Luca Guadagnino was pretty literally – sparkling when she headed to the podium at the opening night of the 63rd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center on Friday.
The acclaimed director, wearing a sequin grey suit jacket, introduced his latest film, After the Hunt. This is a psychological thriller following Alma (Julia Roberts), a university professor who gets caught up in a moral and personal crisis while her protégé Maggie (ayo edebiri) blames her sexual friend and Kol Assar Flugue (Andrug Han Han Han Han Han Han Flugue).
Standing on the stage, Roberts shared a brief statement with the audience, saying, “I moved to New York when I was 17. I’m 57. This is an incredible achievement in the top three of my New York life.
Ayo Edebiri took place on the opening night red carpet of the 63rd New York Film Festival on September 26, 2025 in Los Angeles, California, and on the opening night red carpet of the 63rd New York Film Festival. (Photo: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety)
Diversity via Getty Images
After holding Roberts, Guadagnino returned to the podium and quickly told the crowd that the film “talk you, make it fight, laugh, be desperate and happy.”
Roberts and Guadanino joined the premiere with screenwriter Nora Garrett and co-stars Garfield, Edebili and Michael Stullberg. Among the notable guests were Julia’s nie and Emma Roberts.
“One scene I was really looking forward to was when Andrew Garfield character Hank Gibson stood up to Julia’s character, Alma, in the classroom,” Garrett told Variety on the carpet. “It was the first day on Andrew’s set and he just knocked it out of the park. I almost started crying.”
NEW YORK, NY – September 26: (LR) Alan Mandelbaum, Luca Guadagnino, Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebili and Andrew Garfield took place at the “After Hunt” intro and Q&A at the 63rd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on September 26th in New York, New York.
Getty Images from FLC
“After the Hunt” is intentionally vague and avoids black and white scenarios. Speaking about her approach to writing morally complicated dialogues in films, Garrett explained: “I’m an actor and a lot of the acting training I’ve got requires you to be on your character’s side, even if you’re doing something you don’t agree with. It’s not about judging your character. And I think I did the same thing in the dialogue – I hope.”
NEW YORK, NY – September 26: (LR) David Raver, Will Price, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebili, Luca Guadanino, Julia Roberts, Michael Stullberg and Rio Megiel will pos behind the scenes in New York’s 63rd Film Festival at New York’s 63rd Film Festival, and “After Hunt” at New York’s 63rd Film Festival.
Getty Images from FLC
After the screening, guests headed to the Green Tavern for an after-party. There, we enjoyed mini lobster rolls, various meat skewers and fingering potatoes.
About an hour after the reception, Guadagnino arrived.
“After Hunt” began in limited theatres in the US on October 10th, and widespread on October 17th.
