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Nicole Kidman, Photograph 51

Nicole Kidman in Photograph 51

Back in November 2010 T2c raved about Anna Ziegler’s new play Photograph 51 and it’s lead actress Rosalind Franklin. This play presented by the Ensemble Studio Theatre was mostly ignored by the award circuit, but I had championed the play and have followed it’s progression. In 2011 there were rumors at the Tribeca Film Festival that Madeline Stowe had bought the project for film. Then in 2015 Nicole Kidman and Photograph 51 came to London and won rave reviews. Now they have taken the WhatsonStage Award for Best Play and Best Actress.

Below is the list of winners

 Benedict Cumberbatch, Hamlet

Benedict Cumberbatch, Hamlet

BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY

 Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch, Hamlet – WINNER

James McAvoy, The Ruling Class

Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man

Mark Rylance, Farinelli and the King

Alex Hassell, Henry V

BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Nicole Kidman, Photograph 51 – WINNER

Denise Gough, People, Places and Things

Lia Williams, Oresteia

Rosalie Craig, As You Like It

Harriet Walter, Death of a Salesman

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

 Killian Donnelly, Kinky Boots – WINNER

Michael Ball, Mack and Mabel

Matt Henry, Kinky Boots

Sam Mackay, In the Heights

Ben Forster, Elf the Musical

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL 

Imelda Staunton, Gypsy – WINNER

Beverley Knight, Cats

Kimberley Walsh, Elf the Musical

Lily Frazer, In the Heights

Katie Brayben, Beautiful

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Mark Gatiss, Three Days in the Country -WINNER 

Ciaran Hinds, Hamlet

Bertie Carvel, Bakkhai

Johnny Flynn, Hangmen

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Hamlet

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY  

Mark Gatiss, Three Days in the Country -WINNER 

Sian Brooke, Hamlet

Anastasia Hille, Hamlet

Imogen Doel, The Importance of Being Earnest

Patsy Ferran, As You Like It

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL 

David Bedella, In The Heights – WINNER

Lucas Rush, American Idiot

Alexis Gerred, American Idiot

Jack Edwards, Mack and Mabel

Peter Davison, Gypsy

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL 

Lara Pulver, Gypsy – WINNER

Jennie Dale, Elf the Musical

Amy Lennox, Kinky Boots

Lauren Samuels, Bend It Like Beckham

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, In The Heights

BEST NEW PLAY 

Photograph 51 – WINNER

Hangmen

Oppenheimer 

People, Places and Things

Farinelli and the King

BEST NEW MUSICAL 

Kinky Boots – WINNER

Bend It Like Beckham

Elf the Musical

Beautiful

In The Heights

BEST PLAY REVIVAL 

Hamlet – WINNER

Importance of Being Earnest

The Ruling Class

Death of a Salesman

Oresteia

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL 

Gypsy – WINNER

Cats

High Society

Mack and Mabel

American Idiot

BEST DIRECTION 

Hamlet, Lyndsey Turner

In The Heights, Luke Sheppard

American Idiot, Racky Plews

Kinky Boots, Jerry Mitchell

Gypsy, Jonathan Kent – WINNER

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY 

Kinky Boots, Jerry Mitchell – WINNER

In The Heights, Drew McOnie

High Society, Nathan M Wright

Gypsy, Stephen Mear

American Idiot, Racky Plews

BEST SET DESIGN  

Hamlet, Es Devlin – WINNER

American Idiot, Sara Perks

Kinky Boots, David Rockwell

In The Heights, Takis

Gypsy, Anthony Ward

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN 

Hamlet, Jane Cox – WINNER

In The Heights, Howard Hudson

American Idiot, Tim Deiling

Kinky Boots, Kenneth Posner

Gypsy, Mark Henderson

BEST OFF WEST END PRODUCTION

Carrie, Southwark Playhouse – WINNER

Shock Treatment, King’s Head Theatre 

You Won’t Succeed on Broadway If You Don’t Have Any Jews, St James’s Theatre

Grand Hotel, Southwark Playhouse

Assassins, The Menier Chocolate Factory

BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION 

Mack and Mabel, Chichester Festival Theatre and tour

Mary Poppins, tour – WINNER

Anything Goes, Sheffield Crucible and tour

Hairspray, tour

Henry V, RSC

BEST WEST END SHOW 

Les Miserables – WINNER

Wicked 

Kinky Boots

Miss Saigon

Matilda

 

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

Events

The Line-Up At The Tribeca Film Festival

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The Tribeca Festival is back starting Wednesday, June 7 and will run until Sunday, June 18. The lineup features blockbusters directed by celebrities, smaller indie films, documentaries, foreign films, and shorts, as well as TV debuts, panel talks, live music, and immersive experiences.

This year’s Festival also includes a notable number of films directed by actors: world premiere of First Time Female Director by Chelsea Peretti; world premiere of Maggie Moore(s) by John Slattery; world premiere of Bucky F*cking Dent by David Duchovny; world premiere of Downtown Owl by Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater; world premiere of Eric LaRue by Michael Shannon; world premiere of Fresh Kills by Jennifer Esposito; North American premiere of The Listener by Steve Buscemi; New York premiere of Shortcomings by Randall Park; and more.

