WORLD PREMIERE

ADULT BEST FRIENDS

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy

Nothing holds a mirror up to your life more than the examination of a friend from childhood. While Katie (Katie Corwin) should be celebrating her engagement to John (Mason Gooding), she can’t help but fret over what her best friend, Delaney (Delaney Buffett), will think. Driftless and unambitious, her opinions and feelings matter most to Katie. In an effort to reconnect and break the news gently, she plans a girls’ trip to assuage her codependent friend, setting the stage for a hilarious buddy comedy.

With an attractive cast (including Zachary Quinto, Cazzie David and Alexander Hodge) and zippy dialogue, closeness and self-deprecating humor are felt through the screen. Despite the serious undertones of growing up and moving on, Adult Best Friends delivers plenty of laughs as it showcases all the double-guessing that the bridge from young adulthood to midlife steadiness brings about. A true testament to enduring friendship, this comedy will have you in stitches while appreciating the bonds that tie us together. Be sure to text your best friend after and tell them you love them.––Nora Bernard

Directed by
Delaney Buffett

Produced by
Marie Nikolova, Delaney Buffett

Starring
Katie Corwin, Delaney Buffett, Zachary Quinto, Cazzie David, Mason Gooding, Casey Wilson, Owen Thiele, Benjamin Norris, Alexander Hodge, Carmen Christopher, Miki Ishikawa, Heather Mazur, Michael Rowland, Connor Hines, Cory Walls, Jolie Handler, Keeley Karsten, Holly Bonney, Hannah Campbell

WORLD PREMIERE

BITTERROOT

Feature | United States | 82 MINUTES
Drama

When life is thrown into chaos, sometimes both comfort and a path forward lie in the most familial of places. Rural Montana provides such an opportunity for a middle-aged man reeling from a failed marriage, now responsible for taking care of his aging mother… and her root vegetable garden. As he shoulders this duty, his attempts at finding peace are stymied as the stunning landscapes around him are struck by wildfire.

The Hmong community has rarely been seen like this, as director Vera Brunner-Sung creates a contemplative and deeply affecting portrait that hooks the audience with breathtaking shots from beginning to end. At a time when we all long for connection and tenderness, we’re treated to moments steeped in intimacy by a filmmaker just beginning to unearth the full range of her power.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Vera Brunner-Sung

Produced by
Giulia Caruso, Karin Chien, Ki Jin Kim, Kazua Melissa Vang, YEEJ

Starring
Wa Yang, Qu Kue, April Charlo, Gia Vang

WORLD PREMIERE

The French Italian

Feature | United States | 92 MINUTES | English
New York, Women, Comedy, Narrative

Doug (Aristotle Athari) and Valerie (Catherine Cohen) have made a mistake. Their hate-fueled obsession with the jerks downstairs — who always seem to be singing karaoke in a brownstone, who even does that? — recently led them to flee the city for Doug’s parents’ place upstate, giving up a great deal on a rent-stabilized apartment in the process. Their friends are horrified, and regret is setting in. They start plotting their revenge— and before they know it, they’re staging an off-Broadway play starring their nemesis.

Writer/director Rachel Wolther’s wry sensibility places The French Italian in the tradition of comedies of hipster manners like Girls and Search Party, riffing on the art of Googling, lesbian double engagements and New York City apartment politics. Add a touch of theater kid and you’ve got cringe comedy at its most hilariously self-absorbed.––Frederic Boyer

Directed by
Rachel Wolther

Produced by
Miranda Kahn

Starring
Catherine Cohen, Aristotle Athari, Chloe Cherry, Ruby McCollister, Jon Rudnitsky, Ikechukwu Ufomadu

WORLD PREMIERE

Griffin in Summer

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English
Comedy, LGBTQIA+, Narrative

Summer vacation is usually the time for kids to let loose, but for fourteen-year-old Griffin Nafly it’s time to get down to the serious business of putting on his dramatic new play: an ambitious cross between Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and American Beauty. However, when his tween collaborators get distracted by more trivial pursuits like boys and camp, Griffin’s attention drifts toward Brad, the zoned-out handyman working at his house. Increasingly smitten and seeking a kindred spirit in Brad due to his failed career as a New York-based performance artist, Griffin finds himself embarking on an unforgettable summer.

Featuring stellar performances from its cast of young actors, Griffin in Summer’s coming-of-age story is a portrait of the artist as a young boy dealing with the initial experiences of unrequited love in a way that’s both hilarious and refreshingly original.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Nicholas Colia

Produced by
Juliet Berman, Bobby Hoppey, Camila Mendes, Rachel Matthews, Matthew Miller

Starring
Everett Blunck, Melanie Lynskey, Owen Teague, Abby Ryder Fortson, Kathryn Newton

WORLD PREMIERE

Jazzy

Feature | United States | 86 MINUTES | English
Drama

Filmmaker Morrisa Maltz paints a poignant and authentic portrait of childhood friendship through the eyes of Jazzy, a young Oglala Lakota girl growing up in South Dakota. Spanning from ages 6 to 12, the film follows Jazzy and her best friend Syriah as they navigate the joys and challenges of their ever-changing relationship, capturing the essence of their unique perspective with a dreamlike, documentary-style approach.

When Jazzy learns that Syriah is moving away, she confronts the heartbreaks of growing up and the realities of the adult world. A spiritual successor to their previous film, The Unknown Country, Maltz’s collaboration with producer Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux results in an emotionally resonant coming-of-age drama that deeply immerses the audience in the lives of these two young girls. With touching performances from the young leads and appearances by notable actors such as Executive Producer Lily Gladstone, Jazzy is a beautifully crafted film that explores the profound impact friendship has on the formative years of childhood.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Morrisa Maltz

Produced by
Morrisa Maltz, Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux, Miranda Bailey, Natalie Whalen, Elliott Whitton, John Way, Vanara Taing, Tommy Heitkamp

Starring
Jasmine Bearkiller Shangreaux, Syriah Foohead Means, Richard Ray Whitman, Raymond Lee, and Lily Gladstone

WORLD PREMIERE

The Knife

Feature | United States | 82 MINUTES | English
Drama, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

All Chris (Nnamdi Asomugha) wants is to carve a promising future for his beloved wife Alex (Aja Naomi King) and their two girls; a young family chasing the American Dream. One fateful night, Chris’ entire world is shaken to its core as a stranger mysteriously shows up in their humble abode. Distressed by the events of the night and the revelations seemingly at every turn, the family must also contend with the steadfast Detective Carlsen (Melissa Leo) who’s eager to solve the mystery of their intrusion.

This stunning directorial debut by Nnamdi Asomugha pulls into focus the fraught relationship between choice and consequence, all tense escalation handled with the care and grace of a staunch veteran. As decisions big and small weigh heavy on the heads of our characters, the film’s exercise in unpacking ethical and moral quandaries ever-present during everyday life will leave an unfathomable mark on those within the frame as well as the eyes who lay upon them.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Nnamdi Asomugha

Produced by
Nnamdi Asomugha, Jonathan T. Baker, Ami Werges

Starring
Nnamdi Asomugha, Melissa Leo, Aja Naomi King, Manny Jacinto, Amari Price, Aiden Price

WORLD PREMIERE

The Other, Gold

Feature | United States | 98 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy, Drama, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

Sometimes an old friend and a bowl of ramen are as good as gold. Farrah Henry (Sharaé Nikai) has dealt with a series of f*cked up blows. She has first world problems (ramen shortages) and real world ones (Omicron 2.0), but as both worlds open back up, so does her heart to the idea of reconnecting with a long time gal pal. Battling grief and “pandemmy” isolation in Little Tokyo isn’t for the faint of heart, and Farrah will need to learn valuable lessons to see through the reclamation act on herself.

A directorial debut sure to captivate the minds and hearts of many, Nikai and co-director David Lassiter set forth on a wild ride through downtown LA that has trappings familiar in nature and also wildly new. The former proves a force to be reckoned with on the page, behind the camera and on screen, leading the charge on a project daring in scope and pointed in execution. Here our filmmakers pull in tightly on a palpable sense of human desire and need for connection that will leave audiences buzzing.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Sharaé Nikai and David Lassiter

Produced by
Sharaé Nikai

Starring
Sharaé Nikai, Krista Marie Yu, Amin Joseph, Crystal Lee Brown, Billy “Sly” Williams, Tiwana Floyd, Rob Chester Smith

WORLD PREMIERE

Rent Free

Feature | United States | 93 MINUTES | English
New York, Comedy, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Narrative, Latinx/Latin American

Ben and Jordan, nomadic Gen Z best friends from Texas, are enjoying their scrappy days in New York City together and are quickly getting comfortable with the idea of permanently relocating there to pursue a life and career in the Big Apple. Those plans are quickly botched, however, when an outrageous indiscretion from Ben causes both of them to be kicked out of the friends’ apartment they were staying at — prompting them to fly back to Austin, where Jordan’s girlfriend Anna takes them in. Unfortunately for Ben and Jordan, Anna’s generosity is short-lived. One drunken evening, both friends make a pact: to treat this meandering “couch surfing” lifestyle as a social experiment and aim to take advantage of their friends’ hospitality to live an entire year without paying rent. Their quixotic plan, however, all too soon reveals itself to be a bit untenable…

Tribeca alum Fernando Andres (Three Headed Beast, Tribeca 2022) returns to the festival with this breezy and light-on-its-feet comedy that effectively explores queer male friendship with thoughtful, emotional resonance and a raw vulnerability with its characters. Under Andres’ confident direction, Rent Free foregrounds complicated characters (self-centered and endearing in equal measure) with effortless humor and sharp comedic timing.––Jose Rodriguez

Directed by
Fernando Andrés

Produced by
Fernando Andrés, Jacob Roberts, Temple Baker

Starring
Jacob Roberts, David Treviño, Molly Edelman, Neal Mulani, Sarah J. Bartholomew, Zeke Goodman

WORLD PREMIERE

Sacramento

Feature | United States | 84 MINUTES | English
Comedy

Flighty and unpredictable Ricky (Michael Angarano) is kicked out of his convalescent home following the death of his father and surprises his best friend, Glenn (Michael Cera), by forcing him on a road trip across California. Unbeknownst to him, Glenn is about to start a family with his wife Rosie (Kristen Stewart) and is sick of Ricky’s inability to grow out of their past shenanigans. In the worn yellow seats of Glenn’s old college car, the two men reckon with the mistakes of their past and the questions lurking in their future.

Explosively hilarious dynamics grounded by impeccably-delivered performances from an all-star cast (Maya Erskine also appears as a key figure in Ricky’s life), Sacramento is a sweet and heartwarming jaunt through the most important relationships in our lives, and asks the question of how to move forward with ourselves, in spite of ourselves.––Cara Cusumano

Directed by
Michael Angarano

Produced by
Chris Abernathy, Eric Fleischman, Sam Grey, Stephen Braun

Starring
Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart, Michael Angarano, Maya Erskine

WORLD PREMIERE

Vulcanizadora

Feature | United States | 85 MINUTES | English
Drama, Thriller

In this intense tale from provocateur Joel Potrykus, two friends (Potrykus and Joshua Burge), embark on a disturbing mission in the Michigan woods. As they trudge through the forest, their intentions become increasingly clear. When their plan ultimately unravels, one of the friends must return home to face the surreal and unsettling consequences of their actions, grappling with the legal and emotional repercussions that follow.

Potrykus, known for his singular vision and unpredictable storytelling, delivers a film that is both accessible and unapologetically offbeat. With strong performances from Burge and Potrykus himself, the film expertly navigates multiple tones, striking a balance between the bizarre and the emotionally resonant. The film is ideal for those seeking a thought-provoking, genre-defying experience that will linger long after the credits roll.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Joel Potrykus

Produced by
Hannah Dweck, Matt Grady, Ashley Potrykus, Theodore Schaefer

Starring
Joel Potrykus, Joshua Burge, Bill Vincent, Solo Potrykus

WORLD PREMIERE

Bikechess

Feature | Kazakhstan | 100 MINUTES | Russian | English subtitles
Women, Comedy, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Politics, Journalism

Doesn’t a government initiative encouraging mental and physical fitness sound motivating? Imagine if it included activities like cycling and playing chess simultaneously… In Assel Aushakimova’s second feature, Bikechess, she reunites with her lead actress Saltanat Nauruz to portray Dina, a disenchanted Kazakh broadcast journalist who is much more capable than the propaganda she is forced to cover. Ambivalent toward her professional mandate, she is tasked with presenting these seemingly absurd programs in a positive light. Challenged by her younger sister (Assel Abdimavlenova), a lesbian activist who constantly brushes with authorities, she also navigates a relationship with her married cameraman (Shyngys Beibituly).

With incisive observation and dark humor, the film dissects the levels of absurdity that the state will embrace and the constraints journalists face when striving to maintain ethical standards in the face of institutional pressures. Nauruz delivers a sharp and acerbic performance that complements the writer/director’s quick-witted and novel approach.––Nora Bernard

Directed by
Assel Aushakimova

Produced by
Antoine Simkine, Almagul Tleukhanova, Christian Fredrik Martin

Starring
Saltanat Nauruz, Assel Abdimavlenova, Shyngys Beibituly, Duisenbek Sydykbekov

WORLD PREMIERE

The Dog Thief

Feature | Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, France, Italy | 90 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Drama, Latinx/Latin American

Set in the Bolivian capital of La Paz, The Dog Thief centers on young teenager Martin, a shoeshine boy working on the city streets. While he has a room in a large, old house courtesy of his late mother’s close friend, he is an orphan with few friends and fewer avenues to support himself. But hope exists in the form of Martin’s best client, Mr. Novoa, a lonely tailer whose sole friend is Astor, a beautiful German Shepherd he cares for like a son. Initially motivated by a possible reward, Martin steals Astor. But as Martin and Mr. Novoa spend more time together, a bond develops that neither anticipates.

With shades of Italian Neorealism for inspiration, writer-director Vinko Tomicic’s beautifully shot film is so grounded and immersive that La Paz feels like a main character all its own. Featuring touching, emotionally honest performances from Franklin Aro and Alfredo Castro, the film eschews easy narrative beats to elevate the inherent tension, instead allowing interpersonal dynamics to slowly turn up the temperature for each character. The Dog Thief is an attention-grabbing statement from an exciting new voice in South American cinema.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Vinko Tomičić Salinas

Produced by
Álvaro Manzano Zambrana, Gabriela Maire, Edher Campos

Starring
Alfredo Castro, Franklin Aro, Teresa Ruiz, María Luque, Julio César Altamirano, Ninón Dávalos

WORLD PREMIERE

Don’t You Let Me Go

Feature | Uruguay | 74 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Narrative, Latinx/Latin American

Adela stands among the crowd at Elena’s wake, feeling disconnected from the hushed voices and harsh fluorescent lights that don’t remind her of her best friend’s intrinsic joy. Emotionally drained, Adela goes to her car and what does she find waiting for her but a bus. Not an ordinary bus, a magic bus – a bus that takes her back in time to a magical weekend where a lively and funny Elena awaits her in a beach house, ready to binge detective novels and ride bicycles and dance the night away. Like nothing ever changed.

Writer-directors Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge’s third film is a beautiful tribute to friendship, especially the bonds of friendship between women. With fantastic, emotionally grounded performances, Don’t You Let Me Go dwells in how the smallest of details end up being the most meaningful of ties. It’s a film centered around a simple yet profound observation: we feel grief because the people we love bring us joy.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge

Produced by
Agustina Chiarino

Starring
Chiara Hourcade, Victoria Jorge, Eva Dans

WORLD PREMIERE

Eternal Playground

Feature | France | 81 MINUTES | French | English subtitles
Comedy, Drama

It’s the last day of school in Paris. Kids and teachers alike eagerly await the final dismissal and the start of their summer vacations. For Gaspard, a music teacher wrapping up his first year teaching (at his old middle school, no less), the approaching summer holiday means the first birthday he will spend without his twin sister. In lieu of a somber commemorative event, Gaspard decides to honor his sister’s last wish: while the students and teachers are away on break, gather their five former best friends at the deserted school of their youth. The friends, who have slightly drifted apart, quickly fall back into their old ways, playing games in their old schoolyard, dancing in their old classrooms, and gossiping about their old teachers. The five friends’ reunion becomes a joyous celebration of life…until a white lie throws their gathering off kilter.

Eternal Playground, the feature debut from writer-directors Joseph Rozé and Pablo Cotton, is a sharply observed dramedy that impressively balances the grief that comes from loss with the joy of reconnecting with friends you love. Gorgeously shot in 16mm, and boasting excellent performances from a talented young cast, Eternal Playground is a beautifully intriguing glimpse of the future of French cinema.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Joseph Roze and Pablo Cotten

Produced by
Antoine Playoust, Martin Playoust, Nicolas Tzipine

Starring
Andranic Manet, Alassane Diong, Carla Audebaud, Alba-Gaïa Bellugi, Arcadi Radeff, Nina Zamzem, Noée Abita

WORLD PREMIERE

Family Therapy

Feature | Slovenia, Italy, Norway, Croatia, Serbia | 122 MINUTES | English, French, Slovene | English subtitles
Comedy, Drama

You drive by a burnt-out car on the side of the road, family beside it, a catastrophe has obviously occurred – what do you do? If you’re the family in the fancy car listening to Slavoj Zizek interviews on your ride back from the airport, you drive on by. Who are these people who drive on by? Family Therapy sets out to investigate that question. The film revolves around a nouveau riche family living in a literal glass house. When Julien, the patriarch’s son from another relationship, arrives at the family home, his presence disrupts their delicate balance, revealing cracks in their staid façade and upending their life of detached superiority.

Writer-Director Sonja Prosenc’s latest is a fantastic, hilarious play on the premise of Pasolini’s Teorema. Leaning into the satirical, the film features wonderful performances, especially from Marko Mandic as the patriarch and Aliocha Schneider as the young interloper. Beautifully shot and finely edited, Family Therapy doesn’t just question the actions of those who don’t stop to help; it also probes the reasons behind their choices.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Sonja Prosenc

Produced by
Rok Sečen

Starring
Mila Bezjak, Aliocha Schneider, Marko Mandić, Katarina Stegnar, Judita Franković Brdar, Jure Henigman

WORLD PREMIERE

The Freshly Cut Grass

Feature | Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, Mexico, United States | 114 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Narrative, Latinx/Latin American

With a stable academic career, two loving kids and a marriage long grown cold, geology professor Natalia (Marina de Tavira, Academy Award nominee of Roma) has little relief from the doldrums of middle age other than a quiet, intense longing for handsome grad student Gonzalo (Emanuel Parga). At the same university, brooding academic Pablo (Joaquín Furriel), sleepwalking through his own midlife malaise, begins an affair with free-spirited student Luciana (Verónica Gerez). As both characters yearn for connection within marriages long shaped by deafening silence and passive aggressive maneuvering, Pablo and Natalia must come to terms with the accumulated effects of their own fear, struggling against suffocating gender expectations and the weight of their secret lives, leading to a powerful moment of reckoning for each in this refreshingly honest and frank adult drama.

Brilliantly using twin narratives that both mirror and diverge from one another, director and co-writer Celina Murga (Ana and the Others) has crafted a raw and involved portrait of two lives at critical moments of change. Led by subtly powerful performances by de Tavira and Furriel, The Freshly Cut Grass is a candid look at the need for vulnerability, self-discovery and the joy of those unexpected moments of grace. Presented by Martin Scorsese.––Cedar Sherbert

Directed by
Celina Murga

Produced by
Juan Villegas, Celina Murga, Tomás Eloy Muñoz, Valeria Bistagnino, Axel Kuschevatzky, Cindy Teperman

Starring
Marina de Tavira, Joaquín Furriel Alfonso Tort Romina Peluffo Emanuel Parga Verónica Gerez

WORLD PREMIERE

Hunters on a White Field

Feature | Sweden | 97 MINUTES | Swedish | English subtitles
Drama

Three men go on an extended weekend hunting trip deep in the Swedish forest. Gregor and Henrik are old friends and more experienced hunters, while Alex is a novice (and Gregor’s protégé at work). Their trip is initially greeted by success on the hunt, sharpening their instincts in the field and drumming up a rivalry between the three men. But one day all the animals vanish without a trace, leaving the forest eerily quiet and the men with nothing to hunt, which simply won’t do. Spurred on by overactive male bravado, the misguided macho inclination to compare themselves to men of the past, and a bit of natural hallucinogens the trio find a way for the hunt to continue…even in a forest without animals.

Writer-Director Sarah Gyllenstierna’s debut feature is a thrilling, heady interrogation of people’s capacity for self- delusion and destruction. With a winning mixture of tension and humor, the film does a remarkable job at keeping the audience off-balance as a sense of mystery pervades the familiar, yet slightly incomprehensible, world Gyllenstierna creates. Featuring gorgeous cinematography and compelling performances from the three leads, Hunters on a White Field is a fascinating, tension-filled exploration of masculinity.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Sarah Gyllenstierna

Produced by
Maria L. Guerpillon, Charlotte Most

Starring
Ardalan Esmaili, Magnus Krepper, Jens Hultén

North American Premiere

La Cocina

Feature | Mexico, United States | 139 MINUTES | English, Spanish | English subtitles
Drama

In the heart of a bustling Times Square kitchen, dreams and desperation collide as the back-of-house staff each chase the elusive American dream. When money goes missing from the till, the spotlight falls on Pedro (Raúl Briones), a passionate dreamer entangled in a tumultuous love affair with Julia (Rooney Mara), a waitress grappling with her own commitments. As tensions rise and shocking revelations unfold, the relentless pace of the kitchen threatens to shatter the hopes and aspirations of those who keep it running.

La Cocina is a poignant and darkly comic tribute to the invisible heroes who fuel our culinary desires while fighting for a place in a world that often refuses to acknowledge their existence. Tribeca alum Alonso Ruizpalacios masterfully weaves together a kaleidoscopic narrative that exposes the harsh realities immigrant workers face, creating a claustrophobic yet captivating portrait of life behind the scenes.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Alonso Ruizpalacios

Produced by
Ramiro Ruiz, Gerardo Gatica, Alonso Ruizpalacios, Lauren Mann, Ivan Orlic

Starring
Raúl Briones Carmona, Rooney Mara, Anna Diaz, Motell Foster, Oded Fehr, Laura Gómez, James Waterson, Lee Sellars, Eduardo Olmos, Spenser Granese

WORLD PREMIERE

Samia

Feature | Italy, Germany, Belgium, Sweden | 102 MINUTES | Arabic, English, Somali | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Biography, Sports, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

Samia is an assertive, independent young woman growing up in a place that isn’t very welcome to young women who are independent and assertive. Raised in a Mogadishu, Somalia torn asunder by civil war, all that young Samia wants to do is run. Despite the harassment from local militias saying women shouldn’t be involved in sports, running is a bright spot in her tumultuous life. Training in a deserted stadium, on a track pockmarked by mortars, she is determined to go to the Olympics like her hero, Mo Farah. That determination pays off when, at the age of 17, she’s selected to represent her country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She returns to Africa with an even brighter flame burning to go to the 2012 Olympics in London. But circumstances have changed, and the path toward fulfilling her dreams is not the one she’d anticipated.

