20TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL CELEBRATES

RETURN OF LIVE EVENTS

CULMINATING IN SPECIAL JUNETEENTH PROGRAMMING

 

“After a year of closed cinemas, canceled gatherings, and virtual everything, it is with joy and hope that we finally invite New Yorkers out of their homes and back to the movies. Immersed in the city itself, Tribeca 2021 will bring once-in-a-lifetime big-screen experiences to filmmakers and audiences alike as we reconnect, re-imagine, and reopen through the shared experience of film.” – Cara Cusumano, Festival Director & VP of Festival Programming.

The Tribeca Film Festival’s 20th anniversary edition (TFF20) is a celebration of audiences reuniting with comedic, music-centered, and socially conscious films from diverse storytellers using art to illuminate and entertain. The Festival runs June 9-20, 2021, with live in-person events at outdoor venues across all New York City boroughs.

The features program includes 66 films from 81 filmmakers from across 23 countries. The line-up includes 56 world premieres, 1 international premiere, 4 North American premieres, 1 U.S. premiere, and 4 New York premieres.This year’s program includes 15 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects, and over 60% of the feature films are directed by female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ filmmakers. This year’s Festival received a record high of 11,222 total submissions across all categories.

Special curated Juneteenth programming highlighted throughout different verticals of the Festival will celebrate voices from the African Diaspora, with special emphasis on African-American artists, performers, filmmakers, and interdisciplinary creators.

The feature categories include 6 U.S. Narratives, 6 International Narratives, and 8 Documentary competition features. Additionally, the feature line-up includes 8 Spotlight Narratives, 11 Spotlight Documentaries, 13 Viewpoints, 3 Midnight, 7 Movies Plus selections, 3 Tribeca Critics’ Week.

Many of the films will also be available for U.S. audiences to view online the day after they premiere in person through the Tribeca at Home virtual hub.

As previously stated, the 2021 Tribeca Festival Opening Night film will be “In the Heights,” the screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical, directed by Jon M. Chu.

For updates and more, Follow @Tribeca on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and visit at tribecafilm.com/festival #Tribeca202

2021 FEATURE FILM Selection:

U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION

Tribeca’s U.S. Narrative Competition showcases extraordinary work from breakout independent voices and distinguished filmmaking talent. These world premieres will vie for the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

The films vying for the competition are “Catch The Fair One,” “God’s Waiting Room,” “Mark, Mary & Some Other People,” “The Novice,” “Poser,” and “Queen Of Glory.”

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Over Tribeca’s 20-year history, the non-fiction film selections have exhibited work from emerging and renowned filmmakers, including future Academy Award® winners. This year’s films will compete for Best Documentary Feature, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.

The films in the documentary competition are “All These Sons,” “Ascension (登楼叹),” “Blind Ambition,” “Fathom,” “The Kids,” “Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres,” “On the Divide,” and “The Scars of Ali Boulala.”

 INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE COMPETITION

The New-York based Festival breaks its geographical boundaries with the International Narrative Competition, welcoming filmmakers from abroad to join a global platform for contemporary world cinema. These films will compete for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

The films in the international narrative competition category include “All My Friends Hate Me,” “Do Not Hesitate,” “Roaring 20’s (Années 20),” “Souad,” and “Wild Men (Vildmænd).”

SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE

Anticipated premieres from acclaimed filmmakers and performers are the focus of the Spotlight Narrative section which continues to be a launching pad for the most buzzworthy new films. This year’s Spotlight section will open with the world premiere of Pan Nalin’s The Last Film Show.

In the spotlight narrative category, the films are “False Positive,” “How It Ends,” “India Sweets and Spices,” “Italian Studies,” “The Last Film Show,” “No Man Of God,” “Twelve Mighty Orphans,” and “Werewolves Within.”

 SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY

Documentaries consistently make waves at Tribeca as notable filmmakers and major stories are represented in this section through high-profile premieres.

In this category, the films are “A-ha the Movie,” “Bernstein’s Wall,” “BITCHIN’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James,” (*Part of the Juneteenth programming), “A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks” (*Part of the Juneteenth programming), “Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story,” “LFG,” “The Lost Leonardo,” “The Price Of Freedom,” “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain,” “Stockholm Syndrome, and “Wolfgang.”

VIEWPOINTS 

Viewpoints, which includes narratives and documentaries, recognizes distinct voices in independent filmmaking by creating a home for bold directorial visions and embracing distinct characters or points of view.

Entering the viewpoints category are “7 Days,” “Accepted,” “as of yet” (*Part of the Juneteenth programming), “The Beta Test,” “Building A Bridge,” “The Conductor,” “The Death Of My Two Fathers” (*Part of the Juneteenth programming), “The Justice Of Bunny King,” “The Legend of the Underground” (*Part of the Juneteenth programming), “North By Current,” “Perfume de Gardenias,” “Sisters On Track,” and “Wu hai.”