There are 53 documentary features across all categories including the world premiere of Marvel’s first original documentary Stan Lee by Tribeca alumnus David Gelb as well as world premieres from Academy Award winners and nominees including Julie Cohen, Waad al-Kateab, Morgan Neville, Sam Pollard, Rob Epstein, and Jeffrey Friedman. As an activist festival rooted in the foundational belief that art can inspire change, the 2023 Tribeca Festival showcases numerous documentary features that shine a light on the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as the silencing of artists in Iran.

This year’s lineup has 109 feature films from 127 filmmakers.

The 2023 “Spotlight+” category includes a series of live events that bring the film experience to life following each premiere. A performance from She Is The Music artists, curated by Alicia Keys, will follow the world premiere of Uncharted; Sara Bareilles will give a special performance following the world premiere of Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway!; the one and only Gloria Gaynor will perform following the world premiere of Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive; a conversation with Peabody Award-winning news anchor Dan Rather and director Frank Marshall will follow the world premiere of Rather; Gogol Bordello will perform following the world premiere of Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story; a songwriting masterclass by Indigo Girls will follow the New York premiere of It’s Only Life After All; a musical Q&A with Marc Rebillet will follow the world premiere of Songs About Fucking; and a group of dancehall legends will perform following the world premiere of Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall.

2023 TRIBECA FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM SELECTION

>> U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION
Discover breakout independent voices from around the country as these extraordinary world premieres compete for honors in Tribeca’s U.S. Narrative Competition.

Bad Things, (United States) – World Premiere. A weekend getaway for a few friends at a snowy resort becomes a psychological tailspin and bloody nightmare. Long-deceased guests and the space itself come to life in this haunting thriller. Directed and written by Stewart Thorndike. Produced by Lizzie Shapiro, Lexi Tannenholtz. With Gayle Rankin, Hari Nef, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Rad Pereira, Jared Abrahamson, Molly Ringwald.

Cypher, (United States) – World Premiere. Documenting the astronomical rise of rapper Tierra Whack, director Chris Mourkabel captures the weird and sinister side of fame. This riveting and enigmatic pseudo-documentary will have viewers questioning everything they see. Directed and written by Chris Moukarbel. Produced by Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, John Hodges, Tierra Whack, Sanjay M. Sharma, Roya Rastegar, Anthony Seyler, Chris Moukarbel.

The Graduates, (United States) – World Premiere. After a tragedy, a group of friends faces an unsettling senior year. Feelings of loss, anger, fear, and aimlessness abound in the community at the center of director Hannah Peterson’s debut feature film. Directed and written by Hannah Peterson. Produced by Josh Peters, Saba Zerehi, Taylor Shung, Jessamine Burgum. With Mina Sundwall, Alex Hibbert, Yasmeen Fletcher, Ewan Manley, John Cho, Maria Dizzia, Kelly O’Sullivan.

Lost Soulz, (United States) – World Premiere. Set to a lo-fi, genre-bending soundtrack, Lost Soulz follows a young rapper as he leaves behind his surrogate family and sets out on an expedition across Texas, contemplating new and old friendships. Directed and written by Katherine Propper. Produced by Andres Figueredo Thomson, Juan Carlos Figueredo Thomson, Katherine Propper. With Sauve Sidle, Syanda Stillwell, Micro TDH, Krystall Poppin, Alexander Brackney, Malachi Mabson.

Mountains, (United States) – World Premiere. Xavier works in demolition and dreams of buying a bigger house for his family, while his adult son, caught between two cultures, struggles to find a place for himself. What results is a loving portrait of the Haitian community in Miami. Directed by Monica Sorelle, written by Monica Sorelle, Robert Colom. Produced by Robert Colom. With Atibon Nazaire, Sheila Anozier, Chris Renois.

The Secret Art of Human Flight, (United States) – World Premiere. While mourning the death of his wife and fending off an ambitious detective who thinks he killed her, Ben encounters a man who claims that he can teach him to fly. Directed by H.P. Mendoza, written by Jesse Orenshein. Produced by Grant Rosenmeyer, Tina Carbone, Benjamin Wiessner. With Grant Rosenmeyer, Paul Raci, Lucy DeVito, Nican Robinson, Reina Hardesty, Maggie Grace, Sendhil Ramamurthy.

Smoking Tigers, (United States) – World Premiere. Set in early-2000s SoCal, Smoking Tigers follows a Korean American girl as she navigates derision and growing tensions while balancing the duality of her low-income family and wealthy, elite high school environment. Directed and written by Shelly Yo. Produced by Guo Guo. With Ji Young Yoo, Jung Joon Ho, Abin Shim, Erin Choi.

Somewhere Quiet, (United States) – World Premiere. In the ominous and tense Somewhere Quiet, a woman readjusts to normalcy after surviving a traumatic kidnapping — but her grounded sense of reality soon starts to deteriorate when she travels with her husband to his wealthy family’s isolated compound. Directed and written by Olivia West Lloyd. Produced by Taylor Ava Shung, Emma Hannaway, Eamon Downey. With Jennifer Kim, Kentucker Audley, Marin Ireland.

>> INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE COMPETITION
The New-York based Festival breaks its geographical boundaries with the International Narrative Competition, welcoming filmmakers from abroad to join a global platform for contemporary world cinema.

Boca Chica, (Dominican Republic) – World Premiere. A lively coming-of-age drama, Boca Chica follows twelve-year-old Desi in her pursuit of becoming a famous singer. As Desi braces to leave her hometown, she’s met with deep-seated secrets that have long tormented her family and their coastal Dominican community. Directed by Gabriella A. Moses, written by Marité Ugás, Mariana Rondón. Produced by Sterlyn Ramirez. With Scarlet Camilo, Jean Cruz, Lia Chapman, Xiomara Rodriguez.

Dead Girls Dancing, (Germany, France) – World Premiere. On a road trip across Italy, four recent high school graduates stumble upon an abandoned village. Away from the expectations of parents and teachers, they experiment with the limits of their newfound freedom. Directed and written by Anna Roller. Produced by Katharina Kolleczek, Lea Neu, Laure Parleani, Bérénice Vincent. With Luna Jordan, Noemi Liv Nicolaisen, Katharina Stark, Sara Giannelli.

The Future, (Israel) – World Premiere. Nurit, a criminal profiler, is recruited by Israel’s secret service to interrogate a young Palestinian woman who assassinated a government minister. Over the course of their meetings, Nurit realizes some uncomfortable truths. Directed and written by Noam Kaplan. Produced by Yoav Roeh, Aurit Zamir. With Reymonde Amsellem, Samar Qupty, Dar Zuzovsky, Aviva Ger, Salwa Nakkara.

Je’vida, (Finland) – World Premiere. When embittered Sámi elder Je’vida returns to her childhood home to ready it for sale, she is flooded with the memories of a life shaped by deep systemic racism and the unyielding love of her grandfather, leading to a life-changing epiphany. Directed by Katja Gauriloff, written by Katja Gauriloff, Niillas Holmberg. Produced by Joonas Berghäll, Satu Majava, Anna Nuru. With Agafia Niemenmaa, Heidi Juliana Gauriloff, Sanna-Kaisa Palo, Seidi Haarla, Erkki Gauriloff, Matleena Fofonoff.

Marinette, (France) – International Premiere. Marinette tells the story of pioneering French female soccer star Marinette Pichon. Filmmaker Virginie Verrier’s biopic traces the athlete’s battle to earn her homeland’s respect after achieving success in the United States. Directed and written by Virginie Verrier. Produced by Virginie Verrier. With Garance Mariller, Emilie Dequenne, Alban Lenoir, Fred Testot, Sylvie Testud.

Richelieu, (Canada, France, Guatemala) – World Premiere. After a bad breakup, Ariane moves home and gets a job as an interpreter for seasonal migrant workers. Witnessing workplace abuses, Ariane must decide how far she is willing to go to speak out against injustice. Directed and written by Pier-Philippe Chevigny. Produced by Geneviève Gosselin-G., Miléna Poylo, Gilles Sacuto, Alice Bloch. With Ariane Castellanos, Marc-André Grondin, Nelson Coronado, Marvin Coroy, Maria Mercedes Coroy.

Silver Haze, (Netherlands, UK) – North American Premiere. 23-year-old Franky has spent most of her life seeking justice for the fire that left her with both physical and emotional scars as a child. When Franky falls in love with Florence, it seems her wounds have begun to heal, but the past finds a way of coming back to her. Directed and written by Sacha Polak. Produced by Marleen Slot, Mike Elliott. With Vicky Knight, Esmé Creed-Miles, Charlotte Knight, Archie Brigden, Angela Bruce.

A Strange Path, (Brazil) – World Premiere. A young filmmaker returns to his hometown and attempts to reconnect with his father as the pandemic rapidly accelerates across Brazil. However, their relationship proves to be more complicated with increasingly bizarre phenomena occurring as they get closer. Directed and written by Guto Parente. Produced by Ticiana Augusto Lima. With Lucas Limeira, Carlos Francisco, Tarzia Firmino, Rita Cabaço.

>> DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Experience the cinema of reality with these remarkable non-fiction premieres sure to make waves in the coming year.

Between the Rains, (Kenya) – World Premiere. Between the Rains is a coming-of-age documentary following a young member of a formerly nomadic northern Kenyan tribe as it deals with the environmental and psychological effects of climate change. The result is a film woven around the concepts of tradition, culture, and home. Directed by Andrew H. Brown, Moses Thuranira. Produced by Moses Thuranira, Samuel Ekomol, Andrew H. Brown.

Breaking the News, (United States) – World Premiere. Breaking the News follows the determined efforts of women and LGBTQ+ journalists launching a news “startup” to foreground voices omitted from mainstream news. Filmmakers Hernandez, Courtney, and Hairston provide a deep look into bias and inclusion in the ever-shifting media landscape. Directed by Chelsea Hernandez, Heather Courtney, Princess A. Hairston. Produced by Diane Quon, Heather Courtney, Princess A. Hairston, Chelsea Hernandez.

