6+On August 3, 2025, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) unveiled its 2025 cinematic programming schedule, spotlighting three of its most anticipated annual series. The announcement provides early notice for cinephiles, scholars, and industry professionals eager to engage with the institution’s blend of film history, preservation, and emerging talent.
“To Save and Project,” MoMA’s internationally respected film preservation festival, will return for its 21st edition from January 9 to 30, 2025. The program, dedicated to showcasing newly restored prints from archives around the world, has become a cornerstone event for film historians and archivists. The upcoming lineup is expected to include rarely screened masterpieces, new restorations of silent-era works, and regional cinema gems that have undergone extensive preservation efforts. Over the years, the series has played a pivotal role in reviving lost or overlooked films, positioning MoMA as a global leader in the conservation and celebration of cinematic heritage.
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Following closely, from February 20 to March 7, 2025, MoMA will present the 24th edition of “Doc Fortnight,” its signature festival devoted to nonfiction and hybrid documentary cinema. This program has consistently introduced bold new perspectives from around the world, tackling social, political, and environmental issues through innovative storytelling formats. The 2025 edition will open with We Want the Funk!, a new documentary by Stanley Nelson that explores the cultural legacy of funk music and its social context. The festival will close with Errol Morris’s Chaos: The Manson Murders, an investigative reexamination of one of America’s most notorious crime stories, featuring new archival evidence and interviews. Additional selections will include works from more than 20 countries, reflecting Doc Fortnight’s commitment to amplifying diverse voices in documentary filmmaking.
Rounding out MoMA’s early 2025 film calendar is the 54th New Directors/New Films series, co-presented with Film at Lincoln Center, running from April 2 to 13. Since 1972, this festival has served as a launchpad for some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in contemporary cinema, including Pedro Almodóvar, Wim Wenders, Agnieszka Holland, and Spike Lee. This year’s program will feature 24 feature-length and nine short films, with a strong emphasis on first-time directors. The lineup promises to offer a window into the future of global cinema, with an emphasis on bold narrative experimentation, personal storytelling, and cross-cultural themes.
MoMA emphasized that these three film series reflect its broader mission to explore the dialogue between historical preservation and contemporary innovation. Each program is curated with an eye toward diversity, both in terms of geography and artistic vision, reinforcing the museum’s reputation as a leading cultural institution that embraces cinema as a living, evolving art form.
By announcing the dates well in advance, MoMA aims to support audience planning, academic engagement, and media coverage. The film department, which has long served as both a steward of film history and an incubator for new cinematic voices, continues to use its platform to foster global artistic exchange and critical discourse. Whether restoring a forgotten silent film or debuting a provocative documentary, MoMA’s commitment to the moving image remains unwavering in its depth and scope.
