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MoMI’s First Look Festival Sets ‘Silent Friend,’ ‘Carousel,’ and Isabel Sandoval’s New Film ‘Moonglow’
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MoMI’s First Look Festival Sets ‘Silent Friend,’ ‘Carousel,’ and Isabel Sandoval’s New Film ‘Moonglow’

#MoMI #First Look Festival #Silent Friend #Carousel #Isabel Sandoval #Moonglow #film lineup

📌 Key Takeaways

  • MoMI's First Look Festival announces lineup including 'Silent Friend' and 'Carousel'.
  • Isabel Sandoval's new film 'Moonglow' is featured in the festival selections.
  • The festival highlights emerging and innovative cinematic works.
  • The event showcases diverse directorial talents and new film projects.

📖 Full Retelling

Exclusive: The Museum of the Moving Image's New York lineup of adventurous cinema runs April 23 - May 3.

🏷️ Themes

Film Festival, Cinema Announcements

📚 Related People & Topics

Carousel

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Type of amusement ride

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Isabel Sandoval

Filipino filmmaker

Isabel Sandoval is an independent Filipino filmmaker and actress who is currently based in the United States. She directed the films Señorita (2011), Aparisyon (2012) and Lingua Franca (2019). She also directed a short film called Shangri-La (2021) as part of the Miu Miu's Women's Tales series of fe...

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Museum of the Moving Image

Museum of the Moving Image

Museum and archive in Queens, New York

The Museum of the Moving Image is a media museum located in a former building of the historic Astoria Studios (now Kaufman Astoria Studios), in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in New York City. The museum originally opened in 1988 as the American Museum of the Moving Image, and in 1996, opened it...

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Silent Friend

2025 film by Ildikó Enyedi

Silent Friend (German: Stiller Freund) is a 2025 film written and directed by Ildikó Enyedi. Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Léa Seydoux, Luna Wedler, Sylvester Groth and Martin Wuttke, it follows a single gingko tree through three loosely connected stories in different eras: 1908, 1972, and 2020, tak...

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Mentioned Entities

Carousel

Carousel

Type of amusement ride

Isabel Sandoval

Filipino filmmaker

Museum of the Moving Image

Museum of the Moving Image

Museum and archive in Queens, New York

Silent Friend

2025 film by Ildikó Enyedi

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This announcement matters because it highlights emerging artistic voices and experimental cinema that often struggle for mainstream recognition, directly affecting independent filmmakers, film festival audiences, and cultural institutions. The Museum of the Moving Image's festival serves as a crucial platform for innovative storytelling that challenges conventional filmmaking approaches. For cinephiles and industry professionals, it signals upcoming talent and trends that may influence future cinematic movements and distribution opportunities.

Context & Background

  • The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in New York has hosted the First Look Festival since 2012, focusing on experimental and boundary-pushing cinema from around the world
  • Isabel Sandoval is an acclaimed Filipino filmmaker known for works like 'Lingua Franca' and 'Apparition' that explore themes of identity, colonialism, and gender
  • First Look Festival typically premieres films that challenge traditional narrative structures and visual aesthetics, often serving as a springboard for wider festival recognition

What Happens Next

The festival will likely occur in early 2024 with screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and potential industry networking events. Following the festival, selected films may secure distribution deals, travel to other international festivals, or gain critical attention that boosts the directors' careers. 'Moonglow' and other featured works might generate reviews and discussions about emerging cinematic trends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of MoMI's First Look Festival?

First Look Festival provides essential exposure for experimental films that might not fit commercial cinema models, offering filmmakers a prestigious New York platform. It helps bridge the gap between avant-garde filmmaking and broader cultural recognition while supporting artistic risk-taking.

Who is Isabel Sandoval and why is her new film notable?

Isabel Sandoval is a critically acclaimed Filipino director known for exploring post-colonial themes and marginalized identities through visually striking cinema. Her participation signals the festival's commitment to diverse global perspectives and established artists working in experimental modes.

What types of films typically screen at First Look Festival?

The festival specializes in formally innovative, non-traditional cinema that challenges narrative conventions, often featuring international works and directorial debuts. Selections frequently include hybrid documentary-fiction approaches, structural experiments, and visually distinctive works that push cinematic boundaries.

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Newsletters Open Menu Close Open Search Close Read Next: Amanda Peet Hadn’t Starred in a Movie for a Decade — Until a Fellow Actor Wrote Her an Irresistible Role Newsletters Close Open Menu Close Open Search Search for: Search for: Close Menu Follow Us Facebook X Instagram Pinterest YouTube Alerts & Newsletters Email address to subscribe to newsletter. Subscribe By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 IndieWire Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Exclusive MoMI’s First Look Festival Sets ‘Silent Friend,’ ‘Carousel,’ and Isabel Sandoval’s New Film ‘Moonglow’ Exclusive: The Museum of the Moving Image's New York lineup of adventurous cinema runs April 23 - May 3. By Ryan Lattanzio Ryan Lattanzio Executive Editor ryanlattanzio More stories by Ryan ‘Brian’ Review: Ben Wang Is Endearing as a High Schooler with Mood Swings in Charming Teen Comedy Read more Say Goodbye to Awards Season with a Rewatch of David Cronenberg’s Deeply Bleak ‘Maps to the Stars’ Read more Where Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Amy Madigan, and More Oscar Winners Are Headed Next Read more March 24, 2026 2:00 pm Share Share on Facebook Post Google Preferred Share on LinkedIn Show more sharing options Share to Flipboard Submit to Reddit Pin it Post to Tumblr Email Print This Page Share on WhatsApp The Museum of the Moving Image is again bringing two weekends of adventurous new cinema to Queens and New York — this year, from April 23 – May 3 with First Look 2026. IndieWire shares the exclusive announcement of this year’s lineup, which marks the event’s 15th edition. The festival opens with James N. Kienitz Wilkins’ “The Misconceived” and closes with Isabel Sandoval’s new film “Moonglow,” both North American premieres ...
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