As the 2025 New York Film Festival came to a close on October 13, I was struck by how many experimental treasures had screened this year. The festival showcased 16 features in its “Currents” program dedicated to formally daring work from rising international talents and esteemed auteurs alike, all pushing the boundaries of the medium. The following is half a dozen, spoiler-free reviews of our favorites. Write them down in your upcoming movie diary for 2026.

Dry Leaf (ხმელიფოთოლი, Germany/Georgia, 186 min)

Easily one of the most surprising and captivating films of NYFF63, 40-year-old Georgian filmmaker Alexandre Koberidze’s film gorgeously captured his country’s hypnotic landscapes via the unique camera choice of a mid-2000s Sony Ericsson phone. What he has achieved is an abstract beauty

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