The Tribeca Film Festival is upon us!
One of the biggest film festivals of the year kicks off Wednesday with exciting projects that are sure to make waves.
Things kick-off with The Apollo, a documentary celebrating the renowned Harlem theater, and heat up with films like Luce, Only, See You Yesterday, and The Weekend.
These titles are just the tip of the iceberg, but we’ve rounded up 20 projects and events we can’t wait to check out.
01
Luce
Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars alongside Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts, and Tim Roth in this film about a teenager who overcomes a nightmare-ish past to become an All-American student. Soon, however, suspicions begin to rise among his adoptive parents and teacher, revealing issues and hidden truths that could shatter everything.
02
Tribeca TV: In Living Color
Twenty-five years after its finale, the creator and cast of In Living Color will reunite for a memorable panel at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Following a screening of the show’s pilot, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans, Tommy Davidson, and David Alan Grier will discuss the series and impact on pop culture.
03
What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali
Making its world premiere at Tribeca, Antoine Fuqua’s What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali takes a look at one of the most well-known figures in sports history. Fuqua not only explores Ali’s public persona but takes a look at the man we didn’t know.
04
A Love Song For Latasha
This experimental documentary short reimagines the life of Latasha Harlins, an unarmed Black teenager shot and killed in Los Angeles after being accused of stealing. The short gives new life to Harlins’ legacy through the eyes of her cousin and best friend.
05
Burning Cane
Burning Cane examines the lives of individuals living in Southeastern Louisiana, contrasting the region’s beauty with the actions of its inhabitants. Wendell Pierce stars in this drama alongside Karen Kaia Livers, Dominique McClellan, and Emyri Crutchfield.
06
East of the River
This short from director Hannah Peterson follows a young girl who gets unexpectedly suspended from school and ends up going on an adventure around the city with a girl from her past.
07
Gay Chorus Deep South
This powerful documentary follows a chorus of 300 singers from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, led by conductor Tim Seelig, as they travel through the deep south, sharing their music and confronting political and religious intolerance.
08
The Queen Collective Shorts
Queen Latifah and Dee Rees will team up at Tribeca to highlight and accelerate diverse talent behind the camera with The Queen Collective short documentaries (Ballet After Dark and If There Is Light), stories that inspire social change and embody a commitment to gender and racial equality.
09
Gully
Three friends struggle to survive in dystopian Los Angeles as a life-changing revelation causes the teens to lose touch with reality and lash out violently.
10
Knives And Skin
This hyper-stylized horror-thriller from Jennifer Reeder follows the inhabitants of a Midwestern town after the disappearance of a teenage girl.
11
MotherStruck
Based on the one-woman play written by Staceyann Chin, MotherStruck tells the story of a lesbian’s quest to become a mother with the help of her close friends.
12
Only
Leslie Odom Jr. and Frieda Pinto star in this mysterious post-apocalyptic love story about a couple whose storybook life falls apart as disaster hits the world and they are forced to hermetically seal themselves into their home.
13
Goldie
Model Slick Woods stars in this drama about a teenager with big dreams who becomes obsessed with an item she thinks is key to her success.
14
Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project
Late television producer and activist Marion Stokes amassed a massive archive of television footage from 1977 to her death in 2012 by faithfully recording 70,000 VHS tapes worth of news coverage. Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project provides insight into who Stokes was and what she wanted the world to see.
15
See You Yesterday
Netflix recently shared the trailer for this upcoming sci-fi drama, which follows a group of teens building a time machine in order to go back and save one’s brother from being murdered by police. Executive produced by Spike Lee, this is the first feature film from rising star Stefon Bristol.
16
Devil’s Pie—D’Angelo
Directed by Carine Bijlsma, this feature documentary takes an intimate look at R&B singer D’Angelo as viewers follow his meteoric rise and sudden disappearance from the public eye. Featuring never-before-seen live footage and eye-opening interviews, Devil’s Pie—D’Angelo is a must-see music documentary.
17
Tuca & Bertie
Lucky Tribeca attendees will get a glimpse of Netflix’s upcoming Tuca & Bertie, starring Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong as two 30-year-old birds living in the same apartment building. Wong and Haddish will be in attendance along with creator Lisa Hanawalt to chat about the upcoming series.
18
The Weekend
Saturday Night Live alum Sasheer Zamata stars in this comedy about a comedian struggling to get over her ex who has already gotten over her and hopes to be friends. Things go a bit off the rails when the comic agrees to go on a weekend getaway with her ex and his new girlfriend.
19
Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men
One of hip-hops most legendary groups will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), with a special documentary that features interviews with the group’s nine living members and never-before-seen live footage.
20
The Apollo
Opening the Tribeca Film Festival, The Apollo takes a look at the renowned theater and its impact on the artists who’ve walked its halls and the community that loves it.