MIDNIGHT

Always surprising and boundary-pushing, Tribeca Midnight is the destination for the best in horror and genre discoveries: “Shapeless,” “Ultrasound,” and “We Need To Do Something.”

MOVIES PLUS

Tribeca’s unique Movies Plus events bring the film experience off the screen with live conversations and performances after each screening – “The Father of the Cyborgs,” “The Neutral Ground” (*Part of the Juneteenth programming), “No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics,” “The One and Only Dick Gregory” (*Part of the Juneteenth programming), “Paper & Glue, a JR Project,” and “With/In.” Each film is followed by a Q&A. “Reflection: a walk with water” is followed by a special performance.

TRIBECA CRITICS’ WEEK

Tribeca Critics’ Week is a section of the Festival that presents a curated slate of feature films from film critics including Eric Kohn (IndieWire), Hunter Harris and Tre’vell Anderson: “Ailey” (*Part of the Juneteenth programming); “The Ballad of a White Cow (The Ghasideyeh Gave Sefid)”; and “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It.”

2020 FESTIVAL SELECTIONS

After having their planned Tribeca 2020 premieres canceled, the feature films of the 2020 Festival have been invited back for long awaited in-person premieres in 2021.

Participating titles include “499,” “All the Streets Are Silent,” “The Art of Political Murder,” “Asia,” “Banksy Most Wanted,” “Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road,” “Clean,” “Contactado,” “Cowboys,” “Dear Mr. Brody,” “Enemies of the State,” “Fries! The Movie,” “Fully Realized Humans,” “The God Committee,” “Happily,” “Harley,” “Honeydew,” “I Carry You With Me,” “I Promise,” “Ice Cold,” “Jacinta,” “Kiss The Ground,” “Kubrick by Kubrick,” “La Madrina: The [Savage] Life of Lorine Padilla,” “Landfall,” “Larry Flynt for President,” “The Last Out,” “Lorelei,” “Love Spreads,” “Marvelous and the Black Hole,” “Materna,” “Miracle Fishing: Kidnapped Abroad,” “My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To,” “No Future,” “Not Going Quietly,” “The Outside Story,” “P.S. Burn This Letter Please,” “Pray Away,” “Ricky Powell: The Individualist,” “She Paradise,” “Simple As Water,” “The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show,” “Socks on Fire,” “The State of Texas vs. Melissa,” “Stateless (Apátrida),” “Sweet Thing,” “Television Event,” “This Is Paris,” “Through the Night,” “Wake Up on Mars (Réveil sur Mars),” “Women In Blue,” “Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn,”

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2021 SHORTS PROGRAM

The 2021 Tribeca Festival™ Shorts Program lineup includes 46 short films striking hopeful and optimistic tones from 20 countries worldwide. World Premieres account for 70% of the competition slate, which is the highest percentage in Tribeca history. The short films will be presented in eight programs: two documentaries, two narratives, two hybrids (including both narrative and documentary), one animation, and one New York shorts program. Additionally, the Festival will feature a special curated out-of-competition Juneteenth program and a live performance by Blondie, following the screening of “Blondie: Vivir En La Habana.”

“As we curated these in-person programs, we thought a great deal about the challenges of the past year and what our audience has been missing; travel, music, dance, and fun,” said Sharon Badal, Vice President of Filmmaker Relations and Shorts Programming. “Our programs are lighter, brighter and inspiring. They introduce unique new voices to our audience.”

International storytelling continues to be celebrated in this year’s Tribeca’s Short Film Program, with 41 percent of its selections originating from 20 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Qatar, Sweden, Sudan, United Kingdom, the United States and Wales.

The 2021 Tribeca Festival Shorts Program is:

Acting Out

True stories about rebellion and reflection.

All World Premiere Program

“Virtual Voice,” “Radical Love,” “Coded” and “Miss Panama.

Animated Shorts Curated by Whoopi G

Imaginative storytelling and captivating craft.

“Try to Fly,” “Navozande, the musician (Navozande, le musicien),” “Ashes (Popioty),” “Dirty Little Secret,” “Death and the Lady,” “Leaf Boat (Cwch Deilen),” “There are Bunnies on Fire in the Forest” and “Blush.” 

Art and Soul

Music and dance shorts that will soothe your soul.

“Unspoken,” “RESIST: The Resistance Revival Chorus,” “Silence,” “19 Seventy Free: Part 1,” “Thirsty” and “Blondie: Vivir En La Habana.”

Go Big

Sports shorts with risk, reward and resilience.

“Kata,” “The Queen of Basketball,” “Nando,” “Joe Buffalo” and

“Learning To Drown.”

Let’s Fly Away

Miss traveling? Wander the world in these international shorts.

“How To Fall in Love in a Pandemic,” “Peninsula,” “The Kicksled Choir (Sparkekoret),” “Beautiful They” and “Grottaroli.”

