Special Events

Year-round screenings include premieres, sneak previews of major studio releases, encore screenings of past Festival films, exclusive filmmaker panels and Q&As, special anniversary screenings, parties, and much more!
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Special Preview Screening
and filmmaker Q&A!

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

Thursday December 8, 6pm
SVA Theatre

Member tickets now available! Not a member? Click here to join! Free preview screening with an introduction by Emma Thompson (Miss Trunchbull) and Matilda herself, Alisha Weir! Followed by Q&A with director Matthew Warchus, screenwriter Dennis Kelly, and Tim Minchin, who wrote the original music and lyrics! Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical is an inspirational musical tale of an extraordinary girl who discovers her superpower and summons the remarkable courage, against all odds, to help others change their stories, whilst also taking charge of her own destiny. Standing up for what’s right, she’s met with miraculous results. Read more.
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Special Event Screening
followed by Q&A with Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson!

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Saturday, December 10 - 11:00am
The Paris Theater

Members get first access to events like this! Not a member? Click here to join! Free preview screening and Q&A with legendary director Guillermo del Toro! Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio reimagines the classic tale of the fabled wooden boy who, looking for a place in this world during turbulent times, finds himself on an enchanted adventure transcending worlds and discovering the life-giving power of love and the precious nature of human existence. Read more.

Special Preview: Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret

Feature United States | Special Preview Screening
Live Action, Kelly Fremon Craig; 2023, 105 min
Recommended ages: 11+, Rated PG-13
In English

A beloved and best-selling classic comes to the big screen with Lionsgate’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s timeless, coming-of-age tale.

Abominable

Feature China, USA | Special Sneak Peek
Animation, Jill Culton; 2019, 97 min
Recommended ages: Rated PG
In English

DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studio’s co-production Abominable takes audiences on an epic 2,000-mile adventure from the streets of a Chinese city to the breathtaking Himalayan snowscapes.

The Breadwinner

Feature Canada, Ireland, Luxembourg
Animation, Nora Twomey; 2017, 94 min
Recommended ages: 11+
In English

From executive producer Angelina Jolie and the creators of the Academy Award®-nominated The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea comes the highly-anticipated new feature based on Deborah Ellis’ bestselling novel.

Coco Advanced Screening

Feature United States | Special Sneak Peek
Animation, Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina; 2017, 109 min
Recommended ages: 6+

Join us for this very special advance screening of Disney•Pixar’s Coco before it opens in theaters on Nov. 22.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

Feature USA | Special Sneak Peek
Animation, Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney; 2018, 80 min
Recommended ages: 7+
In English

For their eighth fully animated feature, Illumination and Universal Pictures present The Grinch, based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday classic.

Free Preview: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Feature USA | Special Preview Screening
Animation, Live Action, Dean Fleischer Camp; 2022, 90 min
Recommended ages: 8+
In English

Members have claimed their tickets—now it’s your turn! In 2011, we were introduced to Marcel, a shell with two shoes and lots of other great qualities (his words, but we agree). In addition to taking home the 2011 NYICFF Grand Prize award for animated short, Marcel watched his star continue to rise. Now, thanks to his internet infamy, Marcel, along with his Grandma Connie and his pet lint Alan, has a chance to find his long lost family in his very own big-screen adventure.

Klaus

Feature USA | Special Sneak Peek
Animation, Sergio Pablos; 2019, 97 min
Recommended ages: Rated PG
In English

When young postman, Jesper (Jason Schwartzman), befriends reclusive toymaker Klaus (Oscar winner J.K. Simmons), their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.

The Magic School Bus Rides Again

Special Program 60 min.
Recommended ages: 5 to 10
In English

Celebration includes two all-new episodes, book giveaways, special prizes, and more!
The kids are back at Walkerville School for another school year of astonishing, out-of-this-world field trips in this all-new reimagining of the iconic science-comedy-adventure series The Magic School Bus.

NYICFF in Your Neighborhood

Shorts 54 min.
Recommended ages: 3 to 8

Get your Festival on, right in your community! Join our partners on February 24-26, 2023 to check out a NYICFF short film program and all of the great cultural activities your neighborhood has to offer. Admission is free and open to all.

Over the Moon Q&A

Special Program min.
Recommended ages: All Ages

Now available online! To watch the Q&A, click here. Join us for a behind the scenes look at Over the Moon.

Ralph Breaks The Internet

Feature USA | Special Sneak Peek
Animation, Rich Moore and Phil Johnston; 2018, 112 min
Recommended ages: 8+
In English

Video game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) navigate the vast and dynamic world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s game, Sugar Rush.

Smallfoot

Feature USA | Special Sneak Peek
Animation, Karey Kirkpatrick; 2018, 96 min
Recommended ages: 7+
In English

Get Yeti! An animated adventure for all, Smallfoot turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human. Join us for this very special first look at the film before it opens in theaters on September 28th.

Special Preview: Matilda the Musical

Feature United Kingdom, United States | Special Preview Screening
Live Action, Musical, Matthew Warchus; 2022, 117 min
Recommended ages: Rated PG
In English

With an intro by Emma Thompson (Miss Trunchbull) and Matilda herself, Alisha Weir! Followed by Q&A with director Matthew Warchus, screenwriter Dennis Kelly, and Tim Minchin, who wrote the original music and lyrics!

Special Preview: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Feature France, Mexico, United States
Animation, Guillermo Del Toro; 2022, 117 min
Recommended ages: Rated PG
In English

Free preview screening and Q&A with legendary director Guillermo del Toro! Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio reimagines the classic tale of the fabled wooden boy who, looking for a place in this world during turbulent times, finds himself on an enchanted adventure transcending worlds and discovering the life-giving power of love and the precious nature of human existence.

Special Preview Screening: My Father’s Dragon

Feature Ireland, United States
Animation, Nora Twomey; 2022, 99 min
Recommended ages: Rated PG
English

From five-time Academy Award®-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers) and Academy Award®-nominated director (and NYICFF Juror!) Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), comes an exquisite film inspired by the Newbery-honored children’s book from author Ruth Stiles Gannett.

Vivo Q&A

Special Program min.
Recommended ages: Rated PG
In English

Join us for a free Q&A featuring Oscar®-nominated director Kirk DeMicco and voice star Ynairaly Simo of Vivo! We’ll discuss the inspiration behind the film, animating different locations, making a musical, and answer your questions!

Wendell & Wild: Free Preview and Q&A

Feature United States | Special Member Preview
Animation, Henry Selick; 2022, 104 min
Recommended ages: Rated PG-13
In English

See it before it hits Netflix on October 28! From the delightfully wicked minds of Henry Selick and Jordan Peele, comes Wendell & Wild, an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the aid of 13-year-old Kat Elliot — a tough teen with a load of guilt — to summon them to the Land of the Living.

Whale Rider: Special 15th Anniversary Screening

Feature New Zealand
Girls' POV, Live Action, Niki Caro; 2002, 105 min
Recommended ages: 11+
In English

We are thrilled to share the 15th Anniversary Screening of Whale Rider with audiences who may have missed its first run.

Wolfwalkers Q&A

Special Program min.
Recommended ages: 8+
In English

Now available to stream! To watch the Q&A, click here Join us for a virtual conversation with directors Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea) and Ross Stewart (The Breadwinner, Paranorman). We’ll discuss the inspiration behind the story, the process of creating hand-drawn animation, and answer your questions!