The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, announce a bicoastal collaboration with The Contenders, MoMA's annual end-of-the-year series that offers filmgoers the opportunity to see recently released films that are bound for awards glory or destined to become a cult classic, often accompanied by post-screening discussions with directors and actors.

Opening the series at MoMA on November 13 is the New York premiere of J. C. Chandor’s third feature film, A Most Violent Year (2014), which stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain as residents of New York City during 1981, when the scourge of crime was a daily reality. Opening the series at the Hammer Museum on December 8 is Snowpiercer (2014), directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, and Ed Harris. Both J. C. Chandor and Bong Joon-ho will participate in post-screening discussions immediately following their respective films.

Highlights of The Contenders at MoMA (November 13, 2014—January 15, 2015):

  • Boyhood (2014); with appearances by director Richard Linklater and actor Ethan Hawke
  • Foxcatcher (2014); with appearance by director Bennett Miller
  • Ida (2014); with appearance by director Pawel Pawlikowski
  • The Imitation Game (2014); with appearances by screenwriter Graham Moore and actors Matthew Goode and Alan Leech
  • Obvious Child (2014); with appearance by director Gillian Robespierre
  • Queen and Country (2014); with appearance by director John Boorman
  • Snowpiercer (2014); with appearance by actress Tilda Swinton
  • Over 20 additional screenings to be added

Highlights of The Contenders at Hammer Museum (December 8, 2014—January 13, 2015):

  • A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014); with appearance by director Ana Lily Amirpour
  • Boyhood (2014); with appearance by director Richard Linklater
  • Mommy (2014); with appearance by director Xavier Dolan
  • Snowpiercer (2014); with appearance by director Joon-ho Bong
  • Additional screenings to be added