"Tribeca began twenty-five years ago as an act of healing, a mission to reunite our community through the power of storytelling. Today, that purpose feels more urgent than ever. As we navigate an increasingly divided world, the same spirit that rebuilt our city after 9/11 now fuels a new generation of artists and storytellers,” said Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca Festival Co-Founder and Co-Chair. “This year’s incredible feature and short film lineup includes stories from filmmakers who make us think, feel, laugh, cry, and ask why. Tribeca remains dedicated to the artists’ voices and diverse perspectives that challenge us to see one another more clearly.”
Over the past quarter-century, Tribeca has become a premier destination for music-driven storytelling, and 2026 raises the bar once again. The Festival opens Wednesday, June 3, with the previously announced world premiere of Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World) directed by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, followed by a special performance by Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots, setting the tone for a celebratory, music-forward festival. The lineup continues with exclusive post-premiere performances from Sara Bareilles, Peter Frampton, Mumford & Sons, The LOX, Magdalena Bay, and Noga Erez & Ori Rousso. Closing Night, presented by OKX and 10 Lives Studios, features the world premiere of Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen, directed by Tribeca alum One9 (TF ‘14) – a love letter to New York City from one of its own – followed by an appearance by Keys.
The 2026 feature film slate balances high-profile premieres with breakout discoveries, reflecting Tribeca's role as both a launchpad and a showcase. Highlights include performances by Susan Sarandon and Aubrey Plaza in The Accompanist; Katie Holmes, who writes, directs, and stars in Happy Hours with Joshua Jackson; Alicia Vikander and Wagner Moura in The Last Day; Paul Rudd and Jeremy Sisto in Rain Reign; Vera Farmiga, Tim Blake Nelson, Jim Parsons, and Simon Rex in The Leader; Zach Braff in Clean Hands; Alison Brie, André Holland, Tom Sturridge, and Dustin Hoffman in The Revisionist; André Holland also stars alongside Wendell Pierce and Samira Wiley in They Fight; Marc Maron in In Memoriam; and Sofia Boutella, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lizzy McAlpine, Simon Pegg, and Quentin Tarantino in Only What We Carry. Select premieres, including The Accompanist, The Revisionist, Happy Hours, and Iconoclast, are presented by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
This year’s documentary slate spans sports legends, intimate portraits, unlikely friendships, long-awaited reunions, and the complexities of political life. Highlights include Carmelo Anthony in Born Melo; tennis icons Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova in Chris & Martina: The Final Set; and Bob Odenkirk and David Cross in Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu. Nostalgia takes center stage as Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, and Will Friedle reunite for the 30th anniversary of Boy Meets World in Doc Meets World, marking the final live performance of their hit rewatch podcast and the last stop on their national tour. Comedy legends, including Will Ferrell, Maya Rudolph, and Dana Carvey, reflect on presidential impressions in Playing POTUS, while Mario chronicles the life of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. IX XI, directed by first-time filmmaker Sean Wilsey, weaves together twelve personal accounts of September 11—a subject close to Tribeca's founding story. Miss Representation: Rise Up is followed by a post-screening conversation with Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dr. Safiya Noble, Nina Jankowicz, and Jim Steyer. Art-focused titles include Jean-Michel, the first documentary made with the full participation of the Basquiat family, exploring the life of Jean-Michel Basquiat; and Derek and Hayley Hough deliver a special performance following the world premiere of The Symphony of Dance.
“Twenty-five years in, Tribeca remains a festival built on discovery and cultural conversation. This year’s film program once again brings together global premieres, iconic talent, and daring new voices to transform screenings into unforgettable shared experiences,” said Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming Cara Cusumano. “From legends and trailblazers to bold emerging artists, these films reflect the creativity, vitality, and diversity of New York and the world, and a festival that continues to evolve alongside the creators shaping what comes next.”
The 25th anniversary brings together an exceptional mix of first-time directors and returning Tribeca alumni, reflecting both where independent film has been and where it is headed. Among the first-time directors are world premieres from Sean Ono Lennon with threeASFOUR: Full Circle; Zach Woods with The Accompanist; Gabriel Basso, who directs, writes, and stars in Iconoclast; Quinn Whitney Wilson – who co-directs alongside Viridiana Lieberman – with Jean-Michel; Doron Max Hagay with She Keeps Me Young; Ellie Sachs (TF '23, '25) with Lucy Schulman; and the 2024 Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program alumna Lara Everly will premiere her short film Selah.