Based on the true story of Samia Yusuf Omar, director Yasemin Samdereli brings Samia’s life to the screen with a beautiful visual flair and a warm, empathetic approach. Boasting fantastic performances, Samia is an inspirational portrait of a young athlete who won’t let circumstances stop her from reaching her dreams. And like millions of others escaping nations ravaged by war, she risks her life for the hope of a better future.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Yasemin Şamdereli with the collaboration of Deka Mohamed Osman

Produced by
Simone Catania, Dietmar Güntsche, Anja Karina Richter, Francesca Portalupi, Michele Fornasero, Martin Rohé, Joseph Rouschop, David Herdies, Riccardo Russo, Christoph Fisser

Starring
llham Mohamed Osman, Fathia Mohamed Absie, Fatah Ghedi, Elmi Rashid Elmi, Waris Dirie, Riyan Roble, Zakaria Mohamed, Kaltuma Mohamed Abdi, Mohamed Abdullahi Omar, Amina Mohamed Ahmed, Shukri Hassan, Armaan Haggio

North American Premiere

Some Rain Must Fall

Feature | China, United States, France, Singapore | 98 MINUTES | Mandarin | English subtitles
Drama

Cai is a mother and housewife who thought having a family was everything. When she inadvertently injures the grandmother of one of her teen daughter’s less privileged teammates, her supposedly perfect life descends into a menacing chaos and she starts to question everything about who she is and what she wants.

Writer and director Qiu Yang follows a series of award-winning shorts with this intimate debut feature. Slipping mystery and miasma into an existential exploration of what happens when a woman, longing for something more, throws a wrecking ball into her world, he questions not only what is class and what is family, but what is self?––Simone Ling

Directed by
Qiu Yang

Produced by
Jeremy Chua, Mike Goodridge, Alex C. Lo, Mélissa Malinbaum, Lin Fan, Darcy Xi Wang

Starring
Yu Aier, Di Shike, Wei Yibo, Xu Tianyi, Gu Tingxiu, Qin Dan, Xu Yun

North American Premiere

Swimming Home

Feature | Brazil, Greece, Netherlands, UK | 99 MINUTES | English
Drama

When Isabel (Mackenzie Davis) and Joe (Christopher Abbott) arrive at the villa where they’re set to spend their holiday, they find a naked stranger swimming in their pool. She says she knows the pool boy; impulsively, Isabel asks her to stay. It’s an unusual move, but Isabel and Joe are unconventional people — she’s a war correspondent and he’s a poet, and both are committed to living lives of artistic integrity and freedom. Their unstable peace is shattered by the arrival of Kitti (Ariane Labed), the naked stranger in question, whose earthy manners and unaffected honesty expose subtle fissures in Isabel and Joe’s marriage.

Director Justin Anderson shoots the film version of Deborah Levy’s celebrated novel in warm shades of yellow, clay and dusty teal, adding a thick, sunbaked atmosphere to an already sexy, languid tale. Set on an unnamed Mediterranean island, this artfully made, enigmatic dance between Eros and Thanatos is set to the organic sounds of singing bowls and wooden blocks on Greek composer Coti K’s score.––Frederic Boyer

Directed by
Justin Anderson

Produced by
Emily Morgan, Andy Starke, Giorgos Karnavas, Marcos Tellechea, Paula Linhares

Starring
Christopher Abbott, Mackenzie Davis, Ariane Labed, Nadine Labaki, Freya Hannan-Mills

WORLD PREMIERE

Under The Grey Sky

Feature | Poland | 81 MINUTES | Belarusian, Russian | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Politics, Biography, Journalism, Narrative

When anti-regime journalist Lena (Aliaksandra Vaitsekhovich) is arrested for livestreaming the brutal crackdown of a demonstration protesting the 2020 Belarusian election, her husband Ilya (Valentin Novopolskij) is confronted with an impossible situation. Subjected to further police raids and facing the likely reality that his wife will spend years in prison, Ilya must reckon with what he might have to give up by standing with Lena. At the same time, an incarcerated Lena is under pressure from the authorities to renounce her activism and betray her firmly held principles.

Mara Tamkovich’s debut feature paints a chilling picture of political repression in the 21st century, when access to the internet, drones and social media have become entwined with public life. Inspired by the true story of Katsyaryna Andreeva and Igor Ilyash, Under the Grey Sky unflinchingly depicts the personal toll political activism can take while still being a vital reminder of its ultimate necessity. It’s a film specific to Belarus, but with increasing international relevance.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Mara Tamkovich

Produced by
Katarzyna Ocioszynska

Starring
Aliaksandra Vaitsekhovich, Valentin Novopolskij

WORLD PREMIERE

Antidote

Feature | UK | 89 MINUTES | Bulgarian, English, Russian | English subtitles
New York, Thriller, Mystery, Journalism

What price do you pay for being on Vladimir Putin’s “hit list”? The answer to this troubling question is presented in unsettling fashion in the urgent Antidote, which anchors its riveting narrative on several committed and brave individuals who put their livelihoods on the line in order to expose and disrupt Putin’s murderous tactics.

James Jones’ intimate and assertive lens follows three individuals on the frontlines of this campaign against repression and violence: a whistleblower from inside Russia’s “poison program” as he attempts to flee the country, a leading political activist who was poisoned twice and is now accused of treason, and a man who leads the charge on revealing Putin’s criminal network and, as a result, is forced to go into hiding himself.

Anchored by kinetic storytelling and a determined clarity of purpose, Antidote throws into stark relief the deadly consequences and ramifications of Putin’s schemes and fearlessly foregrounds individuals willing to lose it all in the name of justice and accountability.––Jose Rodriguez

Directed by
James Jones

Produced by
James Jones

WORLD PREMIERE

Bad Actor: A Hollywood Ponzi Scheme

Feature | United States | 87 MINUTES | English
Documentary

How easy is it to be deceived? In this riveting documentary, the shocking story of D-List action “star” Zachary Horwitz unfolds as his arrest by the FBI in 2021 reveals his so-called movie career was actually facilitating a massive Ponzi scheme- or was it the other way around? Through interviews, victim testimonies, and a wealth of choice clips from Horwitz’s dubious filmography, Bad Actor: A Hollywood Ponzi Scheme delves into the world of this industry hanger-on, exposing the allure of the glitz and glamor that ensnared both Horwitz and his victims.

With shocking revelations at every turn, the film questions the fabric of the entertainment business, where a fake it till you make it mentality blurs the lines between reality and facade in the cutthroat pursuit of success. It explores the vulnerability of investors who fell prey to Horwitz’s charm and the industry’s willingness to ignore red flags. Brace yourself for a gripping tale of ambition, deceit, and the high stakes of making it in the biz, as the film unravels the truth behind one of the most audacious frauds in Hollywood history.––Cara Cusumano

Directed by
Joslyn Jensen

Produced by
Ted Speaker, Dan O’Meara, Matthew Cherchio

WORLD PREMIERE

Checkpoint Zoo

Feature | United States, Ukraine | 103 MINUTES | English, Russian, Ukrainian | English subtitles
Drama

In the early days of the Ukraine-Russian war, the Feldman Ecopark, a beloved animal refuge in Ukraine’s second largest city, found itself caught in the crossfire. With the invading Russian army on one side and the Ukrainian front line on the other, thousands of animals were left trapped with little food and water. Against all odds, a courageous team of zookeepers and volunteers risked their lives to embark on a seemingly impossible mission: bringing these innocent creatures to safety.

Set against the unique backdrop of the Ukraine war, Checkpoint Zoo offers a fresh perspective on the unintended victims of human conflict. Through the eyes of these trapped animals, the film examines the heartbreaking consequences of war while celebrating the extraordinary bravery and compassion of those who fought to save them. With gripping interviews and powerful footage captured by the participants themselves, this documentary sheds light on an often overlooked aspect of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, reminding us of the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to abandon hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Joshua Zeman

Produced by
Joshua Zeman, Zachary Mortensen, Ian Davies, Torquil Jones

Starring
Oleksandr Feldman, Vadym Vorotynskyy, Vitalii Ilchenko, Svitlana Vyshnevetska, Andrii Tyvaniuk, Vitalii Sevelin

WORLD PREMIERE

The Debutantes

Feature | United States | 96 MINUTES | English
Women, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

Following a decades long absence, a new group of Black debutantes dawn on Canton, Ohio, where an intergenerational group of women and girls seek to bring a new source of vibrant energy to the forgotten tradition of the debutante ball. Preparing for the event takes herculean efforts, as waltz and etiquette classes become key for all involved — not to mention the need for escorts to the delightful affair — and traditions and contemporary political ideals come to a head. The elegant white dresses that signify the pristine nature of the event cannot mask the concerns of elitism, colorism and classism tied to the ball’s legacy. What does all of this mean for the young ladies taking the next step into adulthood?

A coming-of-age story rooted in challenging the institutions that formed the bedrock of social standing, while also celebrating their unique import of bridging communal bonds, director Contessa Gayles crafts a delicate portrait of a bygone moment against a modern backdrop. Unearthing questions of performative action and conformity, the film gives voice to a bold new perspective on the clash between the joys of childhood and the realities of forging a new path personally and collectively.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Contessa Gayles

Produced by
Contessa Gayles, Alyse Shorland, Jannat Gargi, Molly O’Brien, Aya Sloan

Starring
Dedra Robbins, Amelia Boles, Teylar Bradley

WORLD PREMIERE

DRIVER

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Women, Documentary, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Politics

Desiree Wood has been to hell and back. A former stripper who lost everything, she now has a second lease on life as a long-haul truck driver. By establishing the organization “REAL Women In Trucking,” Desiree has amassed an irreverent coalition of women drivers to advocate for an equitable and fair quality of life on the road, and ensure the welfare of women drivers within their male-dominated profession. While this line of work brings socially-precarious circumstances and solitude, these women undertake their jobs with an air of gallows humor and steely commitment to their work. However, as the American labor landscape continues to deteriorate and industry forces continue to be stacked against drivers deemed as replaceable, Desiree (alongside the sisterhood of truckers) struggles to find a sustainable path forward at the risk of losing it all once more.

Nesa Azimi’s soulful and contemplative DRIVER follows Desiree as she strives to leave her tumultuous past behind and navigate toward a more hopeful and stable future. Azimi implements honesty and grounded reality in her storytelling — all while keeping these women’s agency and determination intact. Through this intimate approach, DRIVER becomes a microcosm of the broken-down but resolute American labor force and investigates this sensitive topic with understated yet deeply felt, empathetic filmmaking.––Jose Rodriguez

Directed by
Nesa Azimi

Produced by
Nesa Azimi, Ines Hofmann Kanna, Nicolas Borel

Starring
Desiree Wood, Michelle Kitchin, Idella Hansen, Debbie (Dingo) Desiderato, Jess Graham, Brita Nowak

WORLD PREMIERE

Hacking Hate

Feature | Sweden, Denmark, Norway | 86 MINUTES | English, Norwegian, Swedish | English subtitles
Documentary, Politics, Journalism

My Vingren is a well-regarded and award-winning Swedish journalist. Deemed by the media as “the real life ‘Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,’” she is known for her in-depth investigations, especially into white supremacist networks. However, her latest journalistic pursuit is about to bring her into considerably dangerous territory. With the use of a fake profile, Vingren dives deep undercover online as a white supremacist and begins to thread together the extreme right’s campaigns to recruit and influence individuals, radicalizing them into a discourse of hate speech and xenophobia. But her ambitious embedded approach comes at a price.

My’s meticulous investigation eventually leads her to Anika Collier Navaroli, the instrumental whistleblower at X (formerly Twitter) who initially kicked Donald Trump off of the platform, and to Imran Ahmed, a researcher who was sued by Elon Musk for exposing the hate speech culture on X. Together, My, Anika and Imran determine the ways that tech companies can be held accountable and how white supremacy and its violent tendencies can be disrupted forever.

Hacking Hate’s no-holds-barred approach soberingly uncovers the epidemic of hate that manifests itself online (as well as in plain sight) and starkly highlights the vulnerability of democracy.––Jose Rodriguez

Directed by
Simon Klose

Produced by
Andreas Dalsgaard, Michael Haslund-Christensen, Gudmundur Gunnarsson, Kari Anne Moe

Starring
My Vingren, Anika Collier Navaroli, Imran Ahmed

WORLD PREMIERE

Made in Ethiopia

Feature | United States, Ethiopia, Denmark, UK, Canada, Korea, Republic of | 91 MINUTES | Amharic, English, Mandarin, Oromo | English subtitles
Documentary, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

Made in Ethiopia examines the growing industrialization taking place in present-day Ethiopia and China’s often misunderstood, growing impact in Africa. Filmed over four years with unprecedented access, the story takes viewers to a dusty farming town in Ethiopia as a Chinese industrial park begins to take shape. The film follows three women, perhaps most affected: the Chinese factory director who must muster up strength to fulfill the promise of expansion and 30,000 jobs, a factory worker, and a local farmer, all who look to the success of the development for their future prosperity.

This is a nuanced tale, exploring the lives built on a vanishing countryside and the contrasting industrial megaplex that represents progress and profit. It’s an examination of the relationship between tradition and modernity, what progress means for the well-being of a country and its people, and an intimate look at its effect on individual lives.––Deborah Rudolph

Directed by
Max Duncan and Xinyan Yu

Produced by
Tamara Dawit, Xinyan Yu, Max Duncan

WORLD PREMIERE

New Wave

Feature | United States | 88 MINUTES | English, Vietnamese | English subtitles
Documentary, Music

It’s a late evening in 2019. Elizabeth Ai, a Vietnamese American filmmaker, exuberantly hangs out with friends outside of a nightclub. As Elizabeth enters with her cohort, her soft-spoken narration reveals her current purpose: “I just had a baby six months ago – and there I was, at a club…chasing a story.” This is the onset of Elizabeth’s feisty exploration into her Vietnamese music culture – specifically, her examination of “new wave” – the popular 80’s musical phenomenon that featured Vietnamese artists/singers with big hairstyles, defiant attitudes and joyful, infectious vibes. Elizabeth was swept up by the vivacious “new wave” throughout her childhood, while being raised by her aunt Myra amidst a strained relationship with her mother. Now as a new mother, Elizabeth links up with “new wave” stalwarts like singer Lynda Trang Đài and Ian “DJ BPM” Nguyen to further reflect on the nostalgia & kitsch of “new wave” – from the boisterous apex of this phenomenon to its struggles when idiosyncratic artists sought inclusion in the wider American pop culture scene.

Ai’s commanding exploration of cultural identity and community resilience makes for an intimate, emotionally-attuned watch. Bolstered by a treasure trove of archival footage of irreverent musical performances (with big hairstyles galore), New Wave is ultimately a love letter to a determined community striving for acceptance.––Jose Rodriguez

Directed by
Elizabeth Ai

Produced by
Elizabeth Ai, Rachel Sine

Starring
Lynda Trang Đài, Ian Nguyen, Elizabeth Ai

WORLD PREMIERE

Pirópolis

Feature | Chile | 73 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Documentary

Valparaíso, Chile. A swath of trees sway in the distance with the passing wind as smoke billows and hovers over the trees — then the smoke quickly turns a shade of orange. In one immediate moment, wildfires erupt around the trees, quickly and aggressively escalating the precarious condition in the Chilean wilderness.

These are the challenges and dangerous circumstances that the volunteer fire brigade in the port city of Valparaíso frequently find themselves in. They’re aided in these struggles by a French fire brigade that arrives in Valparaíso to train — and instill methodology to — their Chilean counterparts. A warm and hospitable camaraderie is fostered between the Chilean and French firefighters as the country’s leaders and citizenry brace for the drafting of a new Constitution to repudiate the remnants of the pro-Pinochet dictatorship. Soon, civil unrest erupts on the streets, and, in parallel fashion, the wildfires quickly escalate around the city, disastrously impacting rural communities and neighborhoods. The brigades’ unified collective action must be implemented to effectively combat the ferocious flames.

Nicolás Molina’s Pirópolis is a visually-stunning masterwork. With an impressive visual language and a patient observational approach to capturing these volatile circumstances, the film potently foregrounds the power of community — as well as the unpredictable nature of our climate crisis.––Jose Rodriguez

Directed by
Nicolás Molina

Produced by
Joséphine Schroeder, Francisca Barraza

WORLD PREMIERE

Quad Gods

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English
New York, Documentary, Disability, Sports, Technology, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

Richard, Blake and Prentice are three New York men with quadriplegia who meet at a Mount Sinai neurological rehabilitation center and later decide to form the first all quadriplegic esports gaming team, calling themselves the Quad Gods. Utilizing adaptive devices to help them access gaming technology, the Quad Gods quickly become fierce competitors while forming a close bond of friendship and support. But gaming is more than just a hobby for them — it’s actually part of a cutting edge neurological rehab process that helps engage the brain in new ways as part of their recovery.

This impressive feature film debut from filmmaker Jess Jacklin (and Executive Produced by the Academy Award-nominated filmmaking team of Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing) paints a vivid portrait of this tenacious team as they recalibrate their sense of identity while navigating New York City and the barriers of ableism they encounter on a daily basis. Providing a unique lens into both gaming and disability, this captivating story challenges assumptions and spotlights the restorative power of resilience, passion and found community.––Andrea Passafiume

Directed by
Jess Jacklin

Produced by
Johnny Fego, Jess Jacklin

WORLD PREMIERE

Sabbath Queen

Feature | United States | 105 MINUTES | English, Hebrew, Yiddish | English subtitles
New York, Animation, Documentary, LGBTQIA+, Politics, Biography

Filmed over 21 years, Sabbath Queen follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie’s journey as the heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis who is torn between accepting his ancestral destiny or becoming a drag queen rebel. In addition to his drag persona, Lau-Lavie is a queer bio-dad and the founder of Lab/Shul: an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation. With incredible access, award-winning director Sandi DuBowski (Trembling Before G_D, Sundance 2001) joins Rabbi Amichai on a life journey and cinematic quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion and ritual while challenging gender norms in a rapidly changing 21st century.––Dan Hunt

Directed by
Sandi DuBowski

Produced by
Sandi DuBowski

WORLD PREMIERE

Shelf Life

Feature | United States | 76 MINUTES | Arabic, English, French, Georgian, Japanese | English subtitles
Documentary, Environmental

Prepare to embark on a captivating culinary and philosophical journey in Shelf Life, the latest documentary from Tribeca alum Ian Cheney (The Search for General Tso). This quirky and contemplative film takes us on a global odyssey into the world of cheese, drawing unexpected parallels between the aging process of this beloved food and the human experience of growing old. From the passionate cheesemakers in Japan to the knowledgeable mongers in Tbilisi, Cheney introduces us to a colorful cast of characters who share their unique perspectives on decay, dissolution and the art of crafting the perfect cheese.

Beautifully shot and gently paced, Shelf Life offers a sensory delight that will leave you craving a taste of the world’s finest cheeses while pondering the more profound questions of life and mortality. Through odd visual meditations and darkly comedic flourishes, Cheney masterfully weaves a charming and haunting narrative, inviting viewers to savor the complexities of aging in all its forms. This delectable documentary is a must-see for food enthusiasts and anyone seeking a fresh, thought-provoking cinematic experience.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Ian Cheney

Produced by
Meredith DeSalazar, Rebecca Taylor, Manette Pottle

WORLD PREMIERE

All That We Love

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Narrative

Following the death of her family dog, Emma (Margaret Cho) finds herself at a crossroads where grief and release play together: a midlife awakening is now in full throttle, and those closest to Emma feel the impact, including her best friend Stan (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and her rambunctious daughter Maggie (Alice Lee). To make matters more complicated and ripe for comedic mishaps, Emma’s estranged ex-husband Andy (Kenneth Choi) returns to the city from Singapore down on his professional luck and aiming to rekindle things with his lost love.

In this heartfelt comedy, Yen Tan deftly balances the act of letting go with the ups and downs of grief, creating a film that is both emotionally resonant and refreshingly light-hearted. The characters, particularly Emma and Stan, are grounded and relatable, making their journey all the more engaging. While the film doesn’t shy away from life’s challenges, it ultimately celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the power of laughter in the face of adversity. Cho’s performance carries the film’s lessons forward, reminding us all to embrace life’s changes with grace and a healthy dose of humor.––Casey Baron

All That We Love will be preceded by the short Oh, Christmas Tree.

Directed by
Yen Tan

Produced by
Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams, Rebecca Green, Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page

Starring
Margaret Cho, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kenneth Choi, Alice Lee, Atsuko Okatsuka, Missi Pyle, Devon Bostick

WORLD PREMIERE

Bad Shabbos

Feature | United States | 84 MINUTES | English
New York, Comedy

When two couples, Abby and Benjamin, and David and recently-converted-to-Judaism Meg, return home for Shabbat dinner, an unexpected shadow looms over their night — an accidental death (or is it murder?) threatens to unravel the whole evening. Over the course of one night during this anything-but-typical New York City shabbos, their family get-together takes a turn for the worse…

Bad Shabbos takes the one-night-in-New-York story and spins from it a cast of characters, each more hilarious and specific than the next. Kyra Sedgwick kills (not literally) as the neurotic matriarch, and unexpected performances by Method Man, Catherine Curtin, and other familiar faces forge a brilliant ensemble that hits on pure comedic gold.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Daniel Robbins

Produced by
Adam Mitchell

Starring
Kyra Sedgwick, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Jon Bass, Milana Vayntrub, David Paymer, Meghan Leathers

WORLD PREMIERE

Bang Bang

Feature | United States | 103 MINUTES | English
Drama

Back in his glory days, Bernard Rozyski, better known as “Bang Bang,” was a beloved prizefighter boxer riding high on his success. These days he’s angry and closed off, living in his grungy house in a blue-collar Detroit neighborhood. When Bang Bang’s estranged daughter unexpectedly drops her troublemaking teenage son off at his doorstep, it gives the bitter old man a chance at personal redemption as he trains the potential-laden kid in the ring. Problems arise when the former champ’s past demons have other plans, forcing Bang Bang to confront everything he’s tried so hard to suppress.

