The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) is set to kick off an exciting slate of film programming and festivals from January through April 2026, featuring acclaimed releases, centenary celebrations, and unique events that spotlight emerging and underrepresented voices in cinema.
The series 2001: The Year, Not the Movie (through April 5) explores the cinematic and cultural significance of 2001, a pivotal year marked by early digital video, the dot-com bubble, and the events of September 11, alongside 25th anniversaries of influential films.
March brings the Awards Watch Party (March 15), MoMI’s first live Oscars viewing, complete with red carpet photo ops, themed snacks, and trivia. Later in the month, the Marvels of Media Festival (March 26–28) celebrates autistic media-makers with screenings, panels, workshops, and VR experiences. The submission window closes January 31, with free admission available by RSVP.
Finally, First Look 2026 (April 23–May 3) returns for its 15th edition, presenting over two dozen new international films—including features, shorts, fiction, nonfiction, and experimental works—spread across two weekends, offering New York audiences a chance to discover fresh cinematic voices.
MoMI, located in Astoria, New York, celebrates the history, art, and technology of moving images through exhibitions, screenings, and education programs. Its collection includes the nation’s most comprehensive moving image artifacts, and the museum screens over 500 films annually. For more information, visit movingimage.org.
This early 2026 lineup underscores MoMI’s commitment to blending cinematic heritage with innovative, inclusive programming for audiences of all ages and interests.