The 2024 Tribeca Film Fest is set for a June 5 kick-off, running through to June 16. The Documentary Competition presents a dozen US and international doc features while the Docs In Spotlight section presents a further 26 feature non-fiction features. The largely performative Spotlight + section hosts 10 feature docs while Viewpoints presents five more. The majority of selected documentaries are world premieres.
“Each year, the Tribeca Festival reflects our culture, capturing the essence of the present moment. We’re thrilled to showcase our 23rd edition, delving into captivating explorations of artificial intelligence with Demis Hassabis, thought-provoking discussions on the future of democracy, and so much more,” Tribeca Co-Founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal said in an official statement. “Storytelling possesses a remarkable ability to bring us together, offering hope in these challenging times. We eagerly anticipate engaging with audiences on difficult yet timely subjects.”
The Tribeca Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2002 to stimulate the economic and cultural recovery of Lower Manhattan following the September 11 2001 attacks.
DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION (all world premieres)
- Antidote (UK) by James Jones. 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.
- Bad Actor: A Hollywood (US) Ponzi Scheme by Joslyn Jensen. 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?
- Checkpoint Zoo (US, Ukraine) by Joshua Zeman. 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.
- The Debutantes (US) by Contessa Gayles. 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.
- Driver (US) by Nesa Azimi. Nesa Azimi’s soulful and contemplative DRIVER follows former stripper Desiree as she strives to leave her tumultuous past behind and navigate toward a more hopeful and stable future.
- Hacking Hate (Sweden, Denmark, Norway) by Simon Klose. 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.
- Made in Ethiopia (United States, Ethiopia, Denmark, UK, Canada, Republic of Korea) by Xinyan Yu, Max Duncan. 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.
- New Wave (US) by Elizabeth Ai. A feisty exploration into Elizabeth Ai’s 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.
- Pirópolis (Chile) by Nicolás Molina. As civil unrest erupts on the streets, and, in parallel fashion, wildfires quickly escalate around the city of Valparaíso, Chile,, disastrously impacting rural communities and neighborhoods, the volunteer fire brigades’ unified collective action must be implemented to effectively combat the ferocious flames.
- Quad Gods (US) by Jess Jacklin. 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.
- Sabbath Queen (US) by Sandi DuBowski. 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.
- Shelf Life (US) by Ian Cheney. 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.
SPOTLIGHT+ (incl. live conversations and performances after each screening, all world premieres)
- 1-800-ON-HER-OWN (US) by Dana Flor. Ani DiFranco was an unmistakable talent that shook the ‘90s alternative music scene. In this vulnerable look at her life today, she struggles to balance artistry with the demands of family.
- Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story (Canada) by Alison Duke. For decades the iconic track “Bam Bam” has been a sampled darling within the music industry, creating many new stars along the way. But what do we know of its legendary creator? From Kingston to the world, witness the transcendent stylings and legacy of Sister Nancy.
- BRATS (US) by Andrew McCarthy. Actor/director/writer Andrew McCarthy crisscrosses the country reconnecting with fellow Brat-Packers like Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, and more to reflect on what it meant to be in the Brat Pack and how the label impacted their lives, personally and professionally.
- Desire: The Carl Craig Story (Switzerland, UK) Jean-Cosme Delaloye. At once a portrait of techno producer Carl Craig and a love letter to his city of Detroit, Desire: The Carl Craig Story lays out the vast backdrop of artists and venues who played a part in the rise of Craig’s massive, genre-defying career.
- Following Harry (US) by Susanne Rostock. Following Harry explores the life and legacy of cultural and civil rights icon Harry Belafonte through the stories of those artists and activists carrying on his life’s work dedicated to social justice.
- Linda Perry: Let It Die Here (US) by Don Hardy. Award-winning filmmaker Don Hardy explores the life of pioneering songwriter and producer Linda Perry in this intimate and revealing journey. It’s a story of the strength and resilience of a gifted artist, daughter and mother who is finally able to embark on a search to find her own voice.
- Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution (US) by Page Hurwitz. This rapturous documentary steps into the dynamic world of queer stand-up and examines the powerful cultural influence it has had on social change in America. The film combines rare archival materials, stand up performances, and interviews with a show-stopping lineup including Lily Tomlin, Fortune Feimster, Eddie Izzard, and Rosie O’Donnell, to present a definitive history of queer comedy.
- Rebel Country (US) by Francis Whately. Country music is changing — or maybe it’s returning to its roots. This musical documentary traces the troubled history and inclusive future of the genre with performances from today’s most talented iconoclasts, including Blanco Brown, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and BRELAND.
- Satisfied (US) by Chris Bolan and Melissa Haizlip. An intimate look at the actress Renée Elise Goldsberry; a woman’s struggle to have a family and balance a career, against the backdrop of the hit musical Hamilton.
- State of Silence (Mexico) by Santiago Maza. A compelling look at the dangerous, continuing risks committed journalists face in Mexico, where reporting on their country’s corruption and “narco politics” has led to the silencing and killing of some of their peers.
SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY (all world premieres, unless indicated otherwise)
- America’s Burning (United States) by David Smick. Narrated by Michael Douglas, America’s Burning calls on a remarkable range of expert perspectives from James Carville to Leon Panetta to Amy Chua as macroeconomist David Smick embarks on a searing dive into the precarious state of America’s seemingly unbridgeable economic divide — with a surprisingly optimistic outlook on its future.
- Avicii – I’m Tim (Sweden, United States) by Henrik Burman. Before there was Avicii, there was just Tim. For the first time through his own words, witness the journey of a shy but prodigious musical talent who would soon become one of the defining artists of his generation.