The Gullspång Miracle, (Sweden, Norway, Denmark) – World Premiere. In Maria Fredriksson’s stranger-than-fiction documentary, two pious sisters buy an apartment after having witnessed a divine sign — only to realize that the seller of the apartment looks identical to their other sister, who committed suicide some thirty years before. Directed by Maria Fredriksson. Produced by Ina Holmqvist.

The Lionheart, (United States) – World Premiere. The on-track death of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon shook motorsports to its core. Ten years later, Wheldon’s sons Sebastian and Oliver follow in their father’s footsteps, working through their grief behind the wheel at 200 MPH. Directed by Laura Brownson. Produced by Chapman Way, Maclain Way, Laura Brownson.

Maestra, (United States, France, Poland, Greece) – World Premiere. Filmmaker Maggie Contreras follows women from different backgrounds as they compete in the first all-women competition for conducting. Maestra explores gender expectations with poise and warmth. Directed by Maggie Contreras. Produced by Neil Berkeley, Maggie Contreras, Melanie Miller, Lauren Lexton, Emma West.

Q, (Lebanon, United States) – World Premiere. In her exceptional debut feature, filmmaker Jude Chehab potently explores her mother Hiba’s devotion to an all-female, secretive religious order in Syria. With visually striking and haunting imagery, Chehab scrutinizes how this devotion upended their mother-daughter relationship and the dynamic of the whole family. Directed, written and produced by Jude Chehab.

Richland, (United States) – World Premiere. Richland is a sobering, meditative portrait of a nuclear company town that embraces its origins and divisive past, all while reflecting on its future. Filmmaker Irene Lusztig’s patient and inquisitive storytelling expertly navigates themes of security, violence, and community. Directed by Irene Lusztig. Produced by Irene Lusztig, Sara Archambault.

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed, (United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand) – World Premiere. This timely exploration of Hollywood and LGBTQ+ identity examines the life of legendary actor Rock Hudson, from his public “ladies’ man” persona to his private life as a gay man. Directed by Stephen Kijak. Produced by Will Clarke, George Chignell, Carolyne Jurriaans, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter. An HBO Documentary Films release.

Rule of Two Walls, (Ukraine) – World Premiere. Rule of Two Walls explores the war in Ukraine through the lens of artists living and creating in the midst of unprecedented conflict. Visceral, poetic, and urgent, it illuminates the vital role of cultural and spiritual defiance in times of crisis. Directed by David Gutnik. Produced by Olha Beskhmelnytsina, Sam Bisbee, Stacey Reiss.

Stylebender, (New Zealand) – World Premiere. Israel Adesanya is an out-of-this-world fighter who is as complex as he is powerful. Stylebender follows the Nigerian-born, New Zealand-based MMA Champion as he grows his legend. Directed by Zoe McIntosh. Produced by Tom Blackwell.

Take Care of Maya, (United States) – World Premiere. When Jack and Beata Kowalski bring their 10-year-old daughter Maya to the ER with a spate of unusual symptoms, suspicions arise and a nightmare unfolds. Directed by Henry Roosevelt. Produced by Caitlin Keating. A Netflix release.

Transition, (United States) – World Premiere. Transition follows Australian filmmaker Jordan Bryon as he undergoes transition while embedded with Taliban forces. Directed by Jordan Bryon, Monica Villamizar. Produced by Monica Villamizar.

>> SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE A launching pad for the most buzzworthy new films, Tribeca’s Spotlight section brings audiences anticipated premieres from acclaimed filmmakers and star performers.

The Adults, (United States) – North American Premiere. A short trip back home reunites three siblings with a complicated past. The Adults explores the family dynamics that unfold when one of the siblings tries to assert his dominance as the best poker player in town. Directed and written by Dustin Guy Defa. Produced by Allison Rose Carter, Jon Read, Michael Cera, Julia Thompson, Hannah Dweck, Theodore Schaefer. With Michael Cera, Hannah Gross, Sophia Lillis.

Afire, (Germany) – New York Premiere. Leon and Felix travel to a summer home near the Baltic Sea hoping to dive into creative pursuits, but an unexpected guest disrupts their plans. As the sky turns orange from a nearby forest fire, it’s clear that trees aren’t the only thing burning. Directed and written by Christian Petzold. Produced by Florian Koerner von Gustorf, Michael Weber, Anton Kaiser. With Thomas Schubert, Paula Beer, Langston Uibel. A Sideshow and Janus Films Release.

The Blackening, (United States) – US Premiere. Based on the viral digital skit, The Blackening tells the story of old friends who reunite in a cabin in the woods (where have we heard that before?). The fun weekend quickly becomes a fight to survive, and the only way to make it out is to figure out which friend is the Blackest of them all. Directed by Tim Story, written by Tracy Oliver, Dewayne Perkins. Produced by Tim Story, Tracy Oliver, E. Brian Dobbins, Marcei A. Brown, Jason Clark, Sharla Sumpter Bridgett. With Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, Yvonne Orji. A Lionsgate release.

