Movie lovers have plenty to look forward to this fall as the Museum of the Moving Image rolls out an ambitious slate of screenings, exhibitions, special events and free public programming.
The Astoria museum’s fall 2026 schedule includes a complete retrospective of filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, a horror-themed screening series, films celebrating father-and-daughter filmmakers Vincente and Liza Minnelli, and appearances by noted film figures including J. Hoberman, Kogonada, Lynne Littman and Susan Seidelman.
The season also brings a new exhibition, Seeing the Cinema: Photographic Visions of Movie Theaters, opening October 10. The exhibition explores the cultural and visual significance of movie theaters through photographs, including Thomas R. Schiff’s image of the Devon Theatre in Attica, Indiana.
For horror fans, the Handcrafted Horrors screening series will offer a selection of films designed for the Halloween season. The museum will also bring back its popular after-dark tours, giving visitors an opportunity to experience MoMI after regular hours during spooky season.
Another highlight is the return of the Curators’ Choice series, which will showcase favorite movie releases from 2026 beginning later this year and continuing into January 2027.
MoMI is also expanding its free Open Worlds programming, offering visitors opportunities to explore film, technology, art and popular culture through screenings, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Among the scheduled events are a life-mask-making demonstration, a walking tour examining the physical infrastructure behind the internet with author Ingrid Burlington, and a screening of classic 1990s music videos featuring director Nigel Dick.
Visitors can also take part in an afternoon of anime-inspired model-kit building and the museum’s monthly Spin Series, which combines DJ sets with dancing.
Halloween and Día de Muertos celebrations are also planned, along with MoMI Merch Meet, the museum’s first artisan market. The holiday-season event will feature local creators whose work celebrates the moving image.
The museum’s Open Worlds: Science programming will also continue this fall. Wild City, featuring a screening of Penny Lane’s Wild Inside about the famous Flaco the Owl, will examine the relationship between wildlife and urban environments. Arcade Science, scheduled for October 16–18, will showcase independently created arcade games while exploring the mathematics and engineering behind them.
Located at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, the Museum of the Moving Image continues to position itself as a destination for film, television, technology and media culture.
Advance tickets and reservations for free programs are available through the museum’s website.