- Black Table (United States) by John Antonio James, Bill Mack. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to abolish affirmative action, this film thoughtfully looks back at the largest class of Black students at Yale in the 1990s, the dining table that bonded them, and how their story informs our future.
- The Cranes Call (France, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Ukraine, United States) by Laura Warner. Working with their team at the Clooney Foundation for Justice, Anya Neistat, a brilliant war crimes investigator, joins forces with Solomiia Stasiv, a young Ukrainian woman just entering the field. Together they document atrocities in the fight to bring Russian generals to trial and justice to the Ukrainian people.
- Emergent City (United States) by Kelly Anderson, Jay Arthur Sterrenberg. When global developers purchase Industry City — a series of connected industrial buildings within a primarily immigrant, working class community in Brooklyn — conflicting views draw battle-lines between residents, city officials and master planners as the fate of the city and contemporary urban development hangs in the balance.
- I’m Your Venus (United States) by Kimberly Reed. A moving and timely documentary following the unsolved murder of Venus Xtravaganza, star of the legendary Paris Is Burning as Venus’ two families — biological and ballroom — come together to seek answers and celebrate her legacy.
- It Was All a Dream (United States) by dream Hampton. World Premiere. From the personal archives of journalist and filmmaker dream hampton, this visual ode to the golden era of hip-hop provides intimate access to some of rap’s greatest minds, including dream herself.
- Jago: Into the White (Italy) by Luigi Pingitore. A portrait of the artist as a young man — Jago, a sculptor in Naples, works through the days and nights chipping away at his next marble masterpiece: a recreation of one of Michelangelo’s iconic subjects.
- LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (United States) Bruce David Klein. 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.
- Luther: Never Too Much (United States) by Dawn Porter. Dawn Porter offers an in-depth look into the life and career of Luther Vandross as he overcomes personal and professional challenges to become one of the greatest vocalists of all time. New York Premiere.
- Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger (UK) by David Hinton. Martin Scorsese’s personal journey through the films of Powell and Pressburger, the visionary British filmmakers behind classics like The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus, offers a captivating exploration of their genius and enduring influence on cinema. New York Premiere
- Pandora’s Code (United States) by Kyle Vorbach. Kyle Vorbach’s documentary, based on his latest novel, delves into the mesmerizing ascent of artificial intelligence, balancing its remarkable capabilities and dark ethical concerns, making for an engaging, thought-provoking exploration of AI’s double-edged sword.
- Rebel Nun (United States, UK) by Dominic Sivyer. 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, filmmaker Dominic Sivyer takes a look at six decades of the life and work of Sister Helen as she continues to be an inspirational force for justice.
- Saving Casa Bonita (United States) by Arthur Bradford. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone launch a hands-on attempt to restore the iconic Colorado “eatertainment” mecca Casa Bonita to its former glory.
- S/He Is Still Her/e – The Official Genesis P-Orridge Doc (United States) by David Charles Rodrigues. An introduction, conversation and perhaps goodbye to Genesis P-Orridge, who left an astounding and provocative legacy on the worlds of music, art, performance, religion and the occult. A larger-than-life personality that must be experienced to be grasped, Genesis opens up portals to a way of living that transforms and transcends.
- Skywalkers: A Love Story (China, Hong Kong, France, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand) by Jeff Zimbalist. Battling a global pandemic and a fraying relationship, rooftopping sensations Angela Nikolau and Vanya Beerkus face the ultimate test of their love when scaling the world’s newest super-skyscraper in this visually stunning testament to facing fear and letting go. New York Premiere
- Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play (United States) by Jeremy O. Harris. A playful and illuminating self-portrait of writer Jeremy O. Harris as he workshops and mines Slave Play, the provocative play that thrust him into the spotlight, with a new cast of young actors from New York’s William Esper Studio.
- Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple (United States) by David Fisher, Robert Cotto, Bill Teck. Disciple traces Van Zandt’s career as a musician, activist and actor from the clubs of Asbury Park, NJ, to stadiums around the world, to the Bada Bing Club.
- They All Came Out to Montreux (UK) by Oliver Murray. Utilizing a wealth of archival footage featuring Prince, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis and more, They All Came Out to Montreux is an affectionate story about how Claude Nobs turned his Swiss town into the home for one of the world’s biggest jazz festivals.
- The Thinking Game (United States) by Greg Kohs. The Thinking Game chronicles the extraordinary life of visionary scientist Demis Hassabis and his relentless quest to solve the enigma of artificial general intelligence.
VIEWPOINTS (all world premieres)
- Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara (New Zealand) by Kent Belcher. Meet Alien Weaponry, a thrash metal band that sings in the Maori language, as they figure out how to navigate the music industry, culture, family, tour, and each other.
- Champions of the Golden Valley by Ben Sturgulewski (United States, Afghanistan, Germany). Former Afghan Olympic hopeful Alishah Farhang establishes Afghanistan’s first ever ski club and the annual Afghan Ski Challenge competition in the ancient mountain town of Bamyan, bringing people together in an unlikely but joyful pastime.
- Searching for Amani (Kenya, United States) by Nicole Gormley, Debra Aroko. A 13-year-old aspiring journalist investigates his father’s mysterious murder within the boundaries of one of Kenya’s largest wildlife conservancies. As a ravaging drought encroaches, his quest to find the killer shifts as the collateral damage of a warming world is revealed.
- They’re Here (United States) by Daniel Claridge, Pacho Velez. The playful and inventive They’re Here places the viewer within a community of New Yorkers who have had close encounters with UFOs and re-examined their lifestyles as a result.
- Witches (UK) by Elizabeth Sankey. Elizabeth Sankey’s deeply personal documentary examines the relationship between the cinematic portrayals of witches and the all-too-real experiences of postpartum depression by utilizing footage that spans the entirety of film history alongside heartrending personal testimony.
