For New York’s 17th annual “Reasons to Love New York” issue, the magazine is taking readers to the movies, with an issue celebrating New York City’s influence on cinema—and vice versa. The issue includes an introduction by New York and Vulture film critic Bilge Ebiri on how movies have defined New York; stories about New York movies from writers, directors, and notable New Yorkers; and a definitive ranking of the 101 best New York City movies from New York’s critics.
“We have been making the “Reasons to Love New York” issue for 17 years now, and this year we decided to do something a little special and focus on New York’s long-standing love affair with the movies,” says New York features director Genevieve Smith. “The movies have helped shape New York in the public imagination, defining who we are and what it’s like to live here. I’m probably not the only person who knew they wanted to live here because of images of the city I first saw on the silver screen.”
The cover, photographed by Bill Jacobson, features a blurred image of a couple walking by an illuminated movie theater marquee. “This issue is a love letter to New York City expressed through the lens of the movies, so we wanted the cover to feel very warm,” says New York photography director Jody Quon. “All the dots and reflection of lights, you get the romance with urbanism, you feel the couple, you feel the marquee. It’s an image that feels intimate.”
The issue also includes a special advertising project from Havas New York and The Ali Forney Center, who took over 40% of the magazine’s advertising pages to draw attention to the fact that LGBTQIA+ identifying youths make up 40% of New York City’s homeless youth.