Film Runtime: 1 hour 18 minutes 2 seconds
Nukhufest 2026 Opening Night marks the beginning of seven days of independent film at Cinema Village and the first theatrical presentation of this year's audience-selected Top 10 Finalists.
The evening will begin with a welcome from the Nukhu Foundation and special guest remarks from Kwame Amoaku, Deputy Commissioner for the Film Office at the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, before five of the 2026 Finalists take the screen.
OPENING NIGHT PROGRAM
Welcome + Nukhufest Opening
Members of the Nukhu Foundation Board of Directors will welcome guests, filmmakers and the Nukhufest community and formally open the 2026 theatrical festival.
Special Guest Remarks: Kwame Amoaku
Deputy Commissioner for the Film Office at the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
Kwame Amoaku serves as a principal advisor on film and television production policy in New York City and oversees the City's Film Office. His career in film and television spans more than three decades across directing, producing, writing, cinematography, acting and location management.
Top 10 Finalist Showcase - Program A
Opening Night presents five films representing the range of voices, genres and filmmaking approaches that audiences elevated from the 2026 Semi-Finalist field.
The program moves from a queer Deaf poet confronting family and an estranged father, to a Korean-American hunting trip gone violently wrong, an immigration counterfeiter facing unexpected scrutiny, a woman rebuilding her life after the end of a long relationship, and the surreal animated world created as a visual companion to Mac Miller's Balloonerism.
FILMS
Them That’s Not
Directed by Mekhai Lee | 18:37
A Family Guide To Hunting
Directed by Zao Wang | 14:00
Half A Life
Directed by Sanjit Majumdar and Ranju Majumdar | 4:18
SAVAGE SEASON.
Directed by Nardeep Khurmi | 17:01
Balloonerism
Directed by Samuel Jerome Mason | 24:06
FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE
Sanjit Majumdar and Ranju Majumdar, directors of Top 10 Finalist Half A Life
Patricio Matos, director of Semi-Finalist Fighting Spaces
Tatiana Tift, director of Semi-Finalist Annabel Lee Blues
Additional participating filmmakers and members of the Nukhufest community will be announced as schedules are confirmed.
KEEP WATCHING. KEEP VOTING.
The competition continues beyond the theater.
Watch the Finalists on Nukhu and vote for the film you want to become the 2026 Best Nuvee:
https://nukhu.com/view/0?stack=0
Audience voting closes September 19 at 8 PM ET. The highest-voted Finalist will receive the Nukhu Foundation's $3,000 Development-to-Distribution Grant and the 2026 Best Nuvee award.
This ticket provides admission for one guest to this Nukhufest 2026 program block.
View the full Nukhufest schedule, participating films, program descriptions, runtimes, and event details at https://www.nukhufoundation.org/calendar.
Attending more than one program? Add additional Nukhufest blocks to your cart before checking out.