New York, New York 2021

So nice we did it twice!

All World Premiere Program.

“Liza Anonymous,” “Cracked,” “Leylak,” “Esther In Wonderland” and “No Longer Suitable For Use.”

 Straight Up With a Twist

“Take a shot” on these wildly creative shorts.

“The Cocktail Party,” “The Last Marriage,” “Two Jacked,” “Molly Robber,” “The Bouncer (Poke),” and “Girl With a Thermal Gun.”

Pursuing Happiness

These shorts navigate life’s ups and downs.

“GraceLand,” “Six Nights,” “Magnolia Bloom,” “Enjoy,” “We Do This Once” and “The Angler.”

Shining Stars

Enjoy these shorts celebrating Juneteenth.

“Waves,” “Cherry Lemonade,” “Magnolia Bloom,” “Silence,” “Enough” and “19 Seventy Free: Part 1.”

Special Screenings

Blondie: Vivir En La Habana (After the Movie:  A live performance by Blondie) and “Takeover.”

Widen The Screen Program

Tribeca Studios and its partners give a platform to Black creators and filmmakers. This includes four documentaries from the Queen Collective, which returns for the third year, and four 8:46 films, a program that is new to the festival for 2021.

The Queen Collective Shorts:

The debut of four Queen Collective documentaries, created by four diverse young women, aimed at accelerating gender and racial equality behind the camera.

“Black Birth,”” Change the Name,” “Game Changer” and “A Song of Grace.”

8:46 Films: SATURDAY MORNING

A collective of Black creative executives to produce four short films influenced by the length of time it took for George Floyd’s life to change the world, reclaiming the story to build a legacy of hope.

“Cupids,” “Pearl and Henry,” “She Dreams at Sunrise” and “Slow Pulse.”

Recipients of the Tribeca Festival awards for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated Short will qualify for consideration in the Academy Awards’ Short Films category, provided the film complies with Academy rules. Tribeca also gives out a Student Visionary Award.

The 2020 Shorts Programs will be screened at the 2021 Festival and will include 64 short films in ten programs.

The 2020 Shorts Program is as follows:

Animated Shorts Curated by Whoopi G

Imaginative storytelling and captivating craft. Suggested for those 14 and older.

“Grandad Was A Romantic,” “Umbrella,” “The Tiger Who Came to Tea,” “Beyond Noh,” “Kapaemahu,” “Bathwell in Clerkentime,” “Friends,” “To Gerard.”

Choose Your Battles

Docs about politics, perseverance and purses.

“Sixth of June,” “USA V SCOTT,” “The Undocumented Lawyer,” “Shikaakwa,” “Vote Neil,” “Making The Case.”

Don’t Look Back

Some decisions are irrevocable.

“The Last Ferry from Grass Island (島嶼故事),” “No More Wings,” “Burros,” “The Cypher,” “The Catch,” and “Saria.”

Live and Learn

Doc life lessons past, present and future.

“Mr. Somebody,” “Solitary,” “Float,” “Betrayal,” “Crescendo!,” and “Unnúr.”

LOL

Comedies that go off the rails.

“One Last Heist,” “A Piece of Cake,” “Query,” “I Can Change,” “Egg,” and “John Bronco.”

New York

All world premiere stories from the city we call home.

“Prelude,” “Black Ghost Son,” “Look At Me,” “Gets Good Light,” “Sloan Hearts Neckface,” and “Tapes.”

No Surrender

Docs concerning courage and conviction.

“On Falling,” “Tall Tales with True Queens,” “Akashinga,” “Echoes in the Arctic,” “Tā Moko – Behind the Tattooed Face,” and “My Brother’s Keeper.”

Rhythm of Life

Music infused docs with heart and soul.

 “The Difference,” “My Father The Mover,” “Welcome to a Bright White Limbo,” “When I Write It,” and “Motorcycle Drive By.”

Update Required

Out of this world Sci-Fi shorts.

“Carmentis,” “The Light Side,” “Abducted,” “System Error,” “A Better You,” “TOTO,” and “Jack and Jo Don’t Want To Die.”

Without Borders

Compelling dramas from here and abroad.

“Grey Zone (תחום אפור),” “Cru-Raw (Cru),” “Liliu,” “Soup (Cyn),” “Blood and Glory,” “The Black Veil,” and “Vera.”

 The Queen Collective, Tribeca Studios and partners

This year’s docs feature authentic and positive portrayals of diverse women in front of the camera and celebrate multicultural women storytellers and directors behind the camera.

“Tangled Roots,” and “Gloves Off.”

 Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind will perform after the screening of the 2020 Shorts Program Rhythm of Life at Brookfield Place New York.

Many of the films will also be available for U.S. audiences to view online the day after they premiere in person through the Tribeca at Home virtual hub.

 PASSES AND TICKETS

Festival passes and tickets are available at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets. For updates and more information on the Festival, visit tribecafilm.com/festival

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)