Anchored by an excellent and complex performance from Tim Blake Nelson, Vincent Grashaw’s Bang Bang takes tried-and-true sports film tropes and revitalizes them with raw honesty, muscular grit and a sharp sense of humor. For all of his flaws and self-loathing, Nelson’s anti-hero of a character makes it impossible for you to want to see him lose, a testament to the film’s underlying power.––Matt Barone

Directed by
Vincent Grashaw

Produced by
Ran Namerode, Angelia Adzic, Cole Payne, Vincent Grashaw, Will Janowitz

Starring
Tim Blake Nelson, Glenn Plummer, Kevin Corrigan, Andrew Liner, Nina Arianda, Daniella Pineda, Erica Gimpel

New York Premiere

Between the Temples

Feature | United States | 111 MINUTES | English
Comedy

In Tribeca alum Nathan Silver’s hilariously frenetic Between the Temples, we are treated to a host of genius-level comedic performances by the likes of Jason Schwartzman, Carol Kane, Robert Smigel and Dolly De Leon. Nathan Silver and C. Mason Wells’ brilliantly written script is the ultimate vehicle for this pitch-perfect ensemble to lovingly needle the conventions of religion, family and relationships.

Ben (Schwartzman), a young widower reeling from the sudden death of his wife, lives at home with his meddling mothers who not-so-subtly push him to start dipping a toe back into the dating scene. As a cantor at the local synagogue, suddenly a sense of purpose and unexpected connection shows up in the form of Carla (Kane), his septuagenarian elementary school music teacher who yearns to become a bat mitzvah. While he initially balks at the idea, Carla’s off-kilter yet refreshing takes on the world prove to be the shake-up he needs to start participating in his own life. Their work studying Torah morphs into a friendship that begins to bleed into the personal as they find surprising solace in each other’s presence.––Liza Domnitz

Directed by
Nathan Silver

Produced by
Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Nate Kamiya, Adam Kersh, Taylor Hess

Starring
Jason Schwartzman, Carol Kane, Caroline Aaron, Robert Smigel, Dolly De Leon, Madeline Weinstein, Matthew Shear

North American Premiere

CROSSING

Feature | Sweden, Denmark, Georgia, Turkey, France | 105 MINUTES | English, Georgian, Turkish | English subtitles
Drama, LGBTQIA+

For Lia, a world-weary former schoolteacher, the intersection of promises and real life events has put her squarely in a precarious position: she’s made a pact to fulfill her recently deceased sister’s last wish — to find her long lost daughter Tekla. Together with Tekla’s former neighbor, an out-of-luck young man called Achi, they navigate Istanbul together in search of her niece. But she soon meets Evrim, a lawyer fighting for trans rights, and becomes embraced by the local trans community.

Packing a punch from beginning to end, director Levan Akin pieces together a compelling narrative of self-discovery and desired reconciliation among family that endears as much as it excites. Through stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack, Levan brings the vibrant culture of Istanbul to life, showcasing the city’s complex mix of darkness and beauty.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Levan Akin

Produced by
Mathilde Dedye

Starring
Mzia Arabuli, Lucas Kankava, Deniz Dumanli

New York Premiere

DADDIO

Feature | United States | 101 MINUTES | English
Drama

On a late night drive from JFK Airport to Midtown Manhattan, a young woman (Dakota Johnson) and her cab driver (Sean Penn) start talking. The usual pleasantries and jokes soon turn into a game between the two strangers as they exchange stories about important people in their lives. As their conversation unravels, secrets are revealed, advice is shared and a genuine bond is forged. At times funny, sexy, tense and deeply heartfelt, this chance encounter impacts both in ways neither could’ve ever imagined.

Christy Hall’s directorial debut manages to achieve the impossible: turning what could have been a mundane trek through traffic into a propulsive and remarkably real ode to human connection in an increasingly isolated world. Hall’s screenplay bursts with authenticity and emotion, refusing to sugarcoat the complexity of either character while making the most of every moment. Anchored by two extraordinary performances from Johnson and Penn, Daddio is a one-of-a-kind odyssey that beautifully honors New York City and the people who call it home.––Cyrus Cohen

Directed by
Christy Hall

Produced by
Dakota Johnson, Ro Donnelly, p.g.a., Emma Tillinger Koskoff, p.g.a., Christy Hall, p.g.a., Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis, Terry Dougas, p.g.a.

Starring
Dakota Johnson, Sean Penn

World Premiere

THE DAMNED

Feature | UK, Iceland, Ireland, Belgium | 89 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Horror

In this atmospheric period drama set in the 19th century, Eva, a young widow, faces an impossible choice when a ship sinks off the coast of her isolated fishing village during a cruel winter. With their food supplies dwindling, Eva and her town must decide whether to rescue the shipwrecked sailors or let them perish to ensure their own survival. As the consequences of their actions begin to manifest, the villagers find themselves grappling with the weight of their decisions and the mounting unease that permeates their close-knit community.

Icelandic writer/director Thordur Palsson, known for his work on The Valhalla Murders, delivers an impressive debut feature that combines stunning visuals, haunting sound design and strong performances from its ensemble cast. Drawing inspiration from classic Hollywood tales and modern morality plays, Palsson crafts a thought-provoking story that explores the complexities of human nature and the disintegration of societal bonds in the face of adversity. With its captivating atmosphere and timeless themes, this film is a must-see for fans of intelligent, well-crafted cinema that delves into the depths of the human experience.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Thordur Palsson

Produced by
Emilie Jouffroy, Kamilla Kristiane Hodøl, John Keville, Conor Barry, Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Nate Kamiya

Starring
Odessa Young, Joe Cole

WORLD PREMIERE

THE EVERYTHING POT

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy, Drama, Romance

A comedy of errors ensues when empty nester Rachel (Lisa Edelstein) hastily sends a gift to Charlie (James Wolk), a former colleague, upon receiving his wedding invitation. The young couple’s wedding gets Rachel out of her perpetual state of ennui in her own marriage and brings unexpected excitement that inadvertently causes speculation of infidelity. As one domino falls after another, cracks begin to show in their respective relationships especially while Rachel’s husband Adam (Erik Griffin) becomes obsessed with getting back their wedding gift: The Everything Pot.

In her feature debut, writer/director Sherise Dorf offers a hilarious send-up of modern marriage and all of its trials and tribulations. One innocent gift becomes a Pandora’s box for unleashing deep-seated emotions that are both absurdly funny and highly relatable all cooked up in one deliciously messy pot. Gina Torres and Delaney Rowe are also featured in the ensemble cast that truly shines, led by a radiant Lisa Edelstein as a married woman finding her luster again.––Matt Dy

Directed by
Sherise Dorf

Produced by
Callie Bloem, Sherise Dorf, Lisa Edelstein, Christopher J. Ewing, Sean Patrick Kelly, Emily Sheehan, James Wolk

Starring
Lisa Edelstein, James Wolk, Gina Torres, Erik Griffin, Delaney Rowe, Deja Monique Cruz

North American Premiere

FIREBRAND

Feature | UK, United States | 120 MINUTES | English
Drama

In the final months of King Henry VIII’s (Jude Law) reign, his sixth wife, Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander), navigates the treacherous waters of the Tudor court. As a champion of radical change, Parr’s progressive beliefs and courage put her at odds with the ailing and increasingly paranoid monarch. When Henry appoints her as Regent during his absence, Parr’s newfound power threatens the courtiers who scheme against her, casting doubt on her fidelity to the King.

Firebrand is a compelling historical drama that sheds light on the often overlooked story of Katherine Parr. Alicia Vikander delivers a nuanced performance as the intelligent and determined Queen, while Jude Law’s portrayal of the volatile Henry VIII is a scene-stealing highlight. With sumptuous visuals, a taut script and a talented supporting cast, including Simon Russell Beale, Eddie Marsan and Sam Riley, director Karim Aïnouz crafts a gripping tale of ambition, survival and the struggle for power in a world that sees no value in an intelligent woman.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Karim Ainouz

Produced by
Carolyn Marks Blackwood, Gabrielle Tana

Starring
Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Eddie Marsan, Sam Riley, Erin Doherty, Simon Russell Beale

WORLD PREMIERE

Hannah Einbinder:
Everything Must Go

Feature | United States | 60 MINUTES | English
Comedy, LGBTQIA+

Actress, comedian, and star of Max’s Emmy®-winning Hacks Hannah Einbinder takes the stage at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre for her first stand-up special. Holding a rapt audience in the palm of her hand, Einbinder debuts a variety of characters including the sun, moon, and earth – and shares hilariously formative stories from throughout her life, including the lengths her parents went to for a son (only to have her instead), her failed attempts at meditation, and the divine intervention experienced at her grandmother’s funeral. The comedian also gets candid about being queer, her faith, climate change, and her stoner roots in this unpredictable and highly funny debut hour.

Directed by
Sandy Honig

Executive Produced by
Hannah Einbinder, Sandy Honig, Dave Kneebone, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Janel Kranking, Ethan Stern, and David Miner

Starring
Hannah Einbinder

New York Premiere

IN THE SUMMERS

Feature | United States | 95 MINUTES | English, Spanish
Drama, LGBTQIA+, Latinx/Latin American

Two sisters grapple with their relationship with their well-meaning but troubled father during their summer visits to his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico. 

Told in four snapshots spanning two decades, Alessandra Lacorazza’s directorial debut is a quietly powerful look at the fragile mosaic that underlies the relationship between parent and child. The cracks in the seams that get ignored, the events that shatter the relationship and, ultimately, the attempts to put it back together again, never quite the same. The film is anchored by a heartrending performance from René Pérez Joglar (also known by his musical moniker Residente) as the affable but deeply troubled Vicente who struggles with inner demons that keep him from fully connecting with his daughters. The sisters Violeta and Eva are presented by three sets of actresses, including Sasha Calle and Lío Mehiel, who brilliantly embody the growing chasm between their hopes and the reality of their father. The winner of the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, In the Summers is a stunning debut.––Faridah Gbadamosi

Directed by
Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio

Produced by
Alexander Dinelaris, Rob Quadrino, Nando Vila, Lynette Coll, Sergio Lira, Daniel Tantalean, Cynthia Fernandez De La Cruz

Starring
Rene Perez Joglar, Sasha Calle, Lio Mehiel, Leslie Grace

WORLD PREMIERE

LAKE GEORGE

Feature | United States | 118 MINUTES | English
Comedy, Drama

From time to time, extenuating circumstances bring together the unlikeliest of allies. That’s exactly where we find Don (Shea Whigham) and Phyllis (Carrie Coon). Tasked by mobsters with putting an end to Phyllis’ life, Don is unable to pull the trigger, and instead the two set off on a road trip that evolves into something much more. You see, Phyllis has designs of her own and proposes a little tag team action to Don: combine forces with the aim to steal all the money from the people who want her dead. And so their twisted story begins.

A rollicking, comedic neo-noir that pushes both Coon and Whigham to exciting places in their performance, director Jeffrey Reiner plots and schemes an adventure by pulling from some of the best in the genre while also staking a claim for himself. The palpable energy from the two leads will enrapture audiences as the gripping events of the film unfold.––Casey Baron

Lake George will be preceded by the short Officer Stanley

Directed by
Jeffrey Reiner

Produced by
Jeffrey Reiner, Joey Oglesby, Cleta Ellington, Bernie Stern

Starring
Shea Whigham, Carrie Coon, Glenn Fleshler, Max Casella

WORLD PREMIERE

MCVEIGH

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English
Drama

Director Mike Ott puts a microscope onto Timothy McVeigh (Alfie Allen), perpetrator of the single deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history — the Oklahoma City bombing. Over days and nights, McVeigh eats, sleeps, watches the news, meets a girl… all while inside his mind brews an unthinkable plan that will forever change the collective American psyche — one that he loops fellow conspirator Terry Nichols in on (played by a creepily subdued Brett Gelman). An unexpected cast brings these characters to life with a stunningly subtle hand, and the film neither sensationalizes real life events nor gives into the quiet, devastating tension sustained from beginning to end.

Like a bird circling inevitably closer into the tragedy at its center, the film paints around the edges with swift and sparse strokes. What emerges is a deeply unsettling likeness of the American memory.––Cara Cusumano

Directed by
Mike Ott

Produced by
Miles Alva, Nicolaas Bertelsen, Ash Christian, Joe Pirro, Shaum Sengupta, Monte Zajicek

Starring
Alfie Allen, Brett Gelman, Ashley Benson, Anthony Carrigan, Tracy Letts

WORLD PREMIERE

MEMES & NIGHTMARES

Feature | United States | 81 MINUTES | English
Action, Comedy, Documentary, Mystery, Sports, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

The true currency of our digital age isn’t rooted in crypto but instead a person’s ability to fire off a meme funny enough to take the world by storm. For NBA Twitter king Josiah Johnson, his ability to capture a moment from a live game and contextualize it within online shenanigans has garnered him reverence from fans to members of the league itself. But when one of the most popular memes goes missing without a trace, it’s up to Josiah to solve a mystery that goes to the highest levels of the Association and the darkest trenches of Twitter — or X, whatever we’re calling it these days. 

Executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, this extraordinary tale pushes comedic sensibilities into unexpected territory as cultural references and fandom collide. Josiah Johnson leads an odyssey across the country to explore ephemeral media and larger-than-life characters, but also to investigate the dynamics of what these elements mean for our relationships to each other in the digital age.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Charles Todd and Matt Mitchener

Produced by
Sheira Rees-Davies, Brock Williams, Benjamin Wiessner, Lauren Pratt

Starring
Josiah Johnson, Jamel Johnson, Mero, Darius Miles, JR Smith, Jelani McCoy

WORLD PREMIERE

A MISTAKE

Feature | New Zealand | 101 MINUTES | English
Women, Drama

Expert surgeon Elizabeth Taylor (Elizabeth Banks) makes a fateful decision during a routine surgery by allowing her young colleague to take charge of a delicate procedure. When a mistake occurs that can’t be undone, Elizabeth finds herself in a difficult situation, facing the desperate need for answers from the patient’s parents and the hospital’s relentless efforts to protect its reputation. As she tries to shield her colleague and herself from the consequences, the film delves into the ripple effects of a single human error.

Banks delivers a powerful dramatic performance as a surgeon unraveling under the pressure of her split-second decision. Director Christine Jeffs (Sunshine Cleaning) skillfully crafts a tense medical drama that resonates with the universal themes of accountability and the far-reaching consequences of our choices. With its gripping exploration of human fallibility and the search for forgiveness, A Mistake is a thought-provoking film that will leave audiences questioning the fragility of life and the weight of our actions.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Christine Jeffs

Produced by
Matthew Metcalfe, Christine Jeffs

Starring
Elizabeth Banks, Simon McBurney, Mickey Sumner, Rena Owen

WORLD PREMIERE

NUKED

Feature | United States | 86 MINUTES | English
Comedy, Drama

Gill Langer (Pitch Perfect’s Anna Camp), a relationship podcaster, influencer and oversharer, is celebrating her 40th birthday alongside her husband, Jack Langer (The Hangover’s Justin Bartha), an unassuming educator who wants nothing more than for them to conceive a child. Convening at a lavish estate, she throws a cannabis-infused dinner party with some of her closest friends, couples who are also at a crossroads in their relationships. As the night carries on, the high settles in and the insecurities of their respective relationships come to the surface; everyone gets a sudden phone alert that a nuclear missile is headed directly toward them.You’d be surprised what facing your impending death looks like and how weed, surprisingly, may not be your best ally in this scenario.

Director Deena Kashper’s comedy provides clever observations through whimsical, quirky episodes that satirize the millennial mindsets on modern relationships and potential parenthood. With a winning cast including Lucy Punch (Into the Woods), George Young (Falling for Christmas), Ignacio Serricchio (Lost in Space), Tawny Newsome (Space Force), Natasha Leggero (First Time Female Director), Maulik Pancholy (30 Rock) and Stephen Guarino (Happy Endings), Nuked will bring laughter, discomfort and introspection to audiences.––Nora Bernard

Directed by
Deena Kashper

Produced by
Deena Kashper, Daryl Freimark, Julie Christeas

Starring
Justin Bartha, Anna Camp, Lucy Punch, George Young, Tawny Newsome, Ignacio Serricchio, Maulik Pancholy, Stephen Guarino, Natasha Leggero, Cole Stockel

WORLD PREMIERE

The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write about a Serial Killer

Feature | United States | 102 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Comedy, Drama

In this darkly comedic tale, a struggling writer (John Magaro) finds his life taking a bizarre turn when he befriends a retired serial killer (Steve Buscemi) who becomes his unlikely marriage counselor and muse. As the writer grapples with his second novel and a crumbling marriage to his disillusioned wife (Britt Lower), the former killer reluctantly offers guidance on both matters, leading to a series of twists and turns that blur the lines between reality and fiction.

With a talented cast delivering engaging performances, this film offers a fresh take on familiar tropes and subverts expectations of both the comedy and serial killer genres.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Tolga Karacelik

Produced by
Scott Aharoni, Sinan Eczacibasi, Alihan Yalcindag, Wren Arthur, Steve Buscemi, Alex Peace Power, Mustafa Kaymak, Tolga Karacelik

Starring
Steve Buscemi, John Magaro, Britt Lower

International Premiere

TREASURE

Feature | Germany, France, Poland | 112 MINUTES | English
Drama

Father and daughter reunite, reconcile and chart a course for Poland in what becomes a fascinating study of father-daughter relationships. Ruth (Lena Dunham), a neurotic businesswoman from New York, takes her father Edek (Stephen Fry), a charmingly stubborn Holocaust survivor, on a journey to his family home. While Ruth’s fascination with delving into the past provides roads to conquer her own demons, Edek’s hesitation to confront his past is fueled by nightmares and a fear that persists beneath his brave facade.

Directed by Julia von Heinz and based on the best-selling autobiographical novel Too Many Men by Lily Brett, Fry and Dunham challenge each other to reach stunning heights as their characters unpack generational trauma and find solace in vices. The balancing act between pulsating drama and earnest familial comedy makes for scenes with deep, personal resonance that taps into something discernible within all of us.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Julia von Heinz

Produced by
Fabian Gasmia, Julia Von Heinz, Lena Dunham

Starring
Lena Dunham, Stephen Fry, Zbigniew Zamachowski

WORLD PREMIERE

THE WASP

Feature | UK | 96 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Drama, Thriller, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

In this taut, twisty psychological thriller, estranged friends Heather (Natalie Dormer) and Carla (Naomie Harris) reunite over tea, only to unveil a dangerous and deceptive plot that will irrevocably alter their lives. As the two navigate a web of secrets and hidden agendas, the true nature of their meeting slowly comes to light, revealing a shocking and perilous reality that neither could have anticipated.

The Wasp showcases the immense talent of its lead actresses, with Dormer and Harris delivering captivating, nuanced performances that anchor the film’s intense narrative. The cleverly plotted story, adapted from a play, unfolds primarily within the confines of a single room, creating an intimate and claustrophobic atmosphere that amplifies the mounting tension. The expertly crafted twists and turns keep viewers on the edge of their seats, making The Wasp a must-see for fans of gripping, character-driven thrillers.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Guillem Morales

Produced by
Maxime Cottray, Nate Bolotin, Sean Sorensen, Matthew B. Schmidt, Leonora Darby, James Harris

Starring
Naomie Harris, Natalie Dormer, Dominic Allburn

WORLD PREMIERE

Winter Spring Summer or Fall

Feature | United States | 97 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance

Following a chance encounter, wunderkind Remy (Jenna Ortega) and music-obsessed slacker Barnes (Percy Hynes White) become inexorably entwined in each other’s lives. As winter turns to spring and spring turns to summer, the two find themselves falling in love. But with Remy heading to Harvard in the fall, the young couple are forced to reevaluate what’s truly important to them.

Courtesy of seasoned rom-com screenwriter Tiffany Paulsen, Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a Gen Z love story brimming with charm that will tug on the heartstrings regardless of age. Loaded with classic tropes like the meet cute, prom and, of course, that climactic sprint, Paulsen’s film is a reminder why these stories endure over the years and why audiences keep coming back for more. The two lead performances from Ortega and Hynes White bring to mind Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise with a generous helping of YA fizz.––Cara Cusumano

Directed by
Tiffany Paulsen

Produced by
Brad Krevoy, Josh Shader, David Wulf

Starring
Jenna Ortega, Percy Hynes-White, Marisol Nichols, Adam Rodriguez, Elias Kacavas, Evangeline Barrosse

WORLD PREMIERE

AMERICA’S BURNING

Feature | United States | 83 MINUTES | English
Documentary, Politics

Acclaimed macroeconomist David Smick has a big answer to the question of America’s seemingly unbridgeable political divide: the economy. From the disappearing middle class to the corporate elite disenfranchising our political decision-making, Smick is concerned that the current state of economic affairs may just be urgent enough to sound the warning shots of a second civil war. Delving into the economic disparities fuelling a profound political schism throughout the nation, this documentary offers electrifying insight from both ends of the political spectrum.

Narrated by Michael Douglas, Executive Produced by Barry Levinson and Douglas, and featuring a diverse mosaic of expert voices including James Carville, Leon Panetta, and Hank Newsome, America’s Burning offers a piercing imperative for greater empathy across the economic gap, ultimately offering an optimistic take on the possibility for reconciliation across American democracy.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
David Smick

Produced by
Ian Michaels

Starring
Michael Douglas, James Carville, Ian Bremmer, Leon Panetta, James Baker, Amy Chua, Katherine Gehl, Arthur Brooks, Hawk Newsome, Derek Black, Gilda Alegria, Stan Druckenmiller, Larry Summers

WORLD PREMIERE

AVICII: I’M TIM

Feature | Sweden, United States | 125 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Documentary, Music, Biography

In 2011, Avicii took the world by storm with his groundbreaking hits, setting records and captivating audiences with his infectious electronic dance music. Tim Bergling’s unlikely story is handled with passion and understanding in this film directed by 2020 Tribeca alum Henrik Burman (Yung Lean: In My Head), diving deep into Avicii’s meteoric rise to fame. Through never-before-seen tour footage and behind-the-scenes glimpses of his creative process, viewers are immersed in the high-energy world of EDM and the massive concerts that became synonymous with Avicii’s name. 

