In a year that entertainment confronted gender bias, racial stereotypes, sexual harassment, and LGBTQ love stories, it seems only fitting that this year’s Tribeca Film Festival offers up the same caliber of storytelling through masterful works of art that captivate the senses and hold on to your soul. The program for Tribeca is as followed:
Our feature film lineup for the 17th annual Tribeca Film Festival champions the discovery of emerging voices and the celebration of new work from established filmmaking talent. This year, we’re closing the festival with the world premiere of The Fourth Estate, from Oscar®-nominated director Liz Garbus, which follows the New York Times‘ coverage of the Trump administration’s first year. Our centerpiece gala is the world premiere of Drake Doremus’ sci-fi romance Zoe, starring Ewan McGregor, Léa Seydoux, Rashida Jones, and Theo James. The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 18th to the 29th.
The 2018 feature film program includes 96 films from 103 filmmakers. Of the 96 films, 46% of them are directed by women, the highest percentage in our festival’s history. The lineup includes 74 world premieres, 6 international premieres, 9 North American premieres, 3 U.S. premieres, and 4 New York premieres from 30 countries. This year’s program includes 46 first time filmmakers, with 18 directors returning to the festival with their latest feature film projects. Tribeca’s 2018 slate was programmed from more than 8,789 total submissions.
“We are proud to present a lineup that celebrates American diversity and welcomes new international voices in a time of cultural and social activism,” said Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President of Tribeca Enterprises. “Our films succeed in being both entertaining and illuminating which is what you desire from great storytellers.”
Tribeca Film Festival 2018 Details
Dates: Wednesday, April 18 – April 29, 2018
Tickets: Tickets are already available now via Tribeca’s website.
Location: New York City, NY
Here is your wonderful breakdown of the must-see films at Tribeca. Per IndieWire:
“Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda”
Tribeca Film Festival
One of the most influential, prolific, and flat-out enjoyable composers of the last 30 years, Ryuichi Sakamoto exploded onto the scene by writing unforgettable scores for films like “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” and “The Last Emperor,” and his work has only grown increasingly instrumental (ha) to the movie world since. When Sakamoto was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, he decided to devote whatever time he had left to an album that could serve as his legacy. Lucky for us, he’s still alive and going strong. Luckier still, Stephen Nomura Schible was there to capture the recording process on camera, following Sakamoto as he muses about life, records ambient noise around the ruins of Fukushima, and reconsiders to the sounds that have reverberated through his life. The result is a portrait of an artist that’s nearly as powerful and necessary as the artist himself.
“The Rachel Divide”
THE RACHEL DIVIDE/Netflix.
Tribeca has often programmed timely documentaries that chronicle ripped-from-the-headlines events, often breeding engaging screenings and wild Q&A events. This year, Laura Brownson’s latest feature-length doc seems poised to be the talked-about film at the festival, providing an exclusive look at the current life of Rachel Dolezal, who made waves when she was revealed to be a white woman who had long posed (or pretended? or thought she actually was?) a black woman. Brownson was given unique access to Dolezal and her family, which sounds like a crazy companion piece to Ijeoma Oluo’s incendiary interview with Dolezal from 2017. Netflix will release the film on April 27, but it’s certain to turn some heads at Tribeca
“The Party’s Just Beginning”
Tribeca Film Festival
Beloved superstar Karen Gillan — of such huge properties as “Doctor Who,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the reignited “Jumanji” franchise — makes the jump to directing with a personal story about her own Scottish hometown. Divided into three interlocking chapters, the film follows Liusaidh (Gillan) as she attempts to heal up from a terrible tragedy, mainly by making terrible decisions. As she skates through nights at the pub and dancing around her pain while living with her concerned parents, Liusaidh is forced to grapple with the messiness of life through some happy chances, including a romance with a new guy (Lee Pace) and a telephonic connection with a stranger.
“Little Woods”
Tribeca Film Festival
Tessa Thompson fever has taken over the country, and we are here for it. Whether she’s flirting with Janelle Monáe in her latest eye-popping music video, or embracing the Shimmer with an eerie tranquility in “Annihilation,” Thompson has established herself as one of the most exciting actresses working today. Four years after “Dear White People,” it’s high time she lead her own film again, and for that honor she has chosen “Little Woods.” Thompson plays Ollie, a 21st century Robin Hood who smuggles affordable medication from Canada to the low-income residents of Little Woods, North Dakota. Pocketing some profits on the side, Ollie plans to go legitimate once she’s caught and put on probation. When her mother dies, she’s pulled back into the life by her estranged sister, played by the always-enjoyable Lily James. The feature debut of writer-director Nia DaCosta, the film promises a timely take on the opioid crisis led by two dynamic rising talents.
“Sunday’s Illness”
Tribeca Film Festival
One of the major discoveries of the 2018 Berlin International Film Festival — but woefully under-celebrated there — Spanish director Ramon Salazar Hoogers explores the life of a successful woman (Susi Sanchez) haunted by a dark secret: she had a child, ages ago, whom she abandoned. In the midst of a fancy dinner for friends, her daughter turns up among the catering staff, in an emotional showdown that sets up the bulk of the movie’s setting. The two women commit to spending 10 days together for parting ways for good. It’s the ideal setting for an emotional two-hander that should Hoogers’ stature as a major filmmaker
“Duck Butter”
Tribeca Film Festival
Duck Butter, directed by Miguel Arteta, written by Miguel Arteta, Alia Shawkat. Produced by Mel Eslyn, Natalie Qasabian. (USA) – World Premiere. Two women, jaded by dishonest and broken relationships, make a pact to spend 24 uninterrupted hours together, having sex on the hour. Their romantic experiment intends to create a new form of intimacy, but it doesn’t quite go as planned.
“Mapplethorpe”
Tribeca Film Festival
Mapplethorpe, directed by Ondi Timoner. Screenplay by Ondi Timoner. Produced by Eliza Dushku, Nathaniel Dushku, Richard J. Bosner, Ondi Timoner. (USA) – World Premiere. In the late 1960s, art-school dropout Robert Mapplethorpe moves into the Chelsea Hotel with dreams of stardom. He quickly becomes the enfant terrible of the photography world as the downtown counterculture of 1970s New York reaches its zenith.
“State Like Sleep”
Tribeca Film Festival
State Like Sleep, directed and written by Meredith Danluck. Produced by Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez. (USA) – World Premiere. Following the death of her husband, Katherine travels to Brussels, where a few loose ends become a whole web of secrets as she untangles her late spouse’s mysterious last days alive.
“Yellow is Forbidden”
Tribeca Film Festival
Yellow is Forbidden, directed and written by Pietra Brettkelly. Produced by Pietra Brettkelly, Richard Fletcher, Naomi Wallwork. (New Zealand) – World Premiere. Celebrated Chinese couturier Guo Pei is perhaps best known for designing the brilliant gold gown Rihanna wore to the Met Ball in 2015. But Guo’s quest to be recognized by the gatekeepers of Paris haute couture goes beyond the red carpet and taps into global power dynamics and the perpetual tension between art and commerce.
“Woman Walks Ahead”
Tribeca Film Festival
Woman Walks Ahead, directed by Susanna White, written by Steven Knight. Produced by Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Erika Olde, Richard Solomon, Andrea Calderwood. (USA) – U.S. Premiere, Feature Narrative. Based on a true story, 19th-century Brooklyn artist Catherine Weldon journeys west on a mission to paint a portrait of the legendary chief Sitting Bull, only to find a very different world — and man — than she was expecting.
Don’t forget to get your tickets and enjoy the show!