Blood for Dust, (United States) – World Premiere. Jeff loses his traveling salesman job and decides to take on a risky new opportunity with Ricky, an old acquaintance. Soon, he is submerged into a dangerous underworld in this edge-of-your-seat action thriller. Directed by Rod Blackhurst, written by David Ebeltoft. Produced by Noah Lang, Mark Fasano, Nathan Klingher, Bobby Campbell, Arun Kumar, Ari Novak. With Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington, Josh Lucas, Stephen Dorff, Ethan Suplee, Nora Zehetner, Amber Rose Mason.

Bucky F*cking Dent, (United States) – World Premiere. Aspiring novelist and Yankee Stadium peanut slinger, Ted, discovers his estranged, Red Sox fanatic father is terminally ill. Wanting to mend fences and take care of the old man, Ted returns home with results as wild and unpredictable as the 1978 baseball season. Directed and written by David Duchovny. Produced by Jordan Yale Levine, Jordan Beckerman, Tiffany Kuzon, David Duchovny. With David Duchovny, Logan Marshall-Green, Stephanie Beatriz.

Cinnamon, (United States) – World Premiere. Two young lovers risk it all to chase their dreams. With great performances, including a menacing Pam Grier, Cinnamon deftly brings the Blaxploitation genre to the modern day. Directed and written by Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. Produced by Oz Scott. With Damon Wayans, Hailey Kilgore, David Iacono, Jeremie Harris, Pam Grier. A Tubi release.

Cold Copy, (United States) – World Premiere. The kinetic drama Cold Copy follows an ambitious journalism student’s tactics to impress, and get into the good graces of, an esteemed yet cutthroat news reporter — even if it involves manipulating her latest story … and truth itself. Directed and written by Roxine Helberg. Produced by Justin Lothrop, Brent Stiefel, Daniel Bekerman, Roxine Helberg. With Bel Powley, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jacob Tremblay, Nesta Cooper.

Downtown Owl, (United States) – World Premiere. Based on the novel by Chuck Klosterman, Downtown Owl is a stylish and energetic adaptation that thrusts viewers into small-town Owl, North Dakota, as a motley crew of characters brace for a historic blizzard. Directed by Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater, written by Hamish Linklater. Produced by Bettina Barrow, Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater, Rebecca Green. With Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, August Blanco Rosenstein, Jack Dylan Grazer, Arianna Jaffier, Finn Wittrock, Henry Golding.

Eric LaRue, (United States) – World Premiere. In the aftermath of a shocking crime at the hands of their son, two parents seek solace in rival religious congregations in Michael Shannon’s emotional directorial debut. Directed by Michael Shannon, written by Brett Neveu. Produced by Sarah Green, Karl Hartman, Jina Panebianco. With Judy Greer, Alexander Skarsgård, Alison Pill, Paul Sparks, Tracy Letts.

First Time Female Director, (United States) – World Premiere. Chelsea Peretti makes her directorial debut with this hilarious ensemble comedy set in a Glendale theater where a new female director struggles to fill the shoes of her male predecessor, putting her Southern rural drama in jeopardy. Directed and written by Chelsea Peretti. Produced by Deanna Barillari, Chelsea Peretti, Amy Poehler, Kate Arend, Jordan Grief. With Chelsea Peretti, Amy Poehler, Kate Berlant, Benito Skinner, Megan Stalter, Megan Mullally.

Fresh Kills, (United States) – World Premiere. The daughters of the Larusso family struggle to break the unspoken code of the women behind the men in the mob world of Staten Island in the late80’s and early90’s. Directed and written by Jennifer Esposito. Produced by Leslie Owen, Jennifer Esposito, Samantha Sprecher, Christine Crokos. With Emily Baden, Odessa A’zion, Jennifer Esposito, Dominick Lombardozzi, Annabella Sciorra, Nicholas Cirillo.

The Good Half, (United States) – World Premiere. An emotionally distant writer returns home for his mother’s funeral in this tender family dramedy. The Good Half offers an honest and nuanced approach to grief, regret, and healing. Directed by Robert Schwartzman, written by Brett Ryland. Produced by Russell Wayne Groves. With Nick Jonas, Brittany Snow, Matt Walsh, David Arquette, Alexandra Shipp, Elisabeth Shue.

He Went That Way, (United States) – World Premiere. A fateful meeting in 1964 along Route 66 pairs a 19-year-old serial killer with a celebrity animal handler shepherding an American TV darling — his chimpanzee, Spanky. Directed by Jeffrey Darling, written by Evan M. Wiener. Produced by Marc Benardout, Hugh Broder, James Harris, Jeremy Kotin, Mark Lane. With Jacob Elordi, Zachary Quinto.

I.S.S., (United States) – World Premiere. Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station as nuclear war begins on Earth. Reeling from these events, astronauts and cosmonauts receive similar orders: take control of the station at any cost. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, written by Nick Shafir. Produced by Pete Shilaimon, Mickey Liddell. With Chris Messina, Ariana DeBose, Pilou Asbæk, John Gallagher Jr., Costa Ronin, Maria Mashkova.