The film honors his brilliant and peaceful nature, highlighting the impact of his innovative music that blended genres and pushed boundaries. While fans and family still mourn his passing, Avicii’s legacy lives on through his irreducible imprint on the industry and music lovers worldwide. Interviews with fellow artists, friends, and family, along with narration provided by Tim’s own voice, add an extraordinary layer to the film as we get to know the man behind the music.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Henrik Burman

Produced by
Björn Tjärnberg

Starring
Tim “Avicii” Bergling, Chris Martin, David Guetta, Nile Rodgers, Arash “Ash” Pournouri, Aloe Blacc

WORLD PREMIERE

BLACK TABLE

Feature | United States | 93 MINUTES | English
Documentary, Politics, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

The Commons Dining Hall is undoubtedly one of the images that comes to mind when one thinks of Yale College—a place to eat, hang out and mix. For the Yale students of the 1990s, a group of heavy tables hastily pushed together in the dining hall became known as the Black Table.

The class of 1994 was the largest class of Black students at Yale in the 1990s, and with them came a new generation of students who would navigate the hallowed halls of the Ivy League institution and confront the many ways it was not fully prepared for them. With that in mind, the Black Table became their refuge, an attempt to carve out space of their own. Directors John James and Bill Mack construct a thoughtful documentary that tells the story of these students through the story of this table, a created environment that provided an outlet for scholars who were learning who they were in the context of a university that often failed to see them. Through a series of interviews and visits to the campus for reunions, the film is an open time capsule whose insights resonate today as the country now grapples with the effect of the Supreme Court’s decision to abolish affirmative action.––Faridah Gbadamosi

Directed by
John Antonio James and Bill Mack

Produced by
Katie Taber, John Antonio James, Bill Mack

Starring
Imani Perry, Wesley Morris, Sheldon Gilbert, Aimee Allen, Patricia J. Williams, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, Neal Katyal

WORLD PREMIERE

THE CRANES CALL

Feature | France, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Ukraine, United States | 90 MINUTES | English, Russian, Ukrainian | English subtitles
Documentary

Integral to the Clooney Foundation for Justice and in the field of human rights as a legal expert, Anya Neistat has sought restitution for victims of mass atrocities for two decades. Produced by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s HiddenLight Productions, The Cranes Call finds Neistat in her next fight: investigating the crimes of Russian generals against Ukrainian citizens over the past two years. By her side every step of the way is Solomiia Stasiv, a young Ukrainian woman just entering the field. Together, they travel to all corners of the Ukrainian map, speaking to survivors of violence, digging through wreckage and piecing together clues from an ongoing conflict. The dedication and sensitivity with which Neistat and Stasiv work to build their case, alongside co-founder of the Clooney Foundation, Amal Clooney, is countered with scenes of their life at home: for Neistat, a bustling apartment full of young children and a husband and, for Stasiv, a family grappling with the daily trauma of living in a country at war. 

Laura Warner’s searing documentary is a beautifully crafted story and a masterclass in human rights work — a tale of two women who risk their lives in their relentless pursuit to prevent more atrocities from happening in a country reeling from ongoing violence.––Liza Domnitz

Directed by
Laura Warner

Produced by
Evan Williams

Starring
Anya Neistat, Solomiia Stasiv, Amal Clooney

International Premiere

DUST TO DUST

Feature | Japan | 87 MINUTES | Japanese | English subtitles
Documentary, Environmental, Politics, Fashion, Journalism

The future of fashion is here and it’s being ushered in by Yuima Nakazato, currently the only active haute couture designer in Japan. Embracing innovative scientific technologies and meshing them with older material techniques, Yuima is determined to move clothing away from mass production and toward respect for the individual and our environment. While designing sculptural haute couture for the runway, Yuima dreams up his visionary and socially-aware practice through research and experience of environmental and production issues happening all across the world — this time in Kenya, where the scale of textile waste is a harbinger of the urgent need for conservation and social change.

Offering a humbling perspective within an industry plagued with issues of waste, excess and terrible environmental and social practices, Dust to Dust puts in the spotlight one brilliant mind whose care for the world around him is just as massive as the scale of his creative vision. This is a reimagining of the fashion world at its best and a radical envisioning of a better future conveyed through Yuima’s striking and ethereal designs.––Jose Rodriguez

Dust to Dust is the recipient of the 2024 Human/Nature Award, a prize established to amplify a film that best exemplifies solution-oriented environmental storytelling.

Directed by
Kosai Sekine

Produced by
Yusuke Kamata

Starring
Yuima Nakazato

North American Premiere

Elizabeth Taylor:
The Lost Tapes

Feature | United States | 102 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Documentary

Hers was a life spent under the microscope: a whirlwind arrival on the studio film scene as a child, a series of truncated marriages that filled the pages of gossip rags around the world, plaguing health issues and decades-long friendships with a group of men whose secrets and lives she honored as if they were her own. But most of all, Elizabeth Taylor’s off-and-on relationship with whom many considered her true love, Richard Burton, became the stuff of Hollywood legend as its romantic highs and dramatic lows were followed fanatically by fans around the world. What more is there to know about an icon dissected ten times over? The answer lies within celebrated filmmaker Nanette Burstein’s mesmerizing documentary Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes.

Via audio tapes discovered in the archive of journalist Richard Meryman, we are guided by Taylor’s voice as she walks the audience from the first step of her career through her time with Burton in the 1970s. As she reveals intimacies about her relationships, romantic and otherwise, she peels back the layers of a beloved public figure to reveal a vulnerable, funny and tenacious woman who persevered despite a life led almost entirely under the scrutiny of public opinion.––Liza Domnitz

Directed by
Nanette Burstein

Produced by
J.J. Abrams, Sean Stuart, Glen Zipper, Bill Gerber, Rachel Rusch Rich

Starring
Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Meryman, Mike Todd, Richard Burton, Rock Hudson, Roddy McDowall

WORLD PREMIERE

EMERGENT CITY

Feature | United States | 99 MINUTES | Chinese, English, Spanish | English subtitles
New York, Documentary, Environmental, Politics

When a string of connected industrial buildings become available in Brooklyn, a group of global developers jump at the opportunity to buy it up with big ideas for the future. Nestled against the waterfront in Sunset Park, plans are set in motion — but the beating heart of the community rests with its working class, primarily immigrant residents, many of whom could be displaced once the development changes the entire space, while others see promise in the future of a developed Industry City. And so mediation begins between residents, city officials and master planners in an effort to find a workable solution for all involved.

Co-directed by Sunset Park community members Kelly Anderson and Jay Arthur Sterrenberg, this fierce story chronicles the efforts by community leaders to save the soul of their home, juxtaposed against the desires of ambitious figures. At a time when a housing crisis looms over many metro cities in the U.S., champions for a better path forward light the way as the fate of their city and contemporary urban development hangs in the balance.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Kelly Anderson and Jay Arthur Sterrenberg

Produced by
Kelly Anderson, Brenda Avila-Hanna

WORLD PREMIERE

Federer: Twelve Final Days

Feature | UK, United States | 90 MINUTES | English | German subtitles
Documentary, Drama, Biography, Sports

In this intimate and revealing documentary, legendary tennis star Roger Federer shares his decision to retire after an illustrious career that spanned decades. Filmmakers Asif Kapadia and Joe Sabia capture Federer’s final days on the court as he prepares for his last tournament, the 2022 Laver Cup, offering a rare glimpse into the life and mind of one of the greatest athletes of all time. Through candid interviews with Federer, his wife Mirka and his chief rivals Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, the film provides a fascinating portrait of a man grappling with the end of an era. 

Federer: Twelve Final Days is a fitting tribute to a tennis icon and a must-see for fans of the sport. Kapadia and Sabia’s film is a celebration of Federer’s incredible achievements, but it also offers a poignant exploration of universal themes such as aging, legacy and letting go. With its unprecedented access to Federer during a pivotal moment in his life, Federer: Twelve Final Days is an unique and profoundly moving documentary that serves as a fitting farewell to a true legend of the game.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Joe Sabia, and Asif Kapadia

Produced by
Asif Kapadia, George Chignell

Starring
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg

WORLD PREMIERE

How I Faked My Life with AI

Feature | United States | 89 MINUTES | English
Documentary

In How I Faked My Life With AI, filmmaker Kyle Vorbach uses cutting-edge AI technology to create a digital persona that embodies his wildest dreams. As his AI-generated life gains traction, Kyle becomes an overnight sensation, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. However, his real life begins to crumble as his relationships strain and his genuine achievements are overshadowed by AI-generated success.

As Kyle’s AI-driven stunts grow more elaborate and risky, he must confront the consequences of his actions and decide whether to continue living a fake life or face the harsh realities of the world he has neglected. This thought-provoking documentary explores the power and pitfalls of artificial intelligence, raising important questions about authenticity, identity and the consequences of blurring the lines between reality and fiction; it leaves the audience questioning the very nature of reality in a world where the truth can be manipulated with the click of a button.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Kyle Vorbach

Produced by
Jeremy Boxer, Kyle Vorbach

WORLD PREMIERE

I’M YOUR VENUS

Feature | United States | 80 MINUTES | English
Documentary, LGBTQIA+

This moving and timely documentary sets the stage for the investigation of the unsolved murder of Venus Xtravaganza, one of the iconic stars of Paris Is Burning, the legendary 1990 documentary about drag queens in the ballroom scene of New York City. Venus died during that film’s shoot and now, 35 years later, the spotlight is back on Venus as her two families — biological and ballroom — stand united to discover the truth, challenge the system and honor the legacy of their sister. The road for justice is a difficult one as they revisit old wounds, examining every event and detail to find a path toward healing and positive change. 

Kim Reed’s I’m Your Venus is in many ways an extension of Paris Is Burning, as it brings to light once again the intersectionality within the trans community. While the stark and somber reality of the murder is ever-present, the film overflows with love and celebration for the life of Venus, displayed through the music and ballroom performances complete with sashays, fierce poses and death drops. Venus’ story is ultimately a cathartic journey to healing and celebrating a burning flame dimmed too soon.––Matt Dy

Directed by
Kimberly Reed

Produced by
Jamie Schutz, Steven Cantor, Mike Stafford

WORLD PREMIERE

It Was All a Dream

Feature | United States | 83 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
New York, Women, Documentary, Music, Journalism, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

The year is 1993 and hip-hop is primed for its eventual global takeover. Wu-Tang’s “Enter The Wu-Tang” and A Tribe Called Quest’s “Midnight Marauders” are released on the same day, Salt-N-Pepa’s fourth album “Very Necessary” pushes them into the mainstream while Doggystyle breaks into the Billboard 200 at number one, and all this is just the tip of the iceberg. Armed with a camera and a front-row seat is provocative music journalist dream hampton. 

Constructed from director dream hampton’s personal archive, It Was All a Dream is a visual memoir reflecting on the dawn of the golden era of hip-hop. It takes viewers inside the studio with intimate access to some of rap’s most celebrated minds, including hampton’s neighbor The Notorious BIG, Wu Tang’s Method Man, Mobb Deep, Snoop Dogg and many more. With narration constructed from her previous work as the astonishing footage unfolds, hampton not only provides insight to this era of hip-hop but also firmly establishes her place in its story.––Faridah Gbadamosi

Directed by
dream hampton

Produced by
Emir Lewis, dream hampton, Josh Begley, Morgan Willis

Starring
The Notorious B.I.G., Ice-T, Mobb Deep, Guru, Nikki D.

WORLD PREMIERE

Jago into the White

Feature | Italy | 94 MINUTES | Italian | English subtitles
Documentary

Nestled within a church in Naples, sculptor Jago has a studio sanctuary where he meticulously carves a tribute to Michelangelo’s Pieta from a giant slab of marble. Tracking Jago’s journey over the course of almost two years, we follow him across tireless days and nights, seeing his beautiful work come to life. What emerges from the moments in between is a portrait of an artist with a profound desire to reshape the social dynamics of the art world, as well as his own relationship to the talent that put him in the spotlight.

A fascinating and intimate glimpse into a contemporary artist’s mastery of a traditional craft, made even more interesting by the unusual role of social media circulating in the background of Jago’s life. How he processes it, reckons with it, and navigates it in the solitude of his art studio lays out a beautiful perspective on being a young artist in today’s world.––Nancy Lefkowitz

Directed by
Luigi Pingitore

Produced by
Stefano Cardillo

WORLD PREMIERE

LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

Feature | United States | 104 MINUTES | English
Women, Documentary, LGBTQIA+, Music, Biography

“Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story” were the words Liza Minnelli used in her iconic introduction for the song “Ring Them Bells” at her 1972 New York concert. Born with a spotlight on her life, Liza’s story has never been told absolutely or truly. From the speculation that her beloved godmother Kay Thompson’s “Eloise” series was about her to the gossip rags that hounded her for decades, many were searching for insight into the talented and charismatic performer, but few got it right. This equal parts eye-opening, thoughtful and hilarious documentary is here to correct that, with Liza getting to tell her story in her own words.

Rich with archival gems and Liza Minnelli’s own point of view, Bruce David Klein’s luminous documentary celebrates a young entertainer full of boundless raw talent and the deep, creative relationships with her mentors and influences.––Faridah Gbadamosi

Directed by
Bruce David Klein

Produced by
Bruce David Klein, Alexander J. Goldstein, Robert Rich

Starring
Mia Farrow, Ben Vereen, Chita Rivera, John Kander, Lorna Luft, Joel Grey

New York Premiere

Luther: Never Too Much

Feature | United States | 101 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Music, Biography, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

New York native Luther Vandross was born to be a star, and his undeniable talent was positive proof of that. Starting off in the house band at the Apollo Theater, Luther would go on to support David Bowie, Roberta Flack, Bette Midler and many more before breaking through as the dynamic solo vocalist who would dominate R&B charts for decades.

Acclaimed director Dawn Porter handles Luther’s story with care, providing insight to the illustrious singer’s career and personal life. His consummate professionalism, his hard work and his diligence are all captured, but so are his frustrations and his loneliness. With stunning archival footage that provides intimate access to Luther and interviews with those who knew him best, a full picture of him is constructed in this jubilant celebration of the one and only Luther.––Faridah Gbadamosi

Directed by
Dawn Porter

Produced by
Leah Smith, Ged Doherty, Trish D Chetty, Datari Turner, Jamie Foxx

Starring
Fonzi Thornton, Robin Clark, Carlos Alomar, Danyel Smith, Jon Platt, Ava Cherry, Seveda Williams, Nile Rodgers, Valerie Simpson, Marcus Miller, Nat Adderly Jr., Jamie Foxx, Lisa Fischer, Kevin Owens, Richard Marx, Clive Davis, Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Max Szadek

New York Premiere

Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger

Feature | UK | 131 MINUTES | English
Documentary

In this captivating documentary, legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese takes us on a personal journey through the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the visionary British duo behind classics such as The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus. Directed by two-time BAFTA and Emmy-winner David Hinton, the film explores how Powell and Pressburger’s innovative storytelling and distinct style left an indelible mark on cinema, influencing generations of filmmakers, including Scorsese himself.

Through a rich array of archival material and insightful interviews with Scorsese and other renowned directors, the film offers a fascinating look at the creative genius behind some of the greatest films of the British golden age. Scorsese’s infectious passion for their work shines through as he shares how their films captivated him from a young age, helped shape his own filmmaking and continue to inspire him to this day. For film lovers and aspiring filmmakers alike, this documentary is an essential exploration of two of cinema’s most influential and enduring figures as seen through the eyes of one of their most ardent admirers.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
David Hinton

Produced by
Nick Varley, Matt Wells

Starring
Martin Scorsese

WORLD PREMIERE

Missing From Fire Trail Road

Feature | United States, France | 101 MINUTES | English
Women, Documentary, Drama

Mary Ellen Johnson Davis has been missing since the eve of Thanksgiving 2020 from the Tulalip Reservation. She is only one of hundreds of Native American women who continue to go missing in the U.S. As director Sabrina Van Tassel investigates Mary Ellen’s case, dozens of Native women speak up about the violence suffered and observed by them. From Deborah Parker, activist and indigenous leader, to Deb Haaland, US Secretary of the Interior, to many of Mary Ellen’s friends and family, the film threads a haunting but important report about these underlooked cases and the urgency for attention and action in these investigations.

In this careful and pressing documentary, Van Tassel returns to Tribeca to shed light on the ongoing and continuously unsolved disappearances of Native American women across the country. The story of Mary Ellen Johnson Davis opens up a broader conversation about the violence and generational trauma suffered by Native American communities, as well as the fallible laws and lack of investigation surrounding them.––Marina Gandour

Directed by
Sabrina Van Tassel

Produced by
Sabrina Van Tassel

WORLD PREMIERE

Power of the Dream

Feature | United States | 133 MINUTES | English
LGBTQIA+, Sports, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

Started 27 years ago, the WNBA has faced an uphill battle since its origin, consistently being underestimated. And it has met the challenges it has faced with grace and clarity of purpose. Not only have they become one of the most successful women’s leagues in the US, showcasing amazing displays of athleticism, they have also led the charge in embracing their responsibility as role models and ambassadors of change. From its championing of LGBTQIA+ rights to its highlighting of the #BlackLivesMatter and #SayHerName movements, the league steps up. And when WNBA team owner Kelly Loeffler decided to disparage their efforts for change, the W stepped up once more, forever changing U.S. politics.

From acclaimed director Dawn Porter, Power of the Dream tells the story of an organization that never says quit, that not only fully understands the power of a dream but also recognizes the work required to bring it to fruition. These amazing women banded together time and time again, to make the world they live in a better place. A rousing experience that should not be missed.––Faridah Gbadamosi

Directed by
Dawn Porter

Produced by
Dawn Porter, Sue Bird, Nneka Ogwumike, Tracee Ellis Ross, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Jessica Robertson, Brett Bouttier, Reni Callister

Starring
Sue Bird, Nneka Ogwumike, Raphael Warnock, Jemele Hill, Holly Rowe

WORLD PREMIERE

Rebel Nun

Feature | United States, UK | 100 MINUTES | English
Documentary

Rebel Nun Follows the story of Catholic nun and leading death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean, whose story was first captured in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. Now, almost 30 years later, through unprecedented access and a vast library of over six decades of archival footage, filmmaker Dominic Sivyer takes a look at the life and work of Sister Helen as she continues to be an inspirational force for justice.

Her life may have begun with humble Louisiana roots, but, as we learn through interviews with Sister Helen, key people with whom she works, and victims’ families, it’s a life that continues today in tireless advocacy against the death penalty. As we watch her battle the execution of an Oklahoma Death Row inmate that even lawmakers are convinced is innocent, ultimately the film paints a portrait of resolve, vulnerability, strength and unwavering dedication to justice reform in America.––Deborah Rudolph

Directed by
Dominic Sivyer

Produced by
Dominic Sivyer

Starring
Sister Helen Prejean, Susan Sarandon, Barbara Major, Don Knight, Richard Glossip

WORLD PREMIERE

S/He Is Still Her/e – The Official Genesis P-Orridge Documentary

Feature | United States | 99 MINUTES | English
Documentary, LGBTQIA+

Founder of the COUM Transmissions artistic collective, leader of the industrial band Throbbing Gristle, and the experimental pop-rock band Psychic TV, Genesis P-Orridge was an English singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, and occultist.Genesis was also a parent, best friend, and enigma. Through archival videos, photos and intimate conversations with those who knew them, this documentary unveils the legacy of a true iconoclast, one who shattered societal norms and redefined the boundaries of creative and corporeal expression. As someone who was able to embrace the constant change within themselves, Genesis’ existence was often too provocative for those around them. What makes a life and a legacy like Genesis’?

The film traces the shape of a truly massive existence that feels almost unbelievable to view through such up-close and intimate storytelling. Conversations with Genesis, in their 70s and nearing the end of their life, open up a deep meditation on mortality from the brilliant mind of a revolutionary in their own words.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
David Charles Rodrigues

Produced by
David Charles Rodrigues, Bud Johnston

Starring
Genesis P-Orridge, David J (Bauhaus), Clarity Haynes, Genesse P-Orridge, Caresse P-Orridge, Paul “Bee” Hampshire, Alice Genese

NEW YORK PREMIERE

Skywalkers: A Love Story

Feature | China, France, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates | 98 MINUTES | English, Russian | English subtitles
Action, Women, Documentary, Drama, Romance, Thriller, Sports

Hailing from a family of circus performers, gymnast Angela Nikolau found escape from a broken home by turning Moscow’s urban skyline into her own personal trapeze, establishing herself as an elite among the few women rooftoppers and a growing online sensation. When longtime rooftopping superstar Vanya Beerkus asks Angela to collaborate on a photoshoot atop China’s highest construction site, the tentative pair find themselves on a whirlwind adventure, scaling the world’s tallest skyscrapers, finding the true meaning of trust and falling deeper in love with each new adventure. But as the COVID-19 pandemic sets in and sponsorship opportunities dry up, the young couple find both their livelihoods and relationship at their breaking points. With the pending opening of the world’s newest super-skyscraper, Malaysia’s Merdeka 118, Angela and Vanya must cast aside growing doubts and fraying trust and face their most daunting challenge yet, leading to an emotionally unforgettable climax that must be seen to be believed.

Filmed over the course of seven years, directors Jeff Zimbalist and Maria Bukhonina have crafted an unforgettable tale of love, trust and release that manages to be both a pulse-pounding thrill ride and a deeply felt portrait of two people made for each other. With incredible access to some of the world’s most protected locations, Skywalkers: A Love Story is a stirring testament to the power of endurance and finding potential on the other side of fear.––Cedar Sherbert

Tribeca is proud to present Skywalkers: A Love Story for the first time in North America in IMAX. See this exhilarating, vertigo-inducing film on the largest movie screen in New York at its premiere on June 12th!

Directed by
Jeff Zimbalist

Produced by
Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina, Chris Smith, Tamir Ardon

Starring
Ivan “Beerkus” Kuznetsov, Angela Nikolau

WORLD PREMIERE

Slave Play. Not A Movie. A Play.

Ivan “Beerkus” Kuznetsov, Angela Nikolau
New York, Experimental, Documentary, LGBTQIA+, Politics, Art, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

A self-portrait of playwright Jeremy O. Harris at work as he deconstructs his provocative and Tony-nominated play, Slave Play. This documentary is as bold and daring as Harris himself, offering an unflinching exploration of his creative process and the motivation behind his groundbreaking work.

