January at the Walker Cinema Features Muhammad Ali, the Greatest by William Klein, Peter Hujar’s Day by Ira Sachs, and 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards 

This January kicks off a cinematic deep dive into creative legends, cultural icons, and the forces that shaped their worlds. From the magnetic power of Muhammad Ali in a newly restored documentary to an intimate portrait of queer photography icon Peter Hujar, the Walker Cinema invites audiences to step inside stories that still spark conversation today. With awards-season standouts also headed to the big screen, it’s a month built for film lovers who crave bold voices, boundary-pushing storytelling, and the rare chance to experience remarkable works as they were meant to be seen—together, in the dark. 

Muhammad Ali, the Greatest by William Klein 

Saturday, January 10, 2 pm 

$8 ($6 Walker members, seniors, and students)  

Walker Cinema 

Photographer and filmmaker William Klein’s portrait of the legendary boxer follows his career from the breakthrough 1964 fight with Sonny Liston to the epic “Rumble in the Jungle” with George Foreman a decade later. The film traces his transformation from Cassius Clay, prize-winning fighter, to Muhammad Ali, member of the Black Muslim movement and outspoken antiwar activist. Shot during a turbulent period for America following the civil rights era, Klein’s film captures both the fight of “The Greatest” and his place amid the cultural backdrop of the ongoing Black struggle in the US. 

Presented in a new 2K restoration. 1974, France, DCP, English and French with English subtitles, 123 min. 

Part of Cinema Revived: Timeless Selections from the Vault, an ongoing presentation of notable feature-length films from the Ruben/Bentson Moving Image Collection. 

Peter Hujar’s Day by Ira Sachs 

Friday, January 16, 7 pm 

Saturday, January 17, 7 pm 

$15 ($12 Walker members and seniors) Free for students on Friday 

Walker Cinema 

A snapshot of photographer Peter Hujar and writer Linda Rosenkrantz (played by award-winning actors Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall) highlights the lives of artists navigating the 1970s New York art world. Breaking away from the biopic’s narrative conventions, Ira Sachs’s film focuses on a singular moment between the two, situating viewers in an intimate conversation and offering a glimpse into Hujar’s artistic practice that captured the people of the queer art subculture with emotional depth. 2025, US, DCP, 76 min. 

2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards 

January 21–February 1, 2026 

Walker Cinema 

 Free for Walker, FilmNorth, and Film Independent members 

Here’s your chance to catch up on the independent films everyone is talking about this awards season. An exclusive program for Walker, FilmNorth, and Film Independent members, this free series showcases the work of Film Independent Spirit Awards nominees in the categories of Best Feature, Best First Feature, and Best Documentary. Selected for their uniqueness of vision and innovative storytelling, films are chosen by nominating committees composed of a mix of passionate industry professionals, including directors, actors, writers, critics, and past winners. 

Copresented with Film Independent and FilmNorth. Program titles and schedule to be announced in December.