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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

A girl dancing at a party with purple lights.

WSN’s guide to the 62nd New York Film Festival

In anticipation of this year’s New York Film Festival, WSN has put together a list of must-see movie premieres that you will want to secure tickets for before they sell out.
Dani Biondi, Film & TV Editor September 9, 2024

This year, the New York Film Festival — which runs from Sept. 27 to Oct. 14 — will celebrate its 62nd anniversary. With the festival’s Main Slate featuring films from 24...

An illustration of a mirror image of a woman’s face. She has short black hair.

How my $70 short film got into the world’s largest youth film fest

Good filmmaking comes from creative constraints, not infinite resources.
Sebastian Zufelt, Staff Writer April 21, 2023

One of the biggest stressors of making student films is money — there’s never enough of it. This is a constant refrain my friends and I struggle with as we work on our intermediate-level...

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch. Behind the arch sits gray and brown alternating high-rises. On the top right are the words “The Daybook” in an arched shape.

What to do this week: Video game tournament, trivia night and more

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: March 27-April 2.
Cora Snow, Deputy News Editor March 26, 2023

Five people take pictures in front of a mural that depicts green mountains, tan buildings and trees. A Chinese national flag is drawn in the foreground. Two Asian people are smiling at the camera as they point to the Chinese slogan “collective prosperity” on the bottom of the mural.

Q&A: Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke on China’s changing identity

WSN spoke with celebrated Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke about nationalism, the internet and capturing contemporary China.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor February 20, 2023

Jia Zhangke is often seen as the North Star of Chinese independent cinema. His continued interrogation of the nation’s cultural changes ever since he took up filmmaking in 1997...

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch. Behind the arch sits gray and brown alternating high-rises. On the top right are the words “The Daybook” in an arched shape.

What to do this week: Free ice skating, NYU Club Fest, student film festival

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: Jan. 30-Feb. 5.
Adrianna Nehme, Deputy News Editor January 29, 2023

A screening of Shyamalan's suspenseful ‘Knock at the Cabin' 7-9 p.m. at AMC 19th Street, 890 Broadway Attend the NYU Program Board’s pre-release screening of “Knock at...

An illustration of a group of white figures dancing on stage with red curtains against a black backdrop.

LA-based ‘Dances with Films’ festival hits the East Coast

The 26th annual “Dances with Films” festival debuted for the first time on the East Coast from Dec. 1 to 4 at Regal Union Square.
Safia Ahmad, Contributing Writer December 5, 2022

The “Dances with Films” festival, a beloved Los Angeles indie film festival, celebrated its 26th anniversary by screening never-before-seen projects on the East Coast. While...

Rahimi, played by Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, looks into the distance. She wears a black headscarf.

‘Holy Spider’ is a striking work of Iranian social commentary

"Holy Spider” opened at the IFC Center on Friday, Oct. 27.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 31, 2022

Iranian Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi's latest film, “Holy Spider,” is the most unrelenting, pragmatic and cynical film of the year. There is no denying the film’s shockingly...

A black-and-white photo of a young boy, dressed in a black turtleneck, staring at the camera.

Film Forum restores iconic François Truffaut anthology

Modeled on Truffaut’s own life, the series returns to the big screen in new 4K restorations.
Sebastian Zufelt, Staff Writer September 20, 2022

With the recent passing of Jean-Luc Godard on Sept. 13, fewer and fewer members of the French New Wave live to tell its story. Thankfully, as the movement ages, Film Forum brings...

Aurélien Gabrielli, who plays Labidi El Morchedi, and Léon Cunha Da Costa, who plays Aleksei Kouyenski, sit on a grassy hill dressed in winter outfits smoking a cigarette in a still from “The World After Us.”

Review: ‘The World After Us’ is a charming modern ode to French New Wave cinema

Screened among other independent French films at this year’s Burning Bright: New French Filmmakers festival “The World After Us” tells the classic story of a struggling young writer in his pursuit for love.
Caitlyn McConnell, Staff Writer September 20, 2022

New Yorkers will be able to dip into the immersive world of French cinema from Sept. 6 to Oct. 25 at a festival hosted by the French Institute Alliance Française. Within FIAF,...

Mia Goth, who plays Pearl, is dressed in a red dress and swings a hatchet.

Review: ‘Pearl’ sees Mia Goth play an atypical homicidal heroine

A slasher-film fanatic’s dream, A24’s second installment in the “X” franchise, “Pearl,” is one not to miss, currently playing in theaters.
Samantha Burge and Shreya Wankhade September 19, 2022

A prequel to last spring’s raw twist on horror “X,” “Pearl” gives audiences the disturbing backstory of excruciatingly horny anti-hero Pearl. This past Tuesday, Sept....

A stage with “NYU Welcome” projected on the screen. Two speakers standing on the right and three guests sitting on the right.

Incoming filmmakers show why cinema matters at NYU Welcome Film Festival

The NYU Welcome Film Festival is an annual event for first-years and transfer students to showcase their films.
Caitlyn McConnell, Staff Writer September 5, 2022

Despite theaters fighting low attendance and audiences exhausted of big budget cookie-cutter films, NYU students have shown that the future of film is bright. On Aug. 28, students...

A still from the film of two women looking to the side and laughing. They are surrounded by metal bars on the side and are wearing saris.

Review: ‘Shorts Program II’ muses on death, memory and the fear of looming ecological disaster

New Directors/New Films 2022’s second program of short films collects a strong string of strange films concerned with humanity’s sense of impending death. “Shorts Program II” plays on Wednesday, April 27, at Film at Lincoln Center.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 26, 2022

The New Directors/New Films Festival continues its showcase of innovative short-form filmmaking with “Shorts Program II.” The second and final installment of ND/NF’s short...