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The "cliffnotes" aspect of the NYFF has never bothered me, in fact in certain ways I look forward to it. After reading the Cannes reviews in Film Comment and other places, I usually know that at least a few of the bigger movies from there will play the NYFF and I'll have my chance to see them. Not all of those films, dare I say not even most of those films, playing Cannes are assured a release here in America, so sometimes the NYFF can be the only shot I have at seeing them. I thank them for the opportunity.

It really just isn't like a regular festival. When I go to Sundance or do Tribeca, I definitely want and expect a ton of Independent fare and not-well-known foreign releases that I can tell everybody about even though I know they'll probably never get to see it. With the NYFF, I expect the talked-about, buzzed-about hits that have been playing the big fests around the world.

The new Harmony Korine film seems to have been added as a late-night screening:

Trash Humpers
Harmony Korine, 2009, USA, 74m
This episodic tale of a band of cretins who go around brutalizing dolls, molesting plant life and – yes – rubbing up against garbage cans is outrageous, scary, hilarious, distinctly American and oddly touching—as well as Harmony Korine’s purest film yet.

First time at the NYFF, and so far I've enjoyed every film I've seen there. A few are better than others, but they've all been interesting and have something to recommend. Having lived in the Midwest most of my life, I LIKE having a festival that cherry-picks the best films from other festivals - sorry, but I don't have the budget to fly to Cannes, Toronto, Sundance and dozens of others, it's far more convenient to have Lincoln Center close-by and to see these films now on the big screen instead of waiting another 6 months to a year (maybe even more).

Really enjoyed the first half, looking forward to the rest of the festival.