New York Film Festival

Just a few months ago, my Sunday nights were always a blur of studying and last minute preparations for the week ahead. But this past weekend, I spent my Sunday night at a movie premier seeing some of the most influential people in Hollywood.

A 17 day long event, The New York Film Festival showcases a mix of films--from famous filmmakers to indie artists and foreign films. This year, the event was held at Lincoln Center, just a few blocks down from Fordham's Lincoln Center campus! As a avid movie fan, this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

The conclusion to this year's festival was Clint Eastwood's new movie--Hereafter staring Matt Damon. Since the movie has been getting a lot of buzz and has big names attached, there would be two showings--one at 7pm for the press and those involved with the film and a second showing at 10pm for the public. With a quick trip to the box office my friends and I easily purchased tickets for the 10pm show and decided to go down early and spend the evening in the Manhattan.

We took the Ram Van from Rose Hill and arrived in Manhattan by 6:30 and walked the few short blocks up to the theater. We had arrived early in hopes that there would be a place to watch the stars walk in and our early arrival paid off. We got a perfect view to watch Matt Damon arrive and walk the red carpet!

After watching few more people in the film arrive, we grabbed something to eat nearby from one of the restaurants listed in The Passport--Fordham's student guide to New York City. By the time we were finished, it was time to return to the theater for the movie.

While waiting in the lobby to go to our seats, we met Ron Howard--the director of movies like A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vince Code. He was there to support his daughter because she was in the film. As we stood there with him, I just kept thinking how surreal this night had been. We were standing in a theater used by Juilliard students, surrounded by movie critics, actors, and famous directors waiting to see the premiere of a movie that is already getting Oscar talk. Only in New York can this be part of the college experience.

Finally, we made it to our seats and prepared for the movie to start. The New York Film Society said a few words and had a surprise for us--Clint Eastwood! We had not seen him arrive and figured that he left with the other stars, but he had stayed so that he could introduce the film to us. Seeing a Hollywood legend like Clint Eastwood was definitely the highlight of the night--and that is saying a lot because Hereafter was phenomenal! It is moments like this that make me so excited about my next four years in New York City.