. All Access Passes are now available for purchase, with Individual tickets on sale to NOFS members on October 9 (12 PM CST) and general public on sale October 16 (12 PM CST) at neworleansfilmsociety.org. 

The in-person screening schedule will be announced on October 6 at 12 PM CST, and screenings will take place at The Broad Theater, Contemporary Art Center (CAC), The Prytania Theatre, The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans Jazz Museum and Mahalia Jackson Theater between October 23 – 27.

This year’s festival includes the return of a Main Festival Headquarters at the CAC, which will be open to the public. This festival hub will include the main NOFF box office, the CAC Warehouse Theater, the CAC Blackbox Theater, the new Lumen Productions Podcast Studio, a merchandise store, special events and activations, and more. 

NOFF Virtual Cinema will run from October 23 – November 2, offering 115+ films from the festival lineup! Film lovers can buy a Virtual Pass to watch all films in the lineup throughout the festival; a Six Film Pass to watch any six films virtually or in-person or buy individual tickets for each virtual screening. Students and teachers can purchase a discounted pass for access to all virtual and in-person screenings. 

New Orleans Film Society members receive $50 off of All Access passes, $3 off of in-person screening tickets, and $2 off of NOFF Virtual Cinema tickets. Become a member today and save with these great benefits! Sign up for membership here.

All festival transactions will be contactless; cash or check payments will not be accepted–– acceptable forms of payment include credit and debit cards, and Apple and Google Pay. Click here for more details. 

ABOUT THE NEW ORLEANS FILM SOCIETY 

The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, nurturing, and amplifying the diverse voices of filmmakers. We aim to facilitate conversations through film and film-related programming that inspire, educate, challenge, and entertain our audiences. Founded in 1989, NOFS produces the Oscar®-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival annually and invests year-round in building a vibrant film culture in the South to share transformative cinematic experiences with audiences, and connect dynamic filmmakers to career-advancing resources. Year-round programming includes free and low-cost screenings for members and the broader community of cinephiles in New Orleans, a 20-year running French Film Festival featuring contemporary and classic French cinema, and filmmaker professional development programs created to nurture diverse voices in filmmaking in the American South. NOFS is a 501(c)(3) organization.

ABOUT ANDSCAPE

Andscape is a Black-led media platform dedicated to creating, highlighting, and uplifting the diverse stories of Black identity. Magnified by the power and reach of The Walt Disney Co., the Andscape umbrella includes an editorial division, book publishing arm, film and television division, and music publishing group, each united by the shared mission of illuminating the culture and experience of Blackness. Founded in 2022, Andscape is a reimagination, expansion and diversification of The Undefeated’s former platform. For more information, visit www.andscape.com.