Ang Lee’s ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ to debut at NYFF

NEW YORK – Ang Lee’s 3-D, high-frame rate drama “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” will premiere at the New York Film Festival.

Lincoln Center’s Film Society announced the selection Monday, giving a festival landing spot to one of the fall’s most distinct releases. Lee also premiered his previous film, the 3-D “Life of Pi,” at the New York Film Festival in 2012.

“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” adapted from Ben Fountain’s novel, is about an American war hero being celebrated on a victory tour at an NFL game. Lee shot it with a 120-frame rate, far faster than the usual 24 frames per second. To mixed reviews, Peter Jackson experimented with a 48-frame rate in “The Hobbit” trilogy.

Lee said the film, told almost entirely from the perspective of Billy (played by newcomer Joe Alwyn), lent itself to the “emotion and intensity” fostered by the new technology.

“With each film, I try to learn fresh ways to connect with the audience and with myself,” said Lee in a statement. “Since ‘Life of Pi,’ I have been working with my team toward a new cinematic approach that I hope will revitalize that connection.”

“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” will debut Oct. 14 at the festival, ahead of its Nov. 11 release from Sony Pictures.

The 54th New York Film Festival runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 16.