New York City's own Tribeca Festival is more than a film festival — hence why "film" was officially dropped from the name in 2020, in order to be more reflective of the TV, music, and gaming that draws festival-goers to lower Manhattan each year. Still, cinema remains at the heart of Tribeca Festival. Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded it in 2001 as the destination for up-and-coming filmmakers; the lineup for 2023 alone boasts more than 100 feature films "highlighting politically, culturally and socially relevant films from diverse storytellers."
"This year's slate of films is a joyful celebration of everything we love about the big screen experience," says Tribeca Festival Director and VP of programming, Cara Cusumano. "We are bringing to New York eye-popping 3D films and rousing music docs, white-knuckle thrillers and knee-slapping comedies, independent edge and old Hollywood glamour."
When and where is this year's festival?
The 2023 Tribeca Festival kicks off on Wednesday, June 7 and runs until Sunday, June 18, with screenings and events taking place at theaters across Manhattan.
Which films are screening at Tribeca?
109 feature films from 127 filmmakers — including 43 first-time directors and a record number of female directors in competition — will screen over 12 days. This year's lineup also features a number of actors-turned-filmmakers making their directorial debuts, including Chelsea Peretti (First Time Female Director), Lily Rabe (Downtown Owl), and two-time Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (Eric Larue).
On the documentary side, an especially robust selection of nonfiction films includes docs about everyone from Patricia Field to Gloria Gaynor, Rock Hudson, the Indigo Girls, Alicia Keys, and Stan Lee. Plus, Troy Kotsur's short documentary, To My Father, about his journey to winning an Oscar and his father's inspiring influence on him.
Here are highlights of this year's programming:
Opening Night: The festival launches with Kiss the Future, from director Nenad Cicin-Sain and producers Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Sarah Anthony. The documentary follows an underground community that worked and created throughout the nearly four-year-long Siege of Sarajevo, and the unlikely role that rock band U2 played in the city's liberation.
Gala Events: Fresh off its Cannes premiere, Disney and Pixar's Elemental serves as the centerpiece selection. This year's gala events also include screenings of the musical documentaries Carlos (about Carlos Santana), For Khadija (about French Montana), and Let the Canary Sing (about Cyndi Lauper), each of which will be followed by a performance from said artist.
Retrospective: Angela Bassett and director Kevin Sullivan will reunite following a 25th anniversary screening of How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Elsewhere, hip hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy will appear for screenings of 1982's Wild Style (appearing alongside director Charlie Ahearn, artist Lee Quiñones and Grand Wizzard Theodore) and 1991's New Jack City (with director Mario Van Peebles and actress Michael Michele).
Closing Gala: Tribeca comes to a close with a 30th anniversary screening of Robert De Niro's directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. De Niro, producer Jane Rosenthal, and writer and co-star Chazz Palminteri will be in attendance for a panel discussion after the movie.
To see the full Tribeca Festival film lineup, click here.
Who is on this year's Tribeca jury?
Winners in 15 competition categories — including The Founders Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, as well as the Nora Ephron Prize — will be announced at the Tribeca Festival ceremony on June 15.
Tribeca has pulled together a particularly starry slate of jurors this year, with Oscar winner Brendan Fraser serving on the International Narrative Feature Competition Jury and Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu on the Narrative Feature Competition Jury. Additional jury members include Andrew Ahn, Zazie Beetz, Chance the Rapper, Zoey Deutch, Mark Duplass, Clea DuVall, Jeremy O. Harris, A.V. Rockwell, Emma Seligman, Ryan White and more.
What else is happening during the fest?
In addition to film screenings, the Tribeca Festival's lineup features episodic television debuts, a selection of immersive virtual reality, and "Live-from-Tribeca" podcast recordings. The festival has also become known for its slate of Talks, which this year includes Lin-Manuel Miranda in conversation with Rosie Perez, David Fincher in conversation with Steven Soderbergh, and Patty Jenkins in conversation with Katie Holmes.
Two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda will receive Tribeca's Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award and join Good Morning America's Robin Roberts in conversation on Saturday, June 10.
How can I get tickets?
Tickets and festival packages can be purchased through Tribeca's official site, with tickets for individual screenings beginning at $15.
Tribeca also offers Tribeca at Home, which will be streaming from June 19 through July 2. The At Home Festival Pass — granting access to all virtual content — costs $150, with additional passes available for the short films program and for festival winners.
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