Ken Russell’s Restored ‘The Devils’ Will Scandalize Audiences at NYFF After Its Cannes and TIFF Premieres

Film festivals are not just for new films, a sentiment that bears repeating and one that Ken Russell’s restored “The Devils” seems intent on reminding film fans everywhere. After first debuting at this year’s Cannes and next preparing for its North American premiere at September’s Toronto International Film Festival, the much-hyped classic is now getting ready to tantalize and scandalize audiences at the New York Film Festival, too.

The film was announced today as part of NYFF‘s enviable Revivals slate for its 64th edition, which aims to “celebrate films that have been restored, preserved, or digitally remastered, bringing both landmarks of cinema history and overlooked discoveries to new audiences and this year includes 12 features and two programs of rare shorts. Showcasing classics, rarities, and rediscovered gems, the section highlights films whose artistic innovation, cultural significance, and enduring influence remain as compelling today as when they were first made.”

Russell’s film joins another British offering that suffered its own problems with studio intervention: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s 1950 Technicolor “Gone to Earth,” which had been drastically re-edited by producer David O. Selznick and has now been restored in a version overseen by Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker (incidentally, Powell’s own widow).

That film is one of four restoration world premieres at this year’s NYFF, along with Allen Fong’s “Just Like Weather,” Barbara Hammer’s “Nitrate Kisses,” and Fred Camper’s “Suicide Note.” Also on offer: “Report to Mother,” the final feature by legendary Malayalam filmmaker John Abraham; “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones,” Pradip Krishen’s little-seen 1989 coming-of-age story, written by a young Arundhati Roy; and and Hong Kong filmmaker Fong’s “Just Like Weather,” which mixes documentary and fiction.

This year’s selection also features a near-complete retrospective of the works of the Armenian filmmaker Artavazd Pelechian, screening in two programs. Per NYFF, “Beloved by filmmakers, critics, and scholars, but very rarely screened in the U.S., Pelechian’s films combine archival and original footage, mixing documentary essay and the poetic avant-garde, and boast a highly unique montage style. Now 88, Pelechian oversaw the supervision of these films, which span more than three decades.”

The New York Film Festival has already rolled out a massive amount of programming for its upcoming 2026 edition: the festival will open with “Paper Tiger,” close with Ava Duvernay’s “14th,” feature world premieres of “Godzilla Minus Zero” and “Behemoth!,” and feature a Spotlight program highlighting many of the best films from the global festival circuit. The 64th New York Film Festival runs from September 25 – October 12. 

The Revivals section is programmed by Florence Almozini, Dennis Lim, Dan Sullivan, and Gina Telaroli.

64th New York Film Festival Revivals:

“The Devils” (Ken Russell)
“The Drift” (Paula Delsol)
“Gone to Earth” (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)
“Goodbye South, Goodbye” (Hou Hsiao-hsien)
“In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones” (Pradip Krishen)
“L’innocente” (Luchino Visconti)
“Just Like Weather” (Allen Fong)
“Nitrate Kisses” (Barbara Hammer)
“Report to Mother” (John Abraham)
“Suicide Note” (Fred Camper)
“A Well for the Thirsty” (Yuri Ilyenko)
“Yesterday Girl” (Alexander Kluge)

Pelechian Project Program 1 (Artavazd Pelechian)

“Mountain Patrol”
“Land of the People”
“We”
“The Seasons”

Pelechian Project Program 2 (Artavazd Pelechian)

“The Beginning”
“Our Century”
“The End”
“Life”