Setting the Standard by Godfrey Cheshire
Oscar Favorites Salute
New York Film Festival’s
Auteur Vision
excerpt
When the festival, which is staged by the Film Society of Lincoln Center,
was launched in the early 60s under Peña’s predecessor,
Richard Roud, film festivals were a rarity in North America.
Since then, of course, they have exploded in number,
to the point that there are literally hundreds,
of all descriptions.
Some, such as Sundance and Toronto,
are now much larger and arguably more famous.
Yet New York retains a very special cachet
as the premier taste-maker
and launching pad
for artistic cinema
in the U.S.