John Early: Now More Than Ever, (United States) – World Premiere. A comedy special by way of The Last Waltz, New York’s alt-comedy godfather John Early performs his silly, surreal, spontaneous stand-up set in front of a live audience, a full band … and his parents. Directed by Emily Allan, Leah Hennessey. Produced by John Early, Dave Kneebone, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Janel Kranking. An HBO Original Release.

LaRoy, (United States, France) – World Premiere. After discovering his wife’s affair, Ray Jepsen plans to kill himself, but fate intervenes. Through a bizarre turn of events, he is mistaken for a low-rent hired killer and decides to become one. Directed and written by Shane Atkinson. Produced by Caddy Vanasirikul, Sébastien Aubert, Jérémie Guiraud. With John Magaro, Steve Zahn, Dylan Baker, Megan Stevenson, Matthew Del Negro, Brad Leland.

The Lesson, (UK) – World Premiere. A young novelist eager to make a name for himself begins tutoring the son of one of the most influential writers in the world. Good intentions soon give way to suspicion as darker motivations surface and the lines of master and protégé are blurred. Directed by Alice Troughton, written by Alex MacKeith. Produced by Camille Gatin, Cassandra Sigsgaard, Judy Tossell, Fabien Westerhoff. With Richard E. Grant, Julie Delpy, Daryl McCormack, Stephen McMillan, Crispin Letts. A Bleecker Street release.

The Line, (United States) – World Premiere. Coming-of-age feature The Line explores the moral ambiguity of loyalty to tradition, as seen through a college sophomore in the throes of fraternity culture. Directed by Ethan Berger, written by Ethan Berger, Alex Russek. Produced by Alexandre Dauman, Jack Parker, Adam Paulsen, Lije Sarki. With Alex Wolff, Lewis Pullman, Halle Bailey, Austin Abrams, Angus Cloud, Scoot McNairy, John Malkovich.

The Listener, (United States) – North American Premiere. An understated drama about a night in the life of a mental health helpline volunteer, The Listener is a stirring testament to the power of empathy. Directed by Steve Buscemi, written by Alessandra Camon. Produced by Wren Arthur, Steve Buscemi, Oren Moverman, Lauren Hantz, Tessa Thompson. With Tessa Thompson.

Maggie Moore(s), (United States) – World Premiere. A small-town sheriff is baffled when two women with the same name get murdered days apart. Things quickly ratchet up in this comedy that reunites leading Mad Men alumni. Directed by John Slattery, written by Paul Bernbaum. Produced by John Slattery, Vincent Newman, Dan Reardon, Santosh Govindaraju, Nancy Leopardi, Ross Kohn. With Jon Hamm, Tina Fey, Micah Stock, Nick Mohammed, Happy Anderson, Mary Holland. A Screen Media release.

The Miracle Club, (Ireland, UK) – World Premiere. Three close friends who have never left the outskirts of Dublin (much less Ireland) get the journey of a lifetime – a visit to Lourdes, the picturesque French town and place of miracles. Directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan, written by Joshua D. Maurer, Timothy Prager, Jimmy Smallhorne. Produced by Joshua D. Maurer, Alixandre Witlin, Chris Curling, Larry Bass, Aaron Farrell, John Gleeson, Osín O’Neill. With Laura Linney, Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, Agnes O’Casey, Stephen Rea. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

Our Son, (United States) – World Premiere. Fed up with the state of his relationship, Gabriel files for divorce from his partner of thirteen years, Nicky. Thus begins their complex journey to find themselves and support their son along the way. Directed by Bill Oliver, written by Peter Nickowitz, Bill Oliver. Produced by Fernando Loureiro, Eric Binns, Guilherme Coelho, Jennifer 8. Lee, Christopher Lin. With Billy Porter, Luke Evans, Robin Weigert, Andrew Rannells, Isaac Powell, Phylicia Rashad.

The Perfect Find, (United States) – World Premiere. Looking for a fresh start, a forty-year-old returns to the workforce, where she must navigate a challenging workplace, a demanding boss, and a lusty secret romance. directed by Numa Perrier, written by Leigh Davenport. Produced by Glendon Palmer, Gabrielle Union, Jeff Morrone, Codie Elaine Oliver, Tommy Oliver. With Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers, Aisha Hinds, DB Woodside, Janet Hubert, Alani “La La” Anthony, Gina Torres. A Netflix release.

Shortcomings, (United States) – New York Premiere. A biting satire following the romantic journeys of its trio of protagonists, led by an appealingly misanthropic Justin H. Min, Shortcomings is a charming, witty and hilarious directorial debut from Randall Park. Directed by Randall Park, written by Adrian Tomine. Produced by Hieu Ho, Randall Park, Michael Golamco, Margot Hand, Jennifer Berman, Howard Cohen, Eric d’Arbeloff. With Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Debby Ryan, Tavi Gevinson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jacob Batalon, Timothy Simons. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.

>> SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY
Both onscreen and behind the camera, Spotlight Documentary films represent the most noteworthy names in nonfiction premiering high profile new work.