Slave Play follows three interracial couples who undergo “Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy” when the black partners no longer feel sexual attraction to their white partners. Harris’ unique voice and playful style take center stage as he guides viewers through the development of his boundary-pushing play. The documentary mirrors the play’s provocative nature, delving deep into the theory and inspiration behind Harris’ creative decisions as both writer and director. Through intimate workshop footage and candid interviews, the film celebrates Harris’ unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on stage.––Dan Hunt

Directed by
Jeremy O. Harris

Produced by
Chris Moukarbel, Natalia-Leigh Brown

Starring
Amauta Firmino, Annie McNamara, Irene Sophia Lucio, Jonathan Higgenbotham, Devin Kawaoka, Stephen Ceflu, Jakeem Powell, Patricia Fa’ausa, Marie Botha, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Hudson James Oznowicz, Israel Erron Ford, Amauta Firmino, Jennifer Monaco, Denzel Gray, Sung Hyun Yoon, Amani Owusu, Vi Nguyen, William L Nixon, Jonah O’Hara-David, Hubert Mitchell, Phillipa Grenda, Dustin Damonte, Lydia Case, Anik Zarkos, Sidney Diaz, ShaQuanna Williams, Latonya Grant, Rebecca Codas, Natasha Walfall, Aaron Latta-Morissette, Athan Chekas, Peter Bowden, Kerstin Coco Quortrup, J.P. Maddock, Jahquale Mazyck, Malcolm Callender

WORLD PREMIERE

Soldiers of Song

Feature | Ukraine | 90 MINUTES | English, Ukrainian | English subtitles
Action, Documentary, Drama, Music, Politics, Art, Journalism, Narrative

Ukrainian musicians of all genres, from metal to opera, transform their passion for music into devotion to their country in this moving documentary. Beginning on the very first day of the Russian invasion, Soldiers of Song documents how the lives of its cast of Ukrainian musicians have irrevocably changed and how they use their musical talents to support themselves and their communities.

Using shocking footage from the frontlines, this film reminds us not only of the ongoing tragedies that continue to happen during this war, but also of the resilience of Ukraine and its cultural forces. Here music functions not only to lift the spirits of the soldiers, but also as a cultural export to raise awareness of the war, a tool for raising humanitarian and military funds, and a valuable cultural artifact for everyday Ukrainians to rally around and protect. The musician’s commitment to their craft reminds us of the real power art has and the impact of beauty under catastrophic circumstances.––Camille Ramos

Directed by
Ryan Smith

Produced by
Ryan Smith

Starring
Slava Vakarchuk, Svitlana Tarabarova, Andriy Khlyvnyuk, Kolya Serga, Sergiy Ivanchuk, Marko Halanevych, Vasyl Kryachok, Sasha Chemerov, Kateryna (Ptashka) Polishchuk, Moisei Bondarenko

WORLD PREMIERE

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple

Feature | United States | 147 MINUTES | English
Documentary

What do Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Eddie Vedder, Bono, Maureen Van Zandt, Darlene Love and The Sopranos all have in common? The answer is Stevie Van Zandt, actor, activist and musician of Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. In between playing with Bruce Springsteen and a multitude of musical legends of the era, Steven carved out a legacy of his own in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Along the way, he blazed a path forward within the music industry alongside the E Street Band and Artists United Against Apartheid, speaking out with fervor about racial politics of the time and apartheid in South Africa.

Electric, infectious and celebratory, Disciple is the rare film that yearns — like Stevie himself — for the preservation of the genre and spirit of rock n’ roll. With incredible access, it tells the story of an artist through the eyes of those that saw him most closely — the peers and legends that came up before, alongside and after him. Among them is Stevie himself, with a humor, passion and candor that lights up the screen. “At the end of the day, Steve is a true believer,” Springsteen says, and those watching will be, too.––Cara Cusumano

Directed by
Bill Teck

Produced by
David Fisher, Robert Cotto

Starring
Stevie Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Eddie Vedder, Bono, Maureen Van Zandt, Darlene Love

WORLD PREMIERE

They All Came Out To Montreux

Feature | UK | 92 MINUTES | English
Music, Biography

In the 1960s, Claude Nobs started a jazz festival in his hometown of Montreux, Switzerland. Quickly, the festival became a creative hub for some of the biggest musicians of the 20th century, such as Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. They All Came Out to Montreux is a loving history of the Montreux Jazz Festival and the remarkable man who started it.

Nobs was a firm believer in the power of music and gave artists the space to flourish. This value is reflected in the film itself when the recorded live performances take center stage. Toward the end of the documentary, the treasure trove of archival material becomes a narrative point, highlighting the festival’s easy embrace of new video technologies to record and preserve performances. In this way, They All Came Out to Montreux becomes not only a testament to the music and performers, but also a love letter to the work of cultural archiving.––Frederic Boyer

Directed by
Oliver Murray

Produced by
Bill Lord

Starring
Prince, Sting, Carlos Santana, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Miles Davis

WORLD PREMIERE

The Thinking Game

Feature | United States | 83 MINUTES | English
Documentary

Demis Hassabis has always been thinking about thinking. It started during his childhood career as a chess champion, continued to Bullfrog Games where he helped develop one of the most successful games in history at just 17 years old, and then followed him through his PhD in cognitive neuroscience at University College London. All this led him to co-founding DeepMind, an artificial general intelligence company with one simple mission: to solve intelligence. Like they’re running out of time, The Thinking Game chronicles DeepMind’s sprint toward creating the smartest machine in the world in the AI space race.

With extraordinary archival footage from Hassabis’ life and career, we follow every step that contributed to DeepMind’s monumental achievements. Hassabis leads the film — and his company — with the utmost optimism and ambition, forging a path where artificial intelligence can be used to solve any problem you can think of — and the ones that you can’t. Balancing the weight of the massive responsibility this kind of technology requires, The Thinking Game illuminates the real positive impacts AI can have, from a simple chess game to curing cancer.––Camille Ramos

After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with CEO and co-founder of Google DeepMind Demis Hassabis, Producer Gary Krieg, and Director Greg Kohs, moderated by Darren Aronofsky.

Directed by
Greg Kohs

Produced by
Gary Krieg

WORLD PREMIERE

Untitled Casa Bonita Documentary

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English
Documentary

It was known far and wide as the Disneyland of Mexican restaurants, a massive, labyrinth-like Denver wonderland famous for its 30-foot waterfall and attendant cliff divers, throwback Western theme, massive gorilla mascot and food that was…not so good. But when COVID-19 forced the legendary Casa Bonita restaurant into bankruptcy, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone saw the opportunity to bring a childhood dream to life, buying the beleaguered landmark with an eye on returning it to its early 1970s glory. Working with famed restaurateur Dana “Loca” Rodriguez to update the menu and armed with over $8 million for renovations, the pair quickly realize that this dream might just be beyond their control as they face a deteriorating structure, rapidly aging fixtures and a spiraling budget. With a projected summer 2023 opening date and the eyes of a nation upon them, Parker and Stone strive to see their vision through in this hilarious ode to the power of creativity and love of community.––Cedar Sherbert

Directed by
Arthur Bradford

Produced by
Jennifer Ollman

WORLD PREMIERE

The A-Frame

Feature | United States | 82 MINUTES | English
Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction

In this mind-bending sci-fi comedy, a quantum physicist’s groundbreaking machine inadvertently opens a portal to a subatomic universe while attempting to prove its efficacy. During his experiments on rats, he stumbles upon a radical cancer treatment that could revolutionize modern medicine. Driven by ambition and the desire to legitimize his work, the physicist begins human trials, raising the stakes and blurring the lines between science and ethics.

With a talented cast delivering strong performances and impressive practical effects, this Cronenbergian tale balances its quirky humor with thought-provoking themes. The film’s unique aesthetic and engaging narrative keep viewers hooked. As the story unfolds, audiences will find themselves questioning the protagonist’s motives and the true nature of his discovery. This kooky, genre-bending film will surely be a hit with genre fans and those who appreciate the unexpected.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Calvin Lee Reeder

Produced by
Cole Payne, Vincent Grashaw, Angelia Adzic, Ran Namerode

Starring
Johnny Whitworth, Dana Namerode, Nik Dodani, Laketa Caston

WORLD PREMIERE

Beacon

Feature | United States | 96 MINUTES | English
Thriller

Driven by an overzealous sense of adventure, young sailor Emily (Julia Goldani Telles), quickly runs into trouble when she shipwrecks on a remote island off the coast of South America. She’s rescued by the island’s lone inhabitant, Demián Bichir’s mysterious light keeper Ismael. With communications down due to incredibly stormy conditions, they try to work together to ensure each other’s survival, but tension grows once Emily begins to question Ismael’s lack of answers and the bizarre occurrences they encounter as time passes.

Directed with gripping fashion by Roxy Shih, the stage is set for a nail-biting journey into the depths of human instinct necessary for survival. Telles and Bichir bring incredible levels of pathos into their characters while also channeling the primal fear of strangers, unknown settings and questions of trust as the audience dances on the very knife’s edge that Emily does in wrangling with her fraying psyche.––Casey Baron

Directed by
Roxy Shih

Produced by
Neil Elman, Taralee Gerhard, Andrew C. Erin

Starring
Demián Bichir, Julia Goldani Telles

WORLD PREMIERE

A DESERT

Feature | United States | 100 MINUTES | English
Horror, Drama, Thriller, Mystery, Narrative

Driving across the American Southwest, struggling photographer Alex is hoping to revive his career and find inspiration within the vast landscape of deserts and abandoned roadside structures. A pit stop at an otherwise inconspicuous motel alters his plans, thanks to a younger couple whose devil-may-care attitude initially attracts Alex but quickly proves to be something more dangerous than he thought. Before long, what began as a restorative road trip descends into a nightmare that spirals beyond his control.

A film that sneaks up on you with precision and its subtle nihilism, Joshua Erkman’s feature debut is a special kind of genre hybrid, taking inherently dark narrative touchstones from noir cinema and darkening them even further with visceral horror. Erkman’s clever and nimble screenplay repeatedly zigs when you expect it to zag, ultimately reaching a place of haunting devastation and signaling the arrival of an exciting and powerful new filmmaking voice in horror.––Matt Barone

Directed by
Joshua Erkman

Produced by
Hugues Barbier, Joshua Erkman, Justin Timms & Joe Yanick

Starring
David Yow, Kai Lennox, Sarah Lind, Zachary Ray Sherman, Ashley B. Smith, Rob Zabrecky

International Premiere

The Devil’s Bath

Feature | Austria, Germany | 120 MINUTES | German | English subtitles
Horror

In 18th century Austria, Agnes (Anja Plaschg) embarks on a new life as she marries her beloved Wolf (David Scheid). However, her hopes for marital bliss are quickly shattered by a controlling mother-in-law and her husband’s apparent disinterest in her. As Agnes struggles with the isolation and despair of her unfulfilling existence, she descends down a dark and disturbing path that leads her to contemplate the unthinkable.

The Devil’s Bath is a haunting and visually stunning exploration of the human psyche, masterfully crafted by the Austrian directing duo Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala (Goodnight Mommy, The Lodge). With authentic period details and a slow-burn approach that builds to a chilling climax, the film delves into the complexities of religious beliefs, mental health and the societal pressures that can drive one to the brink of madness. Anja Plaschg delivers a powerful and nuanced performance as Agnes, a woman whose piety and innocence are tested by the harsh realities of her time. This thought-provoking and emotionally charged film is a must-see for those who appreciate artfully executed genre cinema.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala

Produced by
Ulrich Seidl

Starring
Anja Plaschg, Maria Hofstätter, David Scheid

WORLD PREMIERE

MARS

Feature | United States | 84 MINUTES | English
Animation, Comedy, LGBTQIA+, Science Fiction, Narrative

Get ready for an outrageous and irreverent cosmic adventure in the animated comedy Mars. When a ragtag group of misfits — including a young man who ditches his fiancée on their wedding day — embark on a wild space mission to the red planet, they quickly discover they’ve been bamboozled by a billionaire with a hidden agenda. As the absurdity of their predicament unfolds, the eclectic crew must navigate a series of hilarious and unexpected twists and turns.

From the minds behind the sketch comedy show “The Whitest Kids U’Know,” Mars boasts sharp wit and biting social commentary while fearlessly tackling the conspiracy-laden culture of modern America. Prepare for an out-of-this-world, dizzying and hilarious R-rated journey!––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Sevan Najarian

Produced by
Kara Welker, Trevor Moore, Zach Cregger, Sam Brown, Sevan Najarian

Starring
Trevor Moore, Zach Cregger, Sam Brown, Darren Trumeter, Timmy Williams

WORLD PREMIERE

The Weekend

Feature | Nigeria | 117 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Drama, Thriller, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

Orphaned at a young age, Nikya has finally gotten the family she always wanted in her fiancé Luke. Now, there is only one thing that would make her life complete: to meet his parents and relatives. However Luke is reticent, having not been home in over a decade. Longing for connection, Nikya pushes him to reconcile with his past and soon they are off to Luke’s childhood home. While there Nikya learns that family baggage can be harder to stomach than she assumed.

Joining the canon of films about possibly horrifying in-laws like Ready or Not and Get Out, Nigerian filmmaker Daniel Oriahi threads the needle between thriller and horror deftly, with a wonderful pulsing score and tenseness that builds. Part soapy, part savage, this genre-bending feast simmers before serving a thrilling climax that may not be easily digestible, but is thoroughly enjoyable.––Faridah Gbadamosi

Directed by
Daniel Emeke Oriahi

Produced by
Uche Okocha

Starring
Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Bucci Franklin, Meg Otanwa, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Gloria Anozie-Young, Damilola Ogunsi

WORLD PREMIERE

#AMFAD: All My Friends Are Dead

Feature | United States | 91 MINUTES | English
Horror, Thriller

It should be the best party of the year: Karmapalooza, a massive music festival. When a group of college friends score tickets to the event, they set out on a road trip, packed into a minivan stashed with all the booze and weed they need. But a vehicular mishap forces them to spend the night inside an isolated Airbnb, which seems cool enough — after all, where better to party hard than in someone else’s house? Not so fast. Being stuck indoors together causes their internal rifts and shared past to surface. Even worse, an uninvited guest joins the party and decides they need to pay for their transgressions by murdering them in extremely gory ways tied to their specific sins.

Full of energy and sharp, biting personality, AMFAD injects a heavy dose of blood red, cannabis-flavored bubblegum into slasher horror. Directed by Saw franchise veteran Marcus Dunstan, this playful whodunit utilizes the classic franchise’s kinetic energy and brutality while mixing in giallo-minded visual flourishes and a wicked sense of humor. Led by a vibrant and young cast, including Jade Pettyjohn and Jojo Siwa, it’s a killer cinematic party.––Matt Barone

Directed by
Marcus Dunstan

Produced by
John Baldecci, Sarah Donnelly, Kirk Shaw, Stephanie Rennie

Starring
Jade Pettyjohn, Jojo Siwa, Jennifer Ens, Ali Fumiko Whitney, Michaella Russell, Julian Haig, Justin Derickson, Cardi Wong, Jack Doupe-Smith

New York Premiere

KILL

Feature | India | 115 MINUTES | Hindi
Drama

Special Ops commando Amrit (played by supreme badass Lakshya) is madly in love with the beautiful Tulika, but there’s a big problem: her family has put her on a train heading for New Delhi and toward an arranged marriage. Determined not to lose Tulika, Amrit boards the train and professes his love. Unfortunately for all involved, 40 armed bandits also board the train, terrorizing the passengers and eventually spilling blood, forcing Amrit to take a 1-against-40 stand against the criminals. And by “stand,” we mean a complete evisceration of everyone in his path via hand-to-hand combat and the carnage-fueled deployment of whatever foreign object is within reach.

Behold, India’s most brutal film ever — trust us, Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s stunning Kill more than earns that billing. The best action film of its kind since Gareth Evans’s The Raid films, it’s a no-holds-barred exhibition of incredibly vicious fight choreography, with each kick, punch and fire extinguisher blow to the skull landing harder than the one before. Never losing sight of its characters and the story’s underlying emotions, Kill is a crowd-pleaser of the highest and most bone-crunching order.––Matt Barone

Directed by
Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Produced by
Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Guneet Monga, Achin Jain

Starring
Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Tanya Maniktala

WORLD PREMIERE

She Loved Blossoms More

Feature | Greece, France | 86 MINUTES | French, Greek | English subtitles
Horror, Comedy, Thriller, Science Fiction

Losing a parent is never easy. Trying to bring a deceased parent back to life is even harder. Yet that’s exactly what a trio of brothers attempt to do to their late mother, whose passing has weighed on all of them immensely and put a strain on their relationship with their domineering father. They’ve built an elaborate time machine in hopes of bringing their mother back from the grave, but the machine’s intricacies, along with their dad’s increasingly strange demands, plunge them into a deliriously bad trip, one fueled by body horror and mind-bending imagery.

European genre filmmaking rarely gets as wonderfully strange as the singular She Loved Blossoms More, executive-produced by Tribeca alum Ant Timpson (Come to Daddy). With its acid-trip-like imagery and overall surreal vibe, writer/director Yannis Veslemes’s audacious examination of grief harkens back to an older era of Euro genre cinema, tapping into the unhinged world-building seen in the films of visionaries like Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet and visually bursting alive with a Mario-Bava-esque color palette. It’s truly one of a kind.––Matt Barone

She Loved Blossoms More will be preceded by the short The Cost of Flesh.

Directed by
Yannis Veslemes

Produced by
Fenia Cossovitsa

Starring
Panos Papadopoulos, Julio Giorgos Katsis, Aris Balis, Sandra Abuelghanam Sarafanova, Alexia Kaltsiki, Dominique Pinon

The Unknown

Feature | 68 MINUTES
Disability

The Unknown, (United States). A masterclass in subversion, Tod Browning’s 1927 silent film classic shocks and awes through Lon Chaney’s towering performance as carnival knife thrower “Alonzo the Armless.” It’s also an early watershed moment for disability representation in horror cinema, its power remaining potent nearly 100 years later. Directed by Tod Browning. Produced by Irving G. Thalberg. With Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry, Joan Crawford. Reconstruction and digital restoration courtesy of the George Eastman Museum from 35mm prints at GEM and the Národní filmovy archiv, with the support of The National Film Preservation Foundation.

After the Movie: A conversation between actor, writer, and disability advocate Mat Fraser and fellow actor and disability advocate Christine Bruno.

Directed by
Tod Browning

Produced by
Irving G. Thalberg

Starring
Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry, Joan Crawford, Nick De Ruiz, John George

WORLD PREMIERE

Diane von Furstenberg:
Woman in Charge

Feature | United States | 97 MINUTES | English | (No Subtitles), English subtitles
New York, Women, Documentary, Biography, Fashion

Diane von Furstenberg was 22 years old when she had an idea that would change the fashion industry forever. The wrap dress was celebrated as a symbol of feminine power and liberation when it was first introduced in the 1970s, launching von Furstenberg’s career as a designer and successful businesswoman. But this wasn’t von Furstenberg’s first time in the spotlight and it wouldn’t be her last.

Including interviews with friends like Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Fran Lebowitz, Tribeca alumni Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton’s wildly entertaining portrait goes behind the scenes with Furstenberg herself as she prepares for a museum exhibition showcasing her life’s work. Through these intimate recollections, we accompany von Furstenberg on a glamorous whirlwind tour of her life from her marriage to a German prince to her wild nights as a Studio 54 “It” girl to her ‘90s renaissance and beyond. These combine with the story of her mother, a Holocaust survivor whose influence shaped her into the determined, independent “woman in charge” she is today.––Cara Cusumano

Directed by
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton

Produced by
Fabiola Beracasa Beckman, Tracy Aftergood, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Sean Stuart

Starring
Diane von Furstenberg, Oprah Winfrey, Marc Jacobs, Edward Eninful, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Fran Lebowitz

WORLD PREMIERE

Alien Weaponry:
Kua Tupu Te Ara

Feature | New Zealand | 97 MINUTES | English, Maori
Documentary, Music

Brothers Henry and Lewis started their thrash metal band Alien Weaponry as teenagers with their parents by their side. Their mission: to rock the world and center Māori culture while doing it. Now it is time for them to take on what comes next, whether that means adding new band members or simply transitioning into adulthood.

Positioned as a behind-the-scenes look at Alien Weaponry, debut filmmaker Kent Belcher deftly captures a band on the edge of greatness as well as a touching coming-of-age portrait. With intimate access to the band, their family and archival footage highlighting Māori culture, this documentary is sure to charm.––Faridah Gbadamosi

Directed by
Kent Belcher

Produced by
Nigel McCulloch

Starring
Henry De Jong, Lewis De Jong, Ethan Trembath, Turanga Morgan-Edmonds, Niel De Jong, Jette De Jong

North American Premiere

Arzé

Feature | Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia | 90 MINUTES | Arabic | English subtitles
Women, Comedy, Drama

Arzé is a struggling single mother living in Beirut with her agoraphobic older sister and teenage son, Kinan. Supporting the family by making homemade pies delivered on foot by her son, Arzé knows that the business can only sustain them for so long. In a move of desperation, she steals her sister’s cherished bracelet to pawn for the down payment on a delivery scooter. But disaster strikes when the scooter is stolen, jeopardizing her only way to provide for her family. Up against a ticking clock to either find the scooter or a way to pay for it in full, Arzé and Kinan embark on a wild journey through the turbulent but vibrant, multiethnic Levantine capital in pursuit of the pilfered moped.

Director Mira Shaib’s debut feature is at once a thrilling tale of a family with their backs against the wall, and a beautifully rendered, kaleidoscopic portrait of a dynamic and complex Beirut. Armed with a sharp compositional eye, nuanced script from writers Sam Faisal Shaib and Louay Khraish, and wonderful performance from Diamond Abou Abboud as the titular Arzé, Shaib has crafted a delightful film that is a tribute to Lebanon and to mothers who will stop at nothing to provide a better life for their children.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Mira Shaib

Produced by
Louay Khraish, Faissal Sam Shaib, Ali Elarabi

Starring
Diamand Abou Abboud, Betty Taoutel, Bilal Al Hamwi

WORLD PREMIERE

Boys Go to Jupiter

Feature | United States | 90 MINUTES | English
Animation, Comedy, Music

Juilan Glander has made a name for himself with his distinctive, colorful 3D animation style, which he’s showcased everywhere from video games to the pages of The New Yorker. Now, he brings his unique aesthetic to his first feature film, a visionary work that transforms the abandoned swimming pools and construction sites of suburban Florida into a surreal wonderland where the magical is mundane and the mundane magical.

Set in the liminal period between Christmas and New Year’s, the story follows the adventures of Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett), a teenage gig worker with a rise-and-grind mindset whose quest to make $5,000 is derailed by the appearance of a gelatinous little dude from outer space. Using the power of lo-fi musical numbers and deadpan comedy, Billy must save Donut and his family from the evil schemes of the Dolphin Groves Juice Company. The voice cast — which also includes Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman, Joe Pera, Cole Escola and Elsie Fisher — is a who’s who of weirdo comedy all-stars, adding to the charmingly strange vibe.––Frederic Boyer

Boys Go to Jupiter will be preceded by the short The Creators.