Returning Tribeca alumni are equally well-represented, with the most frequent Tribeca alum Edward Burns (TF ‘02, ‘03, ‘04, ‘07, ‘10, ‘11, ‘18, ‘22) directing, writing, and starring in Finnegan's Foursome. Other returning filmmakers include One9 (TF ‘14) with Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen; Sam Pollard (TF ‘23) with The Lorraine; Sophia Takal (TF ‘16) with Act One; Drake Doremus (TF ‘16) with Next Life; Haifaa Al Mansour (TF ‘13) with Unidentified; and Hugo Ruiz (TF ‘23), winner of Tribeca’s Best New Narrative Director Award, returning with Dante. Alex Goyette brings Breeder to this year’s Festival after introducing the project at the Tribeca Creators Market in 2019, and the Festival also welcomes back Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie (TF ‘13, ‘20, ‘22) as executive producers on Alden Nusser and Ben Fries' (TF ‘18) The Lion Queen. Mariska Hargitay (TF ‘25) and Trish Adlesic (TF ‘17, ‘25) serve as executive producers on The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony, directed by Habiba Nosheen (TF ‘25), and Josh Alexander (TF ‘22) brings Sara Bareilles: Good Grief.
The final selection spans 118 feature films, including 103 world premieres – the most in Tribeca Festival history – and represents 143 filmmakers, including 55 first-time directors, across 44 countries. Notably, 48 percent of the films in competition are directed by women and 50 percent by BIPOC filmmakers, underscoring Tribeca's commitment to championing diverse voices.
Today, Tribeca also announced its Shorts lineup of 86 titles from 93 filmmakers, including 45 world premieres, across narrative, documentary, animated, and music video categories, one of the most expansive Shorts programs of any major film festival. For 25 years, Tribeca’s Shorts program has been a hub for discovery, giving emerging filmmakers their first platform. Fresh off its 13th Academy Award win and 25th nomination, the program is one of the most celebrated in the world, having helped launch the careers of filmmakers including Academy Award winners Ryan Coogler (TF ‘09), Domee Shi (TF ‘18), and Ben Proudfoot (TF ‘19, ‘21, ‘24, ‘25).
New in competition this year, the Best New York Short Award celebrates the stories and storytellers that have defined Tribeca as New York's Festival. Returning for its second year, the dedicated Shorts Cinema at Spring Studios, the Festival's hub, continues to expand access and visibility for the next generation of independent filmmakers.
“Tribeca’s Shorts program has been a launchpad for extraordinary filmmakers, and this year’s lineup continues that legacy with a dynamic, globally diverse group of storytellers,” said Ben Thompson, Tribeca Festival Vice President of Shorts Programming. “These films capture moments of hope, resilience, and transformation, while pushing the boundaries of form and perspective. It’s an exciting look at the future of cinema, shaped by artists unafraid to take risks.”
The 2026 short film program is organized around thematic blocks spanning hope, humanity, and resilience, with standout performances from Alan Cumming in Kiloran Bay; Nina Dobrev in General Admission; and Asante Blackk and Malia Pyles in You Tryna Say You Love Me?. Highlights also include female-led stories across documentary, such as White Belt, a portrait of supermodel Monika “Jac” Jagaciak, and the world premiere of Dori Berinstein’s (TF ‘05, ‘08, ‘11) Couture To The Max, celebrating ten-year-old fashion designer prodigy Max Alexander. The shorts lineup touches on themes of activism and social justice, led by Ben Proudfoot (TF ‘19, ‘21, ‘24, ‘25) and Stephen Curry’s The Baddest Speechwriter and Dana Nachman’s The Second Life of Freddie Nole, while also imagining a sometimes sinister vision of humanity's future and its relationship with technology, highlighted by the world premiere of Holo, directed by Alexander DeSouza and starring Shane West and Zelda Williams.
Whoopi Goldberg marks a decade of curating animated short films for Tribeca with this year’s lineup featuring world premieres of Apart, directed by Pola Maneli and written by Spike Lee; Me, Myself, and Mary, voiced by Chris O’Dowd and directed by John Michell; and The Upstairs Neighbors by Connie Qin He.
The music video slate, curated by programmer Sharon Badal, features an eclectic roster of artists and directors. Highlights include Linda Perry's Beautiful, directed by Sara Gilbert; Jack White's Archbishop Harold Holmes, starring John C. Reilly; Benson Boone's Mr. Electric Blue, starring the artist himself; and 5 Seconds of Summer’s new music video Everyone’s A Star.
Since its founding, Tribeca has served as a launchpad for visionary filmmakers, premiering early works from creators who would go on to shape contemporary cinema, including Jon M. Chu (TF ‘02, ‘21), David Gelb (TF ‘06, ‘11, ‘15, ‘21, ‘23), Alex Gibney (TF ‘07, ‘10, ‘11, ‘14), Ryan Coogler (TF ‘09), Damien Chazelle (TF ‘09), the Daniels (TF ‘14), Nia DaCosta (TF ‘18, ‘25), Domee Shi (TF ‘18), and Ben Proudfoot (TF ‘19, ‘21, ‘24, ‘25). This year's Festival builds on that legacy, bringing together bold new voices and established artists in a lineup that promises to inspire, challenge, and captivate audiences.
To learn more about the Tribeca Festival programming team, visit TribecaFilm.com.
All the VIDS! https://www.youtube.com/user/IdleHandsBlog
No comments :
Post a Comment