Record Ticket Sales and Epic Rainstorm: New York Film Festival Opens with Natalie Portman's Spellbinding 'May December'

The New York Film Festival opened its 61st edition with the film "May December" despite a massive rainstorm that caused flooding in the city. Director Todd Haynes expressed disappointment that the stars Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton couldn't attend due to SAG-AFTRA strike rules. The film, which centers around a scandalous age gap between a married couple, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix for distribution. Despite the weather conditions, the festival continued as planned, with guests attending the afterparty in Central Park.