Directed by
Julian Glander

Produced by
Peisin Yang Lazo

Starring
Elsie Fisher, Tavi Gevinson, Jack Corbett, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman, Joe Pera, Janeane Garofalo, Demi Adejuyigbe

WORLD PREMIERE

Champions of the Golden Valley

Feature | Afghanistan, Germany, United States | 80 MINUTES | Dari, English | English subtitles
Action, Documentary, Politics, Sports

Former Afghan Olympic hopeful Alishah Farhang is on a mission to bring competitive skiing to the ancient mountain town of Bamyan. When Alishah introduced the wintry sport to the area in 2011 and established the area’s first ever ski club, it quickly caught on. Utilizing rudimentary makeshift equipment and gear, the locals take to the slopes with joyful verve. When Alishah organizes an annual Afghan Ski Challenge race, it brings people together with a new sense of focus and camaraderie, demonstrated by the ongoing friendly rivalry between Mujtaba and Hussain Ali, two skilled local skiers from rival ethnic groups. However, following the shocking collapse of the Afghan government at the hands of the Taliban in 2021, Alishah is forced to flee, leaving his beloved home country to face an uncertain future.

Director Ben Sturgulewski captures an Afghanistan that few outsiders ever see in his exuberant debut feature film. A unique story that goes beyond skiing, Champions of the Golden Valley is about resilience, finding joy amidst difficult circumstances and what it means to be a champion.––Andrea Passafiume

Directed by
Ben Sturgulewski

Produced by
Katie Stjernholm, Baktash Ahadi

Starring
Alishah Farhang, Mujtaba Hussaini, Hussain Ali Nazari

WORLD PREMIERE

Color Book

Feature | United States | 115 MINUTES | English
Drama, Disability, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

Following his wife’s recent passing, single father Lucky finds himself navigating the challenges of raising his son Mason, who has Down syndrome. Mason is an exuberant 11-year-old boy who enjoys drawing in his color book and watching baseball with his dad. Seeking solace, Lucky and Mason embark on a journey across Metro Atlanta to attend their first baseball game together. Throughout their day-long trip, they encounter Murphy’s Law. From car breakdowns to missed trains, the duo faces a series of obstacles that test their relationship. Despite the setbacks, they persevere, determined to reach the game. Together, Lucky and Mason learn that healing does not await them at the mountaintop, but can be found with every step along the path. Color Book highlights the strength and resilience that emerge from Lucky and Mason’s bond, while exploring the myriad of experiences that may come from raising a child with Down syndrome. Its beauty lies is in its simplicity: an intimate, moving portrait of a father and son sure to inspire a range of emotions.––Bryce Norbitz

Directed by
David Fortune

Produced by
Kiah Clingman, Kristen Uno, Autumn Bailey-Ford

Starring
William Catlett, Brandee Evans, Terri J. Vaughn, Jeremiah Daniels

WORLD PREMIERE

Come Closer

Feature | Israel, Italy | 107 MINUTES | Hebrew | English subtitles
Women, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Biography, Narrative

In this poignant drama, a young woman’s life is shattered when her beloved younger brother dies in a tragic accident. Consumed by grief, Eden takes increasingly desperate measures to fill the void left by her brother’s absence. Her journey takes a passionate and dangerous turn when she discovers her brother had a secret girlfriend.

With stunning cinematography, a talented cast who deliver compelling performances that elevate the film and a haunting soundtrack, the film offers a captivating exploration of the depths of grief and the lengths we’ll go to hold onto those we’ve lost. As Eden navigates the complexities of love, loss and obsession, viewers are taken on a powerful and unforgettable journey that will linger long after the credits roll.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Tom Nesher

Produced by
Haim Mecklberg, Estee Yacov-Mecklberg, Domenico Procacci, Laura Paolucci, Moshe and Leon Edery, Anthony Bregman, Oren and Omer Rogovin, Omri and Karni Bezalel, Tomer Mecklberg

Starring
Lia Elalouf, Darya Rosenn, Netta Garti, Jacob Zada Daniel, Shlomi Shaban, Ido Tako, Ofek Pesach, Yael Shoshana Cohen

WORLD PREMIERE

Darkest Miriam

Feature | Canada | 87 MINUTES | English
Drama, Romance, Mystery

Miriam is a librarian working in an out of the way branch of the Toronto Public Library. Working among the marginalized eccentrics and cranks that frequent her branch, she is trudging through her life shrouded in a fog of grief. To add weirdness to sadness, she keeps finding vaguely threatening letters throughout the library that seem to be addressed to her and the world at large, but mostly to her. While puzzling over this mystery, Miriam meets Janko, a younger foreign cab driver. When they start a love affair Miriam starts to feel her fog lift. But the question remains: what is the deal with those letters?

Executive Produced by Charlie Kaufman, director Naomi Jaye’s adaptation of Matha Baillie’s novel The Incident Report is off-kilter and generically unclassifiable. Featuring brilliant performances from Britt Lower and Tom Mercier as Miriam and Janko, Darkest Miriam is an understated, enigmatic, vibe forward playhouse that is solemn and quirky in equal measure.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Naomi Jaye

Produced by
Julie Baldassi, Brian Robertson

Starring
Britt Lower, Tom Mercier, Sook-Yin Lee, Jean Yoon

WORLD PREMIERE

Era Oculta: Hidden Era

Feature | Colombia, Germany, Mozambique | 76 MINUTES | Portuguese | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Art, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Narrative

Set in the vibrant city of Maputo, Mozambique, Era Oculta – Hidden Era centers on Rastafari artist Phambi. Struggling financially, though not artistically, Phambi is like any other parent who wants a better life for their child – he wants the best education possible for his son, Ixon. But Phambi’s issues making the school’s payments puts Ixon in perpetual peril of expulsion. When his newest work, a semi-nude portrait of Paula, a feminist who believes in expressing herself through her body, becomes a symbol of activism in the community, Phambi sees a path forward to making a living for himself and his son, while also being an ally for his muse.

Multi-hyphenate creator Carlos Vargas, producer-cinematographer of Melody of Love (Tribeca ‘23), makes his directorial debut with this beautifully shot meditation on art and what it means to live an artistic life. Against the backdrop of reggae, Rastafarianism, and the distinctive dynamics of Maputo, the film explores societal norms, revealing the transformative power of art as a form of resilience in the face of adversity.––Jason Gutierrez

Directed by
Carlos Vargas

Produced by
Kopperkollektive GmbH

Starring
Paula Matlombe, Ednora Matlombe, Isac Tivane “Phambi”, Ixon Tivane

WORLD PREMIERE

Restless

Feature | UK | 89 MINUTES | English
Comedy, Drama, Thriller

How far would you go to maintain a peaceful home? This is the quandary that Nicky, a single, mild-mannered woman and caregiver, faces after a group of young men move into the adjoining house. Nicky hopes that their first eardrum-bursting party is an anomaly, but what begins as her polite request to keep the music down quickly escalates into an angry series of confrontations that edge toward violence. Pushed to insanity after weeks of no sleep, she begins to contemplate increasingly severe means to find solitude.

In Jed Hart’s debut feature film, he crafts a roller coaster of a ride, simple in its scenario but brilliantly tense in its execution. Hart acutely hones in on the mental deterioration that Nicky’s sleep deprivation provokes, building a maddening auditory depiction of her house of horrors. With noisy neighbors — relatable villains to millions of people — taken to new heights, Restless is a horror film for anyone who has ever craved quiet in their own home.––Liza Domnitz

Directed by
Jed Hart

Produced by
Benedict Turnbull, Iain Simpson, Jens Nielsen, Sophie Ede, Harri Kamalanathan

Starring
Lyndsey Marshal, Aston McAuley, Barry Ward, Kate Robbins, Denzel Baidoo, Ciara Ford

WORLD PREMIERE

Searching for Amani

Feature | Kenya, United States | 80 MINUTES | English, Swahili | English subtitles
Documentary, Environmental, Nature, Journalism, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

In the heart of Kenya, a tragedy shatters a young boy’s life. Simon Ali, 13, finds himself in a world of mystery when his father, a respected conservancy guide, is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Armed with his video camera and an unwavering desire for truth, Simon and his best friend Haron embark on a perilous journey to uncover the secrets behind his father’s demise.

As they delve deeper, they unravel a complex web of regional conflict, lingering shadows of imperialism, and the devastating impact of a global crisis hitting close to home. Searching for Amani follows Simon’s transformative journey from a grief-stricken child to a determined young man, capturing the raw reality of his investigation through his own lens. This thought-provoking documentary confronts viewers with harsh truths, refusing to shy away from the difficult realities of our world, making for an impactful viewing experience that showcases the challenges faced by a young boy in his quest for answers.––Jarod Neece

Directed by
Nicole Gormley and Debra Aroko

Produced by
Peter Goetz, Mungai Kiroga, Nicole Gormley, Caryn Capotosto

Starring
Simon Ali, Haron Lengus, Lucy Ali, Ken Ali, Faith Ali, Levis Ali

WORLD PREMIERE

They’re Here

Feature | United States | 74 MINUTES | English
New York, Documentary, Science Fiction, Mystery, Technology

Daniel Claridge and Pacho Velez’s illuminating They’re Here cleverly toys with UFO culture by using it as a conduit to explore themes of perception and of human beings seeking a sense of connection and purpose. From high above, we see an aerial view of a quiet New York suburb. We look closer and see a quaint home. Cookie, who lives in the house, points to the window out of which she was abducted by extraterrestrials. When she senses skepticism from the interviewers behind the camera, she smiles assertively and states, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe — I accept that. You know, it’s not your time to believe. Something will happen in your future, and, all of a sudden, the lightbulb will go off.”

New York — the state with the fifth-most UFO sightings in the U.S. — is home to many true believers like Cookie. A part of a wider group of like-minded individuals, Cookie, along with her friend Steve, stand-up comic Twon and spiritual devotee Dave, share similarly grounded testimonies about their close encounters with otherworldly beings. Infused with moments of humor and empathetic poignancy, the film’s narrative delivers an absorbing sense of filmmaking.––Jose Rodriguez

Directed by
Pacho Velez and Daniel Claridge

Produced by
Asterlight

WORLD PREMIERE

Witches

Feature | UK | 90 MINUTES | English
Women, Biography

Following up her acclaimed 2019 documentary Romantic Comedy, filmmaker Elizabeth Sankey turns her attention to another genre of cinematic depiction of particular interest to women: the witch. How have witches been characterized and shown across the history of film, television, and culture? How has this representation changed and evolved? And most importantly, what is going on just beneath the surface?

Ushering her own long-standing obsession with movies to the fore, Sankey draws on a wealth of footage spanning the entirety of film history- with clips as far ranging as The Wizard of Oz, Girl, Interrupted and Rosemary’s Baby- to make that point that our shared cultural representation of witches says a lot more about how we view women, motherhood, and mental health. Sankey places her own personal experiences alongside interviews with academics and other women with shared experiences within a larger historical context that relates back to the witch hunts of past centuries and up to the way contemporary cultural norms continue to fail women. Witches functions simultaneously as stirring personal testimony, critical ode to cinephilia, and a vital feminist history lesson.––Cara Cusumano

Directed by
Elizabeth Sankey

Produced by
Manon Ardisson, Chiara Ventura, Jeremy Warmsley

Starring
(Documentary contributors include: Sophia Di Martino, Catherine Cho, David Emson, Dr. Trudi Seneviratne, Professor Marion Gibson, Shema Tariq)

WORLD PREMIERE

1-800-ON-HER-OWN

Feature | United States | 77 MINUTES | English
Women, Documentary, LGBTQIA+, Music, Politics, Art, Biography

Ani DiFranco is an unmistakable talent who shook the ‘90s folk music scene. Her voice, unique in its tone and power, and her songwriting, full of activism and assertiveness, became a beacon particularly to young women who saw themselves in her lyrics and style. In 1990, she started Righteous Babe Records, creating a path to independently release her own music and proving herself as an artist that would do things her way despite the traditional routes.

In 1-800-ON-HER-OWN, Tribeca alum Dana Flor explores the life of DiFranco today, still touring and making new music, but now with a partner and two children who understandably lure her home. Beautifully vulnerable in her willingness to bring the audience into the ups-and-downs of a very famous yet still struggling to be heard artist, the film is a testament to DiFranco’s rock solid stature as an iconic musician, unwavering in her artistry.––Liza Domnitz

After the Premiere Screening: Special performance by Ani DiFranco.

Directed by
Dana Flor

Produced by
Amy Hobby, Emily Wachtel

WORLD PREMIERE

Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story

Feature | Canada | 98 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Women, Documentary, Music, Biography, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

You know that the iconic track “Bam Bam” has left a mark on music since taking the industry by storm in 1982, but what do you know of the incredible artist who laid her passionate vocals down to give it life? Sister Nancy is one of the most legendary Dancehall artists to grace a mic, and yet the understanding of her impact and legacy suffers beyond diehards of the genre. It’s time to rectify that. The song that has become a sample darling and star-making vehicle for many artists now brings into focus the trials, tribulations and rousing success of its original songstress.

Helmed with a deft touch by Alison Duke, the story provides an opportunity to give Nancy her flowers by way of industry titans like Janelle Monáe, Young Guru and Pete Rock. As efforts to right wrongs (both personal and professional) take center stage, the narrative weaves an indelible look at an artist staunch in their authenticity and fueled by the same resilient vigor that allowed her to become the first woman to break out internationally through Dancehall years ago.––Casey Baron

After the Premiere Screening: Special performance by Sister Nancy with DJ Gravy.

Directed by
Alison Duke

Produced by
Alison Duke, Ngardy Conteh George

Starring
Sister Nancy, Janelle Monae, Pete Rock, Main Source, Soul Syndicate

WORLD PREMIERE

BRATS

Feature | United States | 92 MINUTES | English
Documentary

In the 1980s, Andrew McCarthy was part of a young generation of actors who were set to take over Hollywood after a string of successful teen movies. However, when one New York magazine cover story in 1985 dubs them the Brat Pack, these stars in the making suddenly find themselves losing control over the trajectory of their careers. Now, almost forty years later, McCarthy looks to reconnect with peers and co-stars, such as Emilio Estevez, Jon Cryer, Lea Thompson, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, and Demi Moore, so that together they can reflect on their respective legacies. McCarthy also interviews fans and cultural critics to better understand the impact the Brat Pack movies have had over the decades.

While fans of the John Hughes era of 80s teen movies will delight in seeing McCarthy reminiscing with his former peers. Brats is ultimately a disarmingly intimate Hollywood documentary about looking back on the past and reconciling with the difficulties of being a young adult in the spotlight.––Cara Cusumano

After the Premiere Screening: Panel to follow featuring director Andrew McCarthy, other members of the cast, and surprise guests.

Directed by
Andrew McCarthy

Produced by
Adrian Buitenhuis, Derik Murray

Starring
Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Lea Thompson, Jon Cryer

WORLD PREMIERE

Desire: The Carl Craig Story

Feature | Switzerland, UK | 90 MINUTES | English, French, Spanish | English subtitles
Documentary, Music, Biography, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

Genre-defying music producer Carl Craig bridges elements within the spectrum of electronic music. He plays with notes from techno to jazz, not to mention he gathers audiences at night clubs and all the way to Carnegie Hall. Moving between dance floors in Detroit, London, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and all over the world, Desire: The Carl Craig Story tells a story of an artist whose music tells a story all of its own — one of struggle and joy in the city of Detroit, all while bringing techno music far beyond what the world ever expected.

Told through Craig himself as well as the legions of artists that have played a part in his meteoric rise, Desire: The Carl Craig Story beautifully and boldly captures Carl’s extraordinary journey through music and beyond. Fans will recognize names like Gilles Peterson, Moodymann, Laurent Garnier, DJ Minx and more, but everyone will be captivated by the personality and perseverance that shines through in his music, putting Carl’s story in conversation with some of the most pioneering artists working today.––Casey Baron

After the Premiere Screening: Musical selection by Carl Craig.

Directed by
Jean-Cosme Delaloye

Produced by
Dan Wechsler, Andreas Roald

Starring
Carl Craig, Laurent Garnier, DJ Minx, Kenny Larkin, Roni Size, Jon Dixon

WORLD PREMIERE

Following Harry

Feature | United States | 95 MINUTES | English
Documentary, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

Following Harry is an intimate portrait of Harry Belafonte whose work dedicated to social justice continued until his death in 2023 at age 96. The film allows audiences a window into the lived experiences of both his public and private life, dating from the killing of Trayvon Martin more than a decade ago and taking us on a journey to Florida, to Ferguson, to Ghana, and, finally, to Harry’s home in New York City.

Accompanying Harry as he continues his mission, viewers watch as he shares his work with young activists, his approach to the current state of race relations in America and his hopes for the future. Featuring over 12 years of footage, the film features Harry with artist-activists Aja Monet, Aloe Blacc, Carmen Perez, Philip Agnew, Jesse Williams and more. It’s an inspiring account of a cultural and civil rights icon filled with passion and personal reflection that illustrates the legacy Belafonte left behind and the continuation of his life’s work.––Deborah Rudolph

After the Premiere Screening: The presentation of the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award with Jesse Williams, Aloe Blacc, Aja Monet, Matt Post, Carmen Perez, RodStarz, Sean Pica, and more.

Directed by
Susanne Rostock

Produced by
Frankie Nasso, Edward Zeng, Susanne Rostock

Starring
Harry Belafonte, Carmen Perez, Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour, Phillip Agnew, Steven Pargett, Aloe Blacc, Jasiri X, Aja Monet, RodStarz, Purvi Shaw, Tef Poe , Tory Russell, Dr. Cornell West, Jesse Williams, Gina Belafonte, Thenjiwe McHarris, Angela Davis, Rev William Barber, Paula Mendez, Kerry Kennedy, Matt Post, Kazu Haga, Jindai Joseph, Sean Pica, Choir Master Joe, Rosario Dawson, Chuck D, Talib Kweli

WORLD PREMIERE

Group Therapy

Feature | United States | 86 MINUTES | English
Comedy, Drama, LGBTQIA+

We see a set being built — walls put up to construct a makeshift therapist’s office. Some people walk onto the set and get prepped in makeup chairs. A small audience gathers and sits in an intimate space with chairs lined up in a circle. Neil Patrick Harris leads a few people — a group of comedians — inside the space, and as the comedians sit down and take their places, Harris, with a smile, addresses the room, “Well…who wants to start?”

Filmmaker Neil Berkeley (Gilbert, TF 2017) returns to Tribeca with another nuanced exploration of comedy — a hilarious and surprisingly honest look at mental health through the testimonies from many of today’s most talented comic performers. Anchored by Harris as a moderator, Group Therapy foregrounds candid and humorous conversations between Mike Birbiglia, Nicole Byer, Gary Gulman, London Hughes, Tig Notaro and Atsuko Okatsuka. Berkeley implements a clever framing of this ensemble narrative as we listen in on the comedians bravely revealing the connections between their professional comedy journeys and mental health struggles. Toggling effectively between refreshing moments of levity and self-reflexive ruminations, Group Therapy is precise in its emotional nuance and its application of the comedians’ wit to tackle a necessary conversation on mental wellness.––Jose Rodriguez

After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with film subjects Neil Patrick Harris, Tig Notaro, Mike Birbiglia, London Hughes, Gary Gulman and Atsuko Okatsuka.

Directed by
Neil Berkeley

Produced by
Kevin Healey, Luke Kelly-Clyne, Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley

Starring
Neil Patrick Harris, Mike Birbiglia, Nicole Byer, Gary Gulman, London Hughes, Tig Notaro, and Atsuko Okatsuka

New York Premiere

Kneecap

Feature | Ireland | 105 MINUTES | English, Irish | English subtitles
Comedy

When fate brings schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed “low life scum” Naoise and Liam OG, a hip-hop act like no other is born. Rapping in their native Irish Language, Kneecap erupts as the unexpected figurehead of a civil rights movement to save their Irish mother tongue. Meanwhile, the unlikely trio cheekily navigate police, paramilitaries and politicians all intent upon silencing their defiant sound. Though their anarchic approach to life often makes them their own worst enemies, triumph is for the taking.

Kneecap plays themselves in this fierce and very funny, sex, drugs and hip-hop biopic with Michael Fassbender taking a bow as the charismatic father figure. This debut narrative feature from Rich Peppiatt is a punchy delight.––Simone Ling

After The Premiere Screening: A Special performance by Kneecap for ticket holders at Baby’s All Right. Doors at 8PM.

Directed by
Rich Peppiatt

Produced by
Trevor Birney, Jack Tarling

Starring
Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Jj Ó Dochartaigh, Michael Fassbender

WORLD PREMIERE

Linda Perry: Let It Die Here

Feature | United States | 93 MINUTES | English
Animation, Women, Documentary, LGBTQIA+, Music, Art, Biography

As one of the most recognizable artists of the last 30 years, Linda Perry became an icon with her signature hat, attitude and chart-topping hit “What’s Up” with her band 4 Non Blondes. Since then, she has gone on to make a name for herself as a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer, creating hits for artists such as Adele, Christina Aguilera, Brandi Carlisle, Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion, Ariana Grande, Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton, Pink and Gwen Stefani. In his film, award-winning Tribeca alum Don Hardy takes viewers on an intimate and revealing journey, exploring the life of this pioneering and talented artist.

The film features extraordinary access to Perry herself as she shares some of her most intimate moments, struggling with the past and present as well as obligations to family and her profession, all while questioning the meaning of her life. Combining interviews of colleagues, family and friends with new performance and recording footage, the story unfolds as one of strength and resilience of a gifted artist, daughter, mother, who is finally able to embark on a search to find her own voice.––Deborah Rudolph

After the Premiere Screening: Special performance by Linda Perry.

Directed by
Don Hardy

Produced by
Don Hardy, Shawn Dailey

Starring
Linda Perry, Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, Christina Aguilera, Aubin Crowell, Sara Gilbert

WORLD PREMIERE

Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

Feature | United States | 100 MINUTES | English
Comedy, Documentary, LGBTQIA+, Politics

Comic-turned-filmmaker Page Hurwitz makes her debut at Tribeca with one question: have queer comedians changed the world? This rapturous documentary dives into the dynamic realm that undoubtedly influenced a culture of social change in America. From archival materials to stand up performances and interviews with comedy titans, the film examines what nearly a century of struggle can do to marginalized performers — and its historic aftermath. Despite the battles, queer comics have risen to the top by nurturing the unshakable bonds of community, continuously challenging the status quo and never denying an audience the power of laughter.