All Up in the Biz, (United States) – World Premiere. In All Up in the Biz, director Sacha Jenkins creates a collage of celebrity interviews, rare film, reenactments, and playful animation to share how Biz Markie left his mark on the history of hip-hop. Directed by Sacha Jenkins. Produced by Andre Wilkins, Djali Brown-Cepeda.

American Son, (United States) – World Premiere. Author Jay Caspian Kang’s astute, incisive directorial debut tells the story of Asian American tennis prodigy Michael Chang, the youngest player to win a men’s Grand Slam tournament. Directed by Jay Caspian Kang. Produced by Laura Dodd, Cora Atkinson. An ESPN Films release.

Anthem, (United States) – World Premiere. What would it sound like to have a national anthem that actually reflects America? Anthem follows composer Kris Bowers and producer DJ Dahi on a road trip across the country to find out. Directed by Peter Nicks. Produced by Peter Nicks, Kris Bowers, Sean Havey, Chris L. Jenkins, Ryan Coogler. An Onyx Collective/Hulu release..

BS High, (United States) – World Premiere. After a nationally televised high school football game between top-ranked IMG Academy and unknown Bishop Sycamore ended with an IMG blowout win, it’s discovered that Bishop Sycamore isn’t at all what it seems. Directed by Martin Desmond Roe, Travon Free. Produced by Jack Turner, Spencer Paysinger, Todd Schulman, Constance Schwartz-Morini, Adam McKay, Michael Strahan, Jay Peterson, Todd Lubin. An HBO Sports Documentaries release.

Comedy of War: Laughter in Ukraine, (United States) – World Premiere. Four Ukrainian stand-up comics tour their homeland, bringing laughter and joy as a form of resistance and recovery amid wartime. This heartfelt documentary beautifully portrays the enduring human spirit and comedy’s healing power. Directed by Christopher Walters. Produced by Krista Liney.

Common Ground, (United States) – World Premiere. Sobering yet hopeful, Common Ground exposes the interconnectedness of American farming policy, politics, and illness. Follow the solution-driven plight of Regenerative Farmers as they make a case for soil health across the continent and beyond. Directed by Rebecca Tickell, Josh Tickell. Produced by Rebecca Tickell, Josh Tickell, Eric Dillon.
Recipient of the 2023 Human/Nature Award.

Every Body, (United States) – World Premiere. Three intersex people challenge a heteronormative system of secrecy and non-consensual surgery. Every Body is Oscar-nominated documentarian Julie Cohen’s impassioned battle cry for the rights and dignity of intersex children and adults in the United States. Directed by Julie Cohen. Produced by Tommy Nguyen, Molly O’Brien. A Focus Features release.

Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field, (United States) – World Premiere. With idiosyncratic style and an eye toward the future of fashion, Patricia Field has always been shaping culture. Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field brings us into the mind of the one-of-a-kind visionary and queer icon. Directed by Michael Selditch. Produced by Donald Zuckerman, Samuel J. Paul, Michael Selditch, Lydia Tenaglia, Christopher Collins, Luisa Law, Tricia Weber Youssi, Ryan Price, Lori Zuckerman.

Invisible Beauty, (United States) – New York Premiere. This documentary about the life of model and activist Bethann Hardison is both a fascinating life story and an irrefutable argument for the importance of diversity and inclusion. Directed by Bethann Hardison, Frédéric Tcheng. Produced by Lisa Cortés.

It’s Basic, (United States) – World Premiere. A compelling look at Universal Basic Income pilot programs in U.S. cities, It’s Basic follows those spearheading the movement to combat inequality and poverty. Directed by Marc Levin. Produced by Michael Tubbs, Daphne Pinkerson, Auri Akerele, Elizabeth Sehring.

The League, (United States) – World Premiere. Baseball isn’t the game we know and love without the contribution of Black Americans. Director Sam Pollard explores the incredible history of the Negro Leagues, its impact on the sport of baseball, and the players that still resonate through history to this day. Directed by Sam Pollard. Produced by Dave Sirulnick, Jen Isaacson, Robin Espinola, Byron Motley, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Tariq Trotter. A Magnolia Pictures release.

Milli Vanilli, (United States) – World Premiere. Filmmaker Luke Korem looks back on the origins and eventual fallout of a one-hit-wonder. Milli Vanilli scrutinizes the dreams of singers Rob & Fab, who fell prey to greedy tactics, causing their downfall. Directed by Luke Korem. Produced by Luke Korem, Bradley Jackson.

Minted, (United States, Canada, Cuba, Netherlands, India, Nigeria) – World Premiere. Director Nicholas Bruckman brings a fascinating look at the intersection of art, commerce, and digital ownership through the rise and crash of the NFT market. Directed by Nicholas Bruckman. Produced by Shawn Hazelett, Rahilla Zafar.

Open Heart, (United States) – World Premiere. Open Heart is an intimate profile of New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist’s struggles to return to hockey after heart surgery. Directed by Jonathan Hock. Produced by Philip Aromando, Erin Leyden, Larry Robbins.

Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Our Food, (United States) – World Premiere. Foodborne pathogens kill thousands of people in the U.S. every year. The urgent documentary Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food is a call to action for the officials who have the power to mitigate this danger. Directed by Stephanie Soechtig. Produced by Ross Girard, Ross Dinerstein, Rebecca Evans. A Netflix release.

Rise – the Siya Kolisi Story, (South Africa) – World Premiere. Chronicling the legendary story of the first Black captain of the South Africa National Rugby Union Team, Rise – the Siya Kolisi Story shows a rebellious young star as he becomes a leader, and ultimately a cultural icon. Directed by Tebogo Malope. Produced by Jon Day.

Ron Delsener Presents, (United States) – World Premiere. Ron Delsener was the most influential concert promoter in New York. In addition to looking back at his career, this documentary shows that the now 86-year-old Delsener still has a spring in his step. Directed by Jake Sumner. Produced by Jake Sumner, James A. Smith, Margaret Loeb.

The Saint of Second Chances, (United States) – World Premiere. Mike Veeck, son of renowned Major League Baseball owner Bill Veeck, inadvertently derailed his father’s illustrious career through the ill-fated “Disco Demolition Night” and subsequently devoted the following decades to understanding the significance of redemption and second chances. Directed by Morgan Neville, Jeff Malmberg. Produced by Danny Breen, Morgan Neville, Jon Berg. A Netflix release.

The Space Race, (United States) – World Premiere. Highlighting the experiences of the first Black astronauts through decades of archival footage and interviews, The Space Race is a reflective illumination on the burden of breaking barriers. Directed by Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, Lisa Cortés. Produced by Keero Birla.

Stan Lee, (United States) – World Premiere. Tracing his life from his upbringing in New York as Stanley Lieber to the rise of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee tells the story of Stan Lee’s life, career, and legacy using his own words and personal archival material. Directed by David Gelb. Produced by David Gelb, Jason Sterman and Brian McGinn. A Disney+ release.

Sunday Best, (United States) – World Premiere. An affectionate documentary about the career of pioneering television host Ed Sullivan, Sunday Best pays particular attention to Sullivan’s platforming of Black musicians during the civil rights era. Directed by Sacha Jenkins. Produced by Rafael Marmor, Margo Precht Speciale, Christopher Leggett, Peter Bittenbender, Mark Monroe.

Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music, (United States) – World Premiere. This riotous concert film documents New York theater legend Taylor Mac’s joyous, challenging, and ostentatiously queer 24-hour musical performance. Featuring virtuoso musicians, innovative costumes, and the American myth as told by sailor’s ditties, disco, and sugary pop alike, Mac’s cathartic celebration is not to be missed. Directed by Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman. Produced by Joel Stillerman, Linda Brumbach, Alisa Regas, Taylor Mac, Mari Rivera. An HBO Documentary Films Release.

This Is Not Financial Advice, (United States) – World Premiere. Retail investors, including “Dogecoin Millionaire” Glauber Contessoto, navigate the burgeoning, lucrative, and volatile world of cryptocurrency. Directed by Chris Temple, Zach Ingrasci. Produced by Jenna Kelly, Carrie Weprin, Martine Phelan-Roberts.

Untitled Nicky Nodjoumi, (United States) – World Premiere. In this hybrid political thriller and verité portrait documentary, Sara Nodjoumi, working with co-director and husband, Till Schauder, makes her directorial debut with this personal film, diving into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of more than 100 “treasonous” paintings by her father, seminal Iranian modern artist Nickzad Nodjoumi. Directed by Sara Nodjoumi, Till Schauder. Produced by Sara Nodjoumi, Till Schauder. An HBO Documentary release.

We Dare to Dream, (UK) – World Premiere. An inspirational, intimate story of resilience and freedom, We Dare To Dream follows athletes on their journey to become part of the refugee Olympic team in Tokyo 2020. Directed by Waad al-Kateab. Produced by Joanna Natasegara.

Your Fat Friend, (United States, UK) – World Premiere. Popular anonymous blogger Aubrey Gordon spent five years writing about the realities of living as a self-described “very fat person.” Now, she is about to face the public for the very first time. Directed and produced by Jeanie Finlay.

>> SPOTLIGHT+
Tribeca’s unique Spotlight+ events bring the film experience off the screen with live events, performances, and conversations after each screening.

Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall, (United States, Jamaica) – World Premiere. New York City is the Fifteenth Parish in this documentary about the city’s role in the evolution of Dancehall, with legends like Shaggy and Sean Paul on hand to help tell the story. Directed by Ben DiGiacomo, Dutty Vanier. Produced by Amy DiGiacomo, Jay Will, Ben DiGiacomo, Ramfis Myrthil, AJ Leon.

After the Movie: Performance by Dancehall legends.

Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive, (United States) – World Premiere. After 40 years, the singer of “I Will Survive” makes her comeback with a new gospel album. This poignant documentary chronicles Gloria Gaynor’s struggles with ageism and financial ruin on the journey to have her voice heard once more. directed by Betsy Schechter. Produced by Betsy Schechter.

After the Movie: A performance by the one and only