In this nonfiction hybrid of stand up and documentary, audiences are welcomed backstage by a show-stopping lineup of comedians including Lily Tomlin, Fortune Feimster, Margaret Cho, Bob The Drag Queen, Rosie O’Donnell and more to explore the definitive history of queer comedy — a history that has, indeed, changed the world.––Mara Tatevosian

Before the Premiere Screening: A standup performance featuring stars of the film, Margaret Cho, Judy Gold, and Joel Kim Booster.

Directed by
Page Hurwitz

Produced by
Katherine LeBlond, Page Hurwitz, Wanda Sykes

Starring
Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Eddie Izzard, Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Fortune Feimster, Todd Glass, Hannah Gadsby, Scott Thompson, Judy Gold, Bob The Drag Queen, Joel Kim Booster

WORLD PREMIERE

Rebel Country

Feature | United States, UK | 81 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Documentary, LGBTQIA+, Music, Black & African American Diaspora Stories

Country music, as Richard Nixon said in his (in)famous address at the Grand Ole Opry in 1974, is a uniquely American genre, formed here and nowhere else. So why doesn’t the face of country reflect the diversity of the nation? That question is both asked and answered in this timely and urgent film. Rebel Country exposes the diverse roots of country music, reclaiming the contributions of Black and Mexican-American musicians and uncovering the history of segregation and censorship that has made so-called “bro country” the norm in Nashville.

But all of that is changing as LGBTQ+ performers, as well as women artists and artists of color, are claiming their place in country music. Rebel Country has the electric atmosphere of a documentary that’s being made in the right place at the right time, an excitement that’s supercharged by musical performances from iconoclasts like Lainey Wilson, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Jelly Roll, Blanco Brown, Frank Ray, Sam Williams, BRELAND and Lindsay Ell.––Jarod Neece

Rebel Country will be preceded by the short Dynasty and Destiny.

After the Premiere Screening: A special performance by platinum selling country music artist BRELAND.

Directed by
Francis Whately

Produced by
Francis Whately

Starring
Blanco Brown, Jelly Roll, Breland, Lainey Wilson, Sam Williams, Lindsay Ell

WORLD PREMIERE

Satisfied

Feature | United States | 84 MINUTES | English
New York, Women, Documentary, Music, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

In 2015, Hamilton opened and took the world by storm, earning near-universal critical acclaim and, some might say, forever changing the course of musical theater. It certainly changed the life of Renée Elise Goldsberry, who starred as Angelica Schuyler and would go on to win the Tony Award for her performance. The journey to that win was a hard one, though, filled with uncertainty, loss, and, ultimately, growth.
Satisfied takes viewers through that emotional journey, providing an intimate look at Goldsberry’s path as she grapples with fertility and the desire to have a family, all while balancing her growing career against the backdrop of the hit musical Hamilton. With vlogs Goldsberry recorded over the years and exclusive never-before-seen footage of the making of Hamilton, audiences are given a front-row seat to not only the show itself but also get a chance to deeply understand the sacrifices and battles Goldsberry navigated on her way to motherhood and stardom.– Faridah Gbadamosi

After the Premiere Screening: A performance by Renée Elise Goldsberry and special guests including Sara Bareilles, Ariana DeBose, Leslie Odom Jr., and Kelli O’Hara.

Directed by
Chris Bolan and Melissa Haizlip

Produced by
Chris Bolan, Steven Cantor, Melissa Haizlip, Jamie Schutz

Starring
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Alexis Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Brielle Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Lin-Manuel Miranda

WORLD PREMIERE

State of Silence

Feature | Mexico | 83 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Politics, Journalism

The importance of independent journalism can never be overstated. In Mexico, independent journalists who report on issues such as local corruption, water diversion away from farmers and cartel-related shootings face the dangers of violence, death and forced relocation from their country. Santiago Maza’s riveting, eye-opening State of Silence follows four such committed journalists — Jesús Medina, Juan de Dios García Davish, María de Jesús Peters and March Vizcarra — who recall their experiences and express their strong commitment to following leads despite the constant threat to themselves and their families. In a profession where they must continually balance their career with their personal safety, they serve as what Medina calls an “amplifier” for the people living in what they see as a “narco politics” state, where the line between the law and crime is blurred and the continuing threats to journalists have created zones of silence that should never be tolerated.––Brian Gordon

After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with Mexican journalists Marcos Vizcarra and Maria de Jesus Peters, director Santiago Maza and executive producers Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal.

Directed by
Santiago Maza

Produced by
Abril López Carrillo

Despicable Me 4

Feature | United States | 95 MINUTES | English
Animation, Comedy

For the first time in seven years, Gru (Oscar nominee Steve Carrell), the world’s favorite former supervillain, returns for a new era of Minions mayhem. Gru and Lucy (Oscar nominee Kristen Wiig) and their three girls welcome a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. But as Gru faces a new nemesis—Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend, Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofía Vergara)—Gru and his family are forced to go on the run. Directed by Academy Award nominee Chris Renaud from a screenplay by Emmy winner Mike White, the film also stars Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove and Pierre Coffin as the voice of the Minions. A Universal Pictures release, Despicable Me 4 is produced by Illumination founder Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman.

In honor of Father’s Day on June 16, Tribeca is proud to present this special event exclusively for Tribeca members and their families.

Directed by
Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage

Produced by
Brett Hoffman, Christopher Meledandri

Starring
Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Joey King, Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara, Miranda Cosgrove, Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman

WORLD PREMIERE

A Quiet Place: Day One

Feature | United States | 120 MINUTES | English
Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction

Experience the day the world went quiet.

Directed by
Michael Sarnoski

Produced by
Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, John Krasinski, Andrew Form

Starring
Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou

Indeed Presents: Rising Voices Season 4

| 240 MINUTES

Indeed’s Rising Voices, in partnership with Emmy® Award-winning writer, creator and actor Lena Waithe and her company Hillman Grad Productions and 271 Films, is back with its fourth season. Indeed knows that while talent is universal, opportunity, especially in the film industry—is not. Unequal access in the film industry is particularly harmful due to film’s significant role in shaping societal attitudes and perspectives, and that’s why this program focuses on providing new opportunities to discover, invest in and amplify stories created by BIPOC filmmakers.

Ten filmmakers were selected from over 700 applicants to create short films around the singular theme “the future of work.” Indeed truly believes the world can work better and a key component of that vision is extending opportunity to all people.

Indeed will debut the 10 Rising Voices Season Four shorts at the 2024 Tribeca Festival in NYC on June 10th.

Season four participants include: Mercedes Arturo, Kelly Yu, Anndi Jinelle Liggett, Wes Goodrich, Jean Liu, Kelly Luu & Kevin Luu, Winter Dunn, Manuel Del Valle, Omar Kamara, and Robin Takao D’Oench.

AlphaGo

Feature | 90 MINUTES

AlphaGo, (United States). With simple rules but a near-infinite number of possible outcomes, the ancient Chinese board game Go has long been considered the holy grail of artificial intelligence. Director Greg Kohs’ absorbing documentary chronicles Google’s DeepMind team as it takes on one of the world’s top Go players in a weeklong tournament, pitting man against machine in a competition that reveals as much about the workings of the human mind as it does the future of AI. A Netflix release. 

Directed by
Greg Kohs

Produced by
Kevin Proudfoot, Josh Rosen, Gary Krieg

Beat Street

Feature | United States | 105 MINUTES | English
Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

Beat Street, (United States). Featuring a special introduction by Grammy Award-winning rapper, entrepreneur, and hip hop legend Nas, the film features a group of Bronx teens in the early years of hip-hop attempting to break into show business. An Orion Pictures release.

Directed by
Stan Lathan

Produced by
Harry Belafonte, David V. Picker

Starring
Rae Dawn Chong, Guy Davis, Jon Chardiet, Leon W. Grant, Saundra Santiago, Robert Taylor, Lee Chamberlin, Mary Alice, Shawn Elliot, Jim Borrelli, Dean Elliott, Franc. Reyes

Daft Punk & Leiji Matsumoto’s Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (4K Remaster)

Feature | 65 MINUTES

Daft Punk & Leiji Matsumoto’s Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (4K Remaster), (France, Japan). Originally released in May 2003, Daft Punk & Leiji Matsumoto’s Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem was written by Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Cédric Hervet, directed by Kazuhisa Takenouchi and supervised by the legendary Leiji Matsumoto. Interstella 5555 tells the story of the abduction of an alien music band by an evil human character who has dark plans. The hour-long film was cut into music videos to accompany Daft Punk’s album Discovery, and is rare to see in its original form in theaters. This North American premiere version has been remastered in 4K.

Directed by
Kazuhisa Takenouchi

Produced by
Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo

Footloose

Feature | United States | 84 MINUTES | English

Footloose, (United States). A 1984 American musical drama film directed by Herbert Ross. It tells the story of Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town, where he attempts to overturn the ban on dancing instituted by the efforts of a local minister (John Lithgow). A Paramount Pictures release.

Directed by
Herbert Ross

Starring
Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, Dianne Wiest, John Lithgow, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Chris Penn

Mean Streets

Feature | United States | 112 MINUTES | English

Mean Streets, (United States). In Manhattan’s Little Italy, four friends in their 20s drift through life in their neighborhood streets and bars, where, when not hustling a crooked buck, they drink, chase women and brawl—sometimes with each other. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Produced by Jonathan T. Taplin.

After the Movie: A conversation with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro moderated by Nas.

Directed by
Martin Scorsese

Produced by
Jonathan T. Taplin

Starring
Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, David Proval, Amy Robinson, Richard Romanus, and Cesare Danova

North by Northwest

Feature | United States | 136 MINUTES | English
New York, Women, Documentary, Music, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

North by Northwest 70mm Restoration (United States). Cary Grant stars as an innocent man mistaken for a spy in one of director Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest thrillers. While leaving New York’s Plaza Hotel, advertising executive Roger Thornhill (Grant) has the misfortune of standing just as the name “George Kaplan” is paged–starting a lethal case of mistaken identity and a nonstop game of cat and mouse as he is pursued across North America by espionage agents trying to kill him–and by police who suspect him of murder.

North By Northwest (1959) was filmed in VistaVision and released in 1.85. Warner Bros.

Motion Picture Imaging scanned the original 8-perf 35mm VistaVision camera negative in 13k with all restoration work completed in 6.5k, Sheri Eisenberg, Colorist. The 70mm film print was created at Fotokem by filming out a new 65mm negative. Warner Bros. Post Production Creative Services created a 5.1 audio mix from the original mono stems with Doug Mountain, Sound Mixer. Inventure Studios created the DTS encoded deliverable of the restored audio to playback flawlessly with the 70mm film print. This newly restored version has been approved by the Film Foundation.

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Produced by
Alfred Hitchcock

Starring
Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis

Sopranos 25th Anniversary Reunion: WISE GUY David Chase and The Sopranos

| 160 MINUTES

Join us for an unforgettable journey into the heart of the groundbreaking HBO Original series, The Sopranos, as we celebrate its 25th anniversary with an exclusive reunion and premiere of the new documentary, WISE GUY David Chase and The Sopranos. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to engage in a live conversation with the iconic cast and creators of The Sopranos, including David Chase, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Kathrine Narducci, and more. This is your chance to hear firsthand accounts and revelations from the people who brought this groundbreaking series to life, making it an event not to be missed!

Preceded by Alex Gibney’s illuminating documentary that not only showcases the genius of renowned director David Chase but also unveils never-before-seen audition tapes, interviews, and a treasure trove of insider footage, offering a fresh perspective on the show that will make you fall in love with it all over again. Gibney expertly weaves together the story of David Chase’s life and career, offering a fascinating window into the creative process behind one of the most influential and award-winning series in television history. Directed by Alex Gibney and produced by Ophelia Harutyunyan and Alex Gibney. An HBO Documentary Film.

After the Premiere Screening: A conversation featuring David Chase, Michele Chase, Terence Winter, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro, Annabella Sciorra, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Drea De Matteo, Steve Schirripa, Kathrine Narducci, and Dominic Chianese, moderated by Director Alex Gibney.

Directed by
Alex Gibney

Produced by
Ophelia Harutyunyan

Starring
David Chase

The Sugarland Express

Feature | 110 MINUTES

The Sugarland Express, (United States). Steven Spielberg made his feature film directorial debut in 1974 with The Sugarland Express, which he also co-wrote, and follows a woman (Goldie Hawn) and her husband (William Atherton) as they take a police officer (Michael Sacks) hostage and flee across Texas while they try to get to their child before he is placed in foster care. The following year, he directed JAWS, the first film to break the $100 million box office mark and transform the economics of the film business. He earned Academy Award nominations for Best Director for The Fabelmans, West Side Story, Lincoln, Munich, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Additionally, he earned DGA Award nominations for those films, as well as Amistad, Empire of the Sun, The Color Purple, and JAWS. With thirteen to date, Spielberg has been honored by his peers with more DGA Award nominations than any other director. A Universal Pictures release.

After the movie: A conversation with Steven Spielberg, moderated by Variety’s Executive Editor Brent Lang.

Directed by
Steven Spielberg

Produced by
Richard D. Zanuck, David Brown

Starring
Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, William Atherton, Michael Sacks

New York Premiere

Alarms

Short | France | 17 MINUTES | French | English subtitles
Drama

Pierre is diligently overseeing the completion of the tumultuous construction site under his responsibility, ensuring that progress doesn’t come at the cost of safety.

Directed by
Nicolas Panay

Produced by
Noëlle Levenez

Starring
Thomas Coumans, Laurence Côte , Eminé Meyrem

World Premiere

All Things Metal

Short | United States | 18 MINUTES | English
Documentary, Music, Art, Biography, Disability

Three brothers run an iron forge together where they smith and also make heavy metal music. Their creative impulses come from a unique childhood marked by a shared disability.

Directed by
Motoki Otsuka

Produced by
Lucy Sexton

New York Premiere

À toi les oreilles

Short | Canada | 14 MINUTES | French | English subtitles
Music, Narrative

While the townsfolk are celebrating the village’s anniversary parade, Étienne tries the impossible: to show them how beautiful his family’s cacophony really is.

Directed by
Alexandre Isabelle

Produced by
Alexandre Isabelle

Starring
Bruno Bouchard, Gaston Lepage, Marie-Ginette Guay, Dâvi Simard, Gabrielle Bouthillier, Jean-François Berthiaume

WORLD Premiere

¡Beso de lengua!

Short | Mexico | 15 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Experimental, Comedy, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Romance, Latinx/Latin American

Itzcóatl and Moisés are on their first date. After a couple of hours of getting to know each other, they “play” an unusual and riveting game.

Directed by
José Luis Zorrero

Produced by
Irving Serrano

Starring
Dante Ureta, Francisco-Jácome García

WORLD Premiere

BITE

Short | United States | 14 MINUTES | English
Action, Women, Comedy, Drama, Thriller, Biography, Disability, Narrative

A woman who loses her identity to PTSD sets out to regain her identity by overcoming her trauma. Based on the writer/director’s personal experience. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: a disability.

Directed by
Jorey Worb

Produced by
Jorey Worb, Alex Raiman, Katie White, Chelsea Eisen, Genevieve Kertesz

Starring
Troian Bellisario, Evan Arnold, Arjun Gupta, Charlie Korman, Lesley Wolman, Jorey Worb

WORLD Premiere

Black Hercules

Short | United States | 9 MINUTES | English
Documentary, Expressions of Black Freedom

Black Hercules is a soulfully candid pilgrimage into the life and times of street bodybuilder, Craig Monson—and the social dichotomy of Black LA that made him into a legend.

Directed by
Rodney Lucas

Produced by
Sari Thayer, Rhea Scott, Justin Lacob

Starring
Craig Monson, Hasani Gomez, Ronald Gordon

WORLD Premiere

Bright White Light

Short | Finland | 13 MINUTES | Dutch, English, Finnish | English subtitles
Animation, Experimental, Documentary, Art

Bright White Light explores near-death experiences through real audio recordings, unveiling the boundaries of life and the mysteries of the afterlife.

Directed by
Henna Välkky and Eesu Lehtola

Produced by
Henna Välkky

WORLD Premiere

The Brown Dog

Short | United States | 14 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Animation

Night after night, a watchman clocks into his lonely booth and spends hours composing endless security logs to stay awake, as he slowly descends into darkness.

Directed by
Jamie-James Medina

Produced by
Nadia Hallgren, Jamie-James Medina, Mikey Stirton

Starring
Michael K. Williams, Steve Buscemi

WORLD Premiere

Budd, Sweat & Tearz

Short | UK | 22 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
New York, Animation, Experimental, Documentary, Politics, Expressions of Black Freedom

After serving two decades for drug charges, Craig Sweat launches Uncle Budd, New York’s first black-owned cannabis brand in the legal market, but faces obstacles raised by his past.

Directed by
Jamie Perault

Produced by
Jamie Perault, Cody Updegrave

Starring
Craig Sweat , Jeanette Sweat , Miguel Frito Lopez, Shane Breen, Brandi Dais, David ‘ Dr Dave’ J Ores, MD Leslee Schwartz, Esq Michael Rosco

International Premiere

Budo

Short | Sweden | 15 MINUTES | Japanese | English subtitles
Animation, Comedy, Drama

On a widows trip to the supermarket she meets a cat. It follows her home, but soon makes itself more comfortable in her Tokyo apartment than she could imagine.

Directed by
Amanda Aagard and Alexander Toma

Produced by
Amanda Aagard, Alexander Toma

Starring
Mayuko Lindström, Emrik Lindström, Kiyomi Nishimatsu, Mai Mashiro, Moriyuki Hishida

New York Premiere

Camping in Paradise

Short | Norway | 24 MINUTES | Norwegian | English subtitles
Comedy, Drama, Romance

A philosopher and his girlfriend involuntarily must spend a night at a nudist campsite, which is far beyond their comfort zone. At the campsite they meet a friendly couple, and this reveals underlying conflicts and creates tension in their relationship.

Directed by
Eirik Tveiten

Produced by
Gaute Lid Larssen, Heidi Arnesen

Starring
Espen Alknes, Oddrun Valestrand, Stig Henrik Hoff, Mona Grenne

International Premiere

Canine

Short | Ireland, Namibia | 16 MINUTES | Afrikaans, English | English subtitles
Environmental

The life of an elite tracking dog as he is trained in Ireland and then deployed to protect Black Rhino from ruthless poachers in Africa.

Directed by
Paul Webster

Produced by
Paul Webster

Starring
Gouse Gammo Divia Rory Hennebry Faan Oosthuizen

World Premiere

Catharsis

Short | United States | 17 MINUTES | English
New York, Experimental, Dance, Narrative

A dancer savant with serious anger issues is about to sabotage his life when a strange psychotherapist brings him to face the shadows of his subconscious mind.

Directed by
Brian Logvinsky

Produced by
Jess Vogel, Harrison Jaffee

Starring
Deborah Harry, Harrison Ball, Marc Geller, Jemima Kirke, Sasha Pivovarova, Zumi Rosow

New York Premiere

Clodagh

Short | Ireland | 17 MINUTES | English, Irish
Women, Dance, Drama, Music

A lonely priest’s housekeeper discovers a young Irish girl of exceptional promise.

Directed by
Portia A. Buckley

Produced by
Michael Lindley

Starring
Bríd Ní Neachtain, Katelyn Rose Downey, Jim Kitson, Aidan O’Hare, Tom Lawlor, Noelle Brown

New York Premiere

Complications

Short | Norway | 14 MINUTES | Norwegian | English subtitles
Comedy, Drama, Thriller, Narrative

A cam session turns into a life-and-death situation for Lotte – a webcam dominatrix.

Directed by
Ivar Aase

Produced by
Ivar Aase

Starring
Anna Ladegaard, Sven Henriksen

World Premiere

Confessions of a Jumbotron Addict

Short | United States | 9 MINUTES | English
New York, Animation, Comedy, Sports

An obsessive basketball fan cracks the code for getting on his home arena’s Jumbotron and decides to wield his new power for good.

Directed by
Mickey Duzyj

Produced by
Mickey Duzyj

North American Premiere

The Cost of Flesh

Short | France | 10 MINUTES | French | English subtitles
Horror

Alice is a totally paralyzed teenager who can only communicate through the movements of her eyes. Her brother and sister try an obscure method to treat her…

Directed by
Tomas Palombi

Produced by
Marc Eliel Chouraqui, Florian Pannetier, Willfried Fedida

Starring
Nayla Berrada, Camille Monchy, Baptiste Philippe

North American Premiere

The Creators

Short | UK | 5 MINUTES
Animation, Comedy, Science Fiction

In another dimension, the Creators are working on a project. Gradually they come closer to a result. But creating a world that mirrors their imagination is not an easy task.

Directed by
Madeleine Homan

Produced by
Madeleine Homan

New York Premiere

David Again

Short | United States | 17 MINUTES | English
New York, Documentary, Biography

A lifelong New Yorker conquers addiction and finds redemption, with the help of a friend.

Directed by
Adam Elliott

Produced by
Emily Kincaid, Lisa Schiller, Eliza Dennis, Aaron Simms, Matthew Lincoln

Starring
David Dennis, Jon Cryer

WORLD Premiere

Depression is a Beast

Short | United States | 11 MINUTES | English
Horror, Women, Documentary, Disability

An actor who typically battles evil forces in horror films confronts her darkest struggle, a real-life fight against depression.

Directed by
Courtney Dixon

Produced by
John Cassaras

Starring
Jenna Kanell

WORLD Premiere

Dirty Towel

Short | United States | 13 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy, Drama

An actor who typically battles evil forces in horror films confronts her darkest struggle, a real-life fight against depression.

Directed by
Callie Carpinteri

Produced by
Callie Carpinteri, Emma Parks, Katrina Lee, Cassidy Campbell, Vanessa Nottingham

Starring
Emma Parks, Laura Coover, Ben Krieger, Laurel Nail

New York Premiere

Dynasty and Destiny

Short | United States | 7 MINUTES | English
Women, Documentary, Biography, Sports

A psychological portrait of the mother-daughter duo, Kanesha Jackson and Kortnee Solomon, bound together by their passion for the rodeo and the weight of their family’s legacy in the sport.

Directed by
Travis Lee Ratcliff

Produced by
Brody Carmichael, Emily Basma, Travis Lee Ratcliff

Starring
Kanesha Jackson, Kortnee Solomon

World Premiere

Earthshine

Short | United States | 3 MINUTES | English
Animation

In this animated short film the narrative unfolds as a stream of consciousness, as the protagonist bravely confronts insecurities around anxiety, self worth, success standards and love.

Directed by
Starr Nathan

Produced by
Starr Nathan

World Premiere

Ebb & Flow

Short | Lebanon, Qatar, United States | 18 MINUTES | Arabic | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Romance, Politics

Determined to have her first kiss, a young teenage girl defies her tumultuous world in search of normalcy.

Directed by
Nay Tabbara

Produced by
Isabelle Mecattaf

Starring
Dona Atallah, Aya Zeaiter, Elyssa Skaff, Sami Saade, Karim Chemaly, Sarah Atallah

World Premiere

The End Of The Party

Short | United States | 5 MINUTES | English
Women, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Music, Romance, Mystery, Narrative

The End Of The Party is a coming of age film about two teen girls who have never met.

Directed by
Kate Sullivan

Produced by
Molly O’Keefe, Patricia Seely

Starring
Eloise Payet, Annie Marie Elliot, Devin Druid, Kate Godfrey, Grant Fortune, Carly Medina, Tamika Katon-Donegal, Eric Rudnick

World Premiere

A Family Guide To Hunting

Short | United States | 15 MINUTES | English, Korean | English subtitles
Horror, Women, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Nature, Narrative

When Eva, a doomsday prepper, takes her uptight Korean-American parents and all-American boyfriend on a bonding hunting trip, things go from bad to grisly.

Directed by
Zao Wang

Produced by
Joyce Liu-Countryman, Louise Barretto, Zao Wang

Starring
Margaret Cho, Kahyun Kim, Keong Sim, Craig Newman

New York Premiere

Favourites

Short | Australia | 5 MINUTES | English
Comedy, Drama

Two parents face an impossible choice when their family camping trip goes terribly wrong.

Directed by
Nick Russell

Produced by
Nick Russell

Starring
Stephen Curry, Sibylla Budd, Maria Angelico, Tony Briggs, Chris Labbett, Imogen Labbett

New York Premiere

Fire Fucking Fire

Short | United States | 17 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy, LGBTQIA+, Romance

When Ally, a people-pleasing lesbian, beds her rockstar crush, she thinks her dreams of love and popularity are coming true but in the morning the rockstar won’t leave…

Directed by
Julia Eringer and Rachel Paulson

Produced by
Kirsten Knisely, Dublin Wahlberg

Starring
Rachel Paulson, Calico Cooper, Capri Campeau, Vico Ortiz

World Premiere

Five Ways to Get Rid of a Hickey

Short | Chile | 19 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Women, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Narrative, Latinx/Latin American

After being caught at school giving each other a hickey, Manu (14) and Toña (15) begin a journey of desire, guilt and goodbyes.

Directed by
Colectivo Niñita Perversa

Produced by
Colectivo Niñita Perversa

Starring
Catalina Huerta, Daniela Tilleria

World Premiere

Fuck-a-Fan

Short | Netherlands | 24 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Romance

A viral porn star and a broken-hearted fan get a lesson in true intimacy when their gonzo “Fuck-a-Fan” shoot unravels in an unexpectedly wholesome way.

Directed by
Muriel d’Ansembourg

Produced by
Isabella Depeweg, Els Vandevorst

Starring
Alessa Savage, Joes Brauers, Dave MacRae

World Premiere

Happy To Help You

Short | United States | 17 MINUTES | English
New York, Women, Comedy, LGBTQIA+

A self-involved therapist at a crisis phone line clashes with a depressed caller.

Directed by
Jeremy Beiler

Produced by
Alex Bach, Daniel Powell, Jeremy Beiler, Lizzie Frieder, Taylor Kowalski

Starring
Amy Sedaris, Jeremy Beiler

World Premiere

The HongFu Hotel

Short | United States | 19 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
New York, Horror, Drama, Narrative

A son reunites with his father on the eve of their family hotel’s demolition and is asked to bid farewell to the lingering spirits of the hotel’s past guests.

Directed by
Tian Xu

Produced by
“Amy” Kouxiao Zhang

Starring
Kevin Dang, Zhu-Sheng Yin, Annalee Richards, Christine Liao, Jason Sun

World Premiere

Idiomatic

Short | UK | 13 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Comedy, Drama

Alex can see metaphors – and it’s ruining his life.

Directed by
Phil Dunster

Produced by
Patrick Tolan, Christien Bart-Gittens

Starring
Phil Dunster, Kerry Godliman, Vicki Pepperdine, Harry Trevaldwyn, Nina Singh.

New York Premiere

In the Shadow of the Cypress

Short | Iran | 20 MINUTES | Persian | English subtitles
Animation, Drama, Disability, Narrative

A captain suffering from PTSD who struggles with a harsh life. He wants to be a caring father…One day something unexpected happens. It can be either a new trouble or a blessing in disguise.

Directed by
Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi

Produced by
Hossein Molayemi, Shirin Sohani

World Premiere

Is Now A Good Time?

Short | United States | 12 MINUTES | English, Spanish
Comedy, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Thriller

For Marty.

Directed by
Jim Cummings

Produced by
Thomas Cross, Dustin Hahn

Starring
Jim Cummings, Leticia Castillo, Daniel Sanchez, Christine Avila, Daniel Liu, Dustin Hahn

World Premiere

I Want to Violently Crash into the Windshield of Love

Short | Mexico | 14 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Women, Documentary, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Music, Narrative, Latinx/Latin American

A heartbroken Mexico City rapper seeks solace in freestyle sessions, finding support in her community. Embracing unconventional healing, she rediscovers her lyrical prowess, achieving liberation through transformation.

Directed by
Fernanda Tovar

Produced by
Daniel Loustaunau

Starring
La Güera, Pau Sitar, La Bruja, Thamvora, Mari Jane, Salma Sánchez

New York Premiere

Jane Austen’s Period Drama

Short | United States | 13 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy, Romance

England, 1813. In the middle of a long-awaited marriage proposal, Miss Estrogenia Talbot gets her period. Her suitor, the dashing Mr. Dickley, mistakes the blood for an injury.

Directed by
Julia Aks and Steve Pinder

Produced by
Elli Legerski

Starring
Julia Aks, Lachlan Ta’imua Hannemann, Samantha Smart, Nicole Alyse Nelson, Hugo Armstrong, Marilyn Brett, Dustin Ingram

World Premiere

JUMPMAN

Short | United States | 22 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Documentary, Politics, Art, Biography, Sports, Journalism

The story of the photographer who created the 1984 LIFE portrait of Michael Jordan that was copied by Nike and turned into one of the world’s most famous logos.

Directed by
Tom Dey

Produced by
Tom Dey & Coliena Rentmeester

Starring
Co Rentmeester

World Premiere

Kasbi

Short | United States | 12 MINUTES | English, Urdu | English subtitles
Women, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Romance, Narrative

A middle-aged Pakistani housewife, in search of herself, hires a young, self-assured sex worker to keep her company for the night.

Directed by
Farah Jabir

Produced by
Amelia Lim, Arielle Friedman

Starring
Anna Khaja, Zina Louhaichy, Farjad Malik, Maahnoor Siddiqui

International Premiere

Kum-Kum

Short | Saudi Arabia | 15 MINUTES | Arabic | English subtitles
Drama

A teenager experienced a traumatic event that profoundly altered both her behavior and her perspective in life.

Directed by
Dur Ahmed Jamjoom

Produced by
Lama Jarkas

Starring
Nada Basaad , Dana Alkadhi, Raneem Khalifa, Waad Shaat

US Premiere

La Roche

Short | Switzerland | 28 MINUTES | French, Italian, Swiss-German | English subtitles
Documentary, Biography, Sports

A short portrait documentary on the ascend and battle of Marc Rochat into the elite level of World cup Slalom skiing.

Directed by
Basil Schneeberger, Nolan Büchi

Produced by
Andrea Wüest

New York Premiere

Learning English

Short | United States | 11 MINUTES | English, Mandarin | English subtitles
Women, Comedy

An enthusiastic new arrival to the US seizes an unorthodox opportunity to practice her language skills.

Directed by
Jean Liu

Produced by
William T Phoenix

Starring
Zine Tseng, Ran Wei

World Premiere

Lice

Short | India, United States | 14 MINUTES | English, Hindi | English subtitles
Drama, Narrative

12-year-old Roshni forges a bond with the class outcast, Chakor, to keep her lice infestation a secret. The malicious lie looms large over Roshni as a friendship blossoms between them.

Directed by
Vindhya Gupta

Produced by
Vindhya Gupta, Aditi C. Gupta, Avinash Vishwanathan, Anooya Swamy

Starring
Perry Chhabra, Priyanshi Sharma, Vaishnavi Trivedi, Rishika Yadav

LUKi and the Lights

Short | Netherlands, United States | 11 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Animation, Comedy, Drama, Disability

LUKi, a charming and upbeat robot known for living life to the fullest, is diagnosed with the life-altering disease ALS. He must choose how to face life going forward.

Directed by
Toby Cochran

Produced by
Adrian Ochoa

Starring
Kendra Vernon, Toby Cochran, Anjo Snijders

New York Premiere

Makayla’s Voice:
A Letter to the World

Short | United States | 23 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Disability

In this touching documentary, witness Makayla’s courageous journey. Despite her autism, her parents’ unwavering love unveils her vibrant spirit, proving that even in silence, voices can be heard.

Directed by
Julio Palacio

Produced by
Samuel Hanson, Sasha Levinson, Julio Palacio

Starring
Makayla Cain, Khari Cain, Mañana Cain, Roxy Sewell

New York Premiere

The Mayfly

Short | United States | 7 MINUTES | English
New York, Animation, Women, Dance, Music, Art, Nature

The Mayfly is an animated short film about the brief life of Megalyn Mayfly that touches upon the essence of life, passion and defiance of societal norms.

Directed by
Sue Perrotto

Produced by
Bradford Coolidge, Melissa Coolidge

Starring
Betty Lynn Buckley

World Premiere

Mermaids

Short | Martinique | 16 MINUTES | Creole, French | English subtitles
Narrative

Daniel, a widowed father in northern Martinique, lives with his 8-year-old daughter, Soraya. A fisherman and restaurateur, he struggles to survive in a town plagued by economic and social crises.

Directed by
Sarah Malléon

Produced by
Nicolas LECX

Starring
Julien Béramis, Jade Cyrille , Patrick Hierso

World Premiere

Motorcycle Mary

Short | United States | 21 MINUTES | English
Women, Sports

Mary McGee became the first American woman to race motorcycles. Mary’s pioneering journey of conquering sexism and her own fears paved the way for the next chapter in motorsports.

Directed by
Haley Watson

Produced by
Rachel Greenwald, Haley Watson

Starring
Mary McGee

North American Premiere

My Best Friend

Short | United States, France | 18 MINUTES | English, French | English subtitles
New York, Women, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Romance, Narrative

Two best friends unexpectedly sleep with each other, challenging the constraints of platonic friendship and the true depths of intimacy.

Directed by
Elina Street

Produced by
Maxwell Gately

Starring
Marie Zabukovec, Lana Boy

World Premiere

Nate & John

Short | United States | 7 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Animation, Drama

A barber and his client form an unlikely bond that develops over their lifetimes.

Directed by
Jumai Yusuf

Produced by
Todd Feldman, Michael Bickel, Jean Liu

Starring
Ben Holtzmuller

New York Premiere

NEA

Short | Colombia | 22 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Comedy, Drama, Thriller

A hot-headed taxi driver in Medellín has to repair his boss’ AC at 5 AM. He is tested by a series of misfortunes, leading him on a self-questioning path.

Directed by
Alex Ulises and Nelson Gonzalez Navarrete

Produced by
Jesus Peña

Starring
Julián Sanchéz, Franko Garcia, Luis Anthony Tamayo, Angelo Steven Mazón

World Premiere

Nepotism, Baby!

Short | United States | 12 MINUTES | English
Horror, Comedy, Thriller

After her nepotism fails her, a fame obsessed young woman begins to entertain her melancholic wiles.

Directed by
Tij D’oyen

Produced by
Cameron Morton, Rachel Walden

Starring
Betsey Brown, Penny Balfour, Gus Hermoza

World Premiere

Next Week

Short | Canada | 7 MINUTES | English
Women, Drama

Set over one afternoon, Next Week is a snapshot of how a moment can reveal everything about a person’s life and also nothing at all.

Directed by
Mona Koochek and Shaneixqui Brown

Produced by
Anna Killen

Starring
Kabriel Lilly, Emily Mitchell, Elle McAdam, Danielle Ayow

World Premiere

Officer Stanley

Short | United States | 8 MINUTES | English, Spanish | English subtitles
Comedy, Drama

A police officer embarrasses himself on the job and gets wound up in a string of lies and confusion to cover up the situation.

Directed by
Scottie Cameron

Produced by
Abbi Jacobson

Starring
Jimmi Simpson, Matt Walsh, Jodi Balfour, Alma Martinez, Juan Carlos Cantu, Kendall Johnson, Ross Harris, Teri Ruiz

World Premiere

Oh, Christmas Tree

Short | United States | 11 MINUTES | English
Drama, Narrative

16 year-old Claire and her father Ben try to recreate a few of their favorite Christmas traditions.

Directed by
Katie Aselton

Produced by
Jett Fink

Starring
Mark Duplass, Ora Duplass

New York Premiere

original skin

Short | UK | 12 MINUTES | English
Drama, LGBTQIA+, Science Fiction

In an alternate world where having sex means swapping bodies with the other person, a young woman struggles to be herself. A deeply intimate portrait of identity in transition.

Directed by
Mdhamiri á Nkemi

Produced by
Sabina Smitham

Starring
Sorcha Groundsell, Olive Gray

World Premiere

Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia

Short | United States | 8 MINUTES | English
Documentary, LGBTQIA+, Sports

An intimate look at the journey of professional athlete Cal Calamia, a transgender marathon runner who’s advocating for inclusion in the running world.

Directed by
Sarah Klein and Tom Mason

Produced by
Sarah Klein and Heather Martino

Starring
Cal Calamia

International Premiere

Passarinho

Short | Mexico | 12 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Women, Comedy, Drama, Sports, Latinx/Latin American

Two teenage girls try to meet their favorite soccer player, but the plan is threatened when one of them gets her first period.

Directed by
Natalia García Agraz

Produced by
Daniela Mosca

Starring
Camila Robertson, Naomy Romo, Isabella Patrón

North American Premiere

Pastrana

Short | Brazil | 15 MINUTES | Portuguese | English subtitles
Documentary, Drama, Sports

While downhill skateboarder Melissa relives memories of a friendship, Pastrana’s inherent presence helps her gain a deeper understanding of time.

Directed by
Gabriel Motta and Melissa Brogni

Produced by
Aletéia Selonk

Starring
Allysson Pastrana, Melissa Brogni

World Premiere

Perfect Ten

Short | United States | 12 MINUTES | English
Women, Comedy, Drama, Romance

A girl is told by the guy stringing her along that she’s the perfect girl, but not for now, for ten years from now — and she believes him. Based on a pathetic true story.

Directed by
Alyssa Litman

Produced by
Michael Levin

Starring
Taylor Misiak, Nicholas D’Agosto, Gina Hecht, Broti Gupta

New York Premiere

Punta Salinas

Short | Puerto Rico | 16 MINUTES | English subtitles
Women, Drama, Romance, Latinx/Latin American

After having sex for the first time, Alba, a 16 year old, searches for a strength she has never exercised before.

Directed by
Maria del Mar Rosario

Produced by
Kritzia Belen Monserrate

Starring
Katia Pacheco Baez, Natalia Berrios Arroyo, Sergio Cora, Mia Echevarria, Mariela Candelario

World Premiere

Ripe!

Short | United States, Spain | 18 MINUTES | Catalan, English, Spanish | English subtitles
Women, Comedy, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Romance, Sports, Narrative

Nothing says “it’s complicated” like breaking your crush’s arm.

Directed by
Tusk

Produced by
Cookie Walukas, Tusk, Gerard Rodríguez, Laura Fernández-Hormigo, Frank Lucas

Starring
Raina Landolfi, Rita Roca

New York Premiere

Robbie Ain’t Right No More

Short | United States | 18 MINUTES | English
Horror, Thriller

A young girl’s brother returns from war with a most disturbing souvenir.

Directed by
Kyle Perritt

Produced by
Emmie Holmes, Kyle Perritt, Brad Jayne, Owen Hamilton

Starring
Madeleine McGraw, Jadon Cal, Jason Davis, Walker Trull, Revell Carpenter, Mary Emily Deal

International Premiere

A Rose for Katrina

Short | Australia | 9 MINUTES | English
Comedy

A man arriving for a first date is subjected to a strange mind game.

Directed by
Harry Quinlan

Produced by
Lawrence Phelan

Starring
Megan Smart, Ben Ilobuchi, Lewis Garnham, Jonathan Schuster, Sam Howard

North American Premiere

Ruthless Blade

Short | China | 12 MINUTES | Chinese | English subtitles
Animation, Action, Comedy

A cat imagines himself as a white tiger swordsman fighting its archenemy in the dream, only to discover unexpected ties and buried emotions as the feline fantasy unfolds.

Directed by
Bo Zhang

Produced by
Yuan Liu, Yuanyuan Qin

Starring
Be He, Lucy, Da Xiang

World Premiere

¡salsa!

Short | Colombia | 14 MINUTES | Spanish | English subtitles
Women, Dance, Drama, LGBTQIA+, Music, Romance, Disability, Latinx/Latin American

Margarita seeks freedom in a place that judges those outside the norm when her path crosses with Liana’s, a deaf tourist, between the vibrations of congas and bongos.

Directed by
Antonina Kerguelen Roman

Produced by
Carlos Ruiz Rua, Natalia Agudelo Campillo, Carlos Mican Chavez

Starring
Saray Nohemi, Isabelle Troup

North American Premiere

Scrubby

Short | Germany | 7 MINUTES | Other
Animation

Scrubby lives a secure and warm life in his mothers fur, until she loses it.

Directed by
Paul Vollet

Produced by
Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH

World Premiere

Sea Lion Cow

Short | United States | 6 MINUTES | English
New York, Animation, Experimental, Comedy, Documentary, Music, Art, Narrative

On a late night G Train, things are not what they seem, nor are they otherwise.

Directed by
Ivan Cash

Produced by
Maggie Roberts

Starring
Gideon Irving

Show Your(s)e.l.f.

Short | 180 MINUTES | English

We are so e.l.f.ing excited to invite you to celebrate the premiere of Chella Man’s Show Your(s)e.l.f. short documentary at the 2024 Tribeca Festival!

e.l.f. is partnering with Tribeca to bring you a night of beauty and inspiration. Dive into a world of artful self-expression, and get to know the bold disruptors behind the entire Show Your(s)e.l.f. series, including Anastasia Pagonis, Amanda Nguyen, and Viktoria Modesta.

Can’t wait to see you there!

World Premiere

Shut Up, Jack

Short | United States | 9 MINUTES | English
Comedy

After his joke bombs at a party, Jack’s anxiety spirals out of control as he argues with his subconscious about his path to social redemption.

Directed by
Alec Bewkes

Produced by
Bennett Cordon

Starring
Alec Bewkes, Anand Mahalingam, Linnea Bullion, Ricky Wilson, Rahne Avant

World Premiere

Smile, God Loves You.

Short | United States | 11 MINUTES | English
Drama, Narrative

A young girl’s playground reputation is threatened by her mother’s wishes for her to be a church praise dancer.

Directed by
Elexis Ray Goodwin

Produced by
Kwele Serrell, Sydni Chustz, Elexis Ray Goodwin

Starring
Morgan Grier, Marie-Françoise Theodore, Kingsley Oussetta, Destiny Berry, April Nicole Hobson

World Premiere

The Solace Of Sisterhood

Short | United States | 10 MINUTES | English
Women, Documentary, Sports

“The Solace of Sisterhood” is a journey alongside the Caramel Curves. Through the two co-founders heartfelt stories, we witness sisterhood and the lessons learned passed to the next generation.

Directed by
Geneva Peschka and Anna Andersen

Produced by
Jeremy Blum, Geneva Peschka, Anna Andersen

Starring
Shanika “Tru” Beatty, Nakosha “Coco” Curry, Skye Beatty, The Caramel Curves

International Premiere

Sol Beni

Short | Ivory Coast | 11 MINUTES | French | English subtitles
Documentary

Confronted with the prospect of an imminent farewell, two friends reunite on the football field they grew up in.

Directed by
Tristan Feres and Maky Margaridis

Produced by
jak – jonathan ram

Starring
ANDRÉ CEDRIC, KONE INZA, KOUAMÉ MICHAEL, DIABATE SIAKA, COULIBALY AHMED, BRAYAN GAYEGO, SAMUEL DODO, BINI QUATTARA ABDOULAYE, TAPE ODETTE, DIANDA ELODIE, SANGARE ADAMA, ROBET FRANCOISE, KOUASSI ULRICH LANDRY, DONWAHI LAGO EZÉCHIEL, PARE KOUDOUSS, FOFANA IBRAHIM JR, YEO CHIGATA, KOFFI JEAN ARIEL, COULIBALY IBRAHIM JR AND YAO KOUADIO KEVIN

New York Premiere

Some Kind of Paradise

Short | United States | 21 MINUTES | English | English subtitles
Drama, LGBTQIA+, Romance

When a reclusive barman connects with a charismatic Hollywood actor via Grindr, the intensity of their connection pushes him to question the isolated life he has built for himself.

Directed by
Nicholas Finegan

Produced by
Tianyu Yang

Starring
John Brodsky, Gabriel Leyva, Chloe Ibanez

World Premiere

Swollen

Short | United States | 13 MINUTES | English
Horror, Women, Comedy, Thriller

Roxy and Lily survive the night after botched plastic surgery.

Directed by
Roxy Sophie Sorkin

Produced by
Brian Niles, Lily Rosenthal, Chelsea Eisen

Starring
Roxy Sorkin, Lily Rosenthal, Miles Fowler, Buck Andrews, Leaf Lieber, Miles Elliotm

World Premiere

Veo Veo A Family

Short | United States | 12 MINUTES | English
New York, Women, Drama, Politics

A Latina nanny and a Manhattan mother challenge the definition of family with a profound bond; one that is tested by a reminder of the nanny’s past family tragedy.

Directed by
Laura Kosann

Produced by
Laura Kosann, Stephanie Roush, Cecilia Delgado

Starring
KO, Carla Gugino, Sawyer Gacka, Benjamin Thys

World Premiere

The White Rabbit

Short | United States | 12 MINUTES | English
Comedy, Drama, Thriller

Rachel and Travis move to New Jersey for peace but end up beside a mobster. After a murder, Rachel takes drastic steps to safeguard her family.

Directed by
Michael Marantz

Produced by
Stephanie Bargas, Michael Marantz

Starring
Kate Arrington, Danny Burstein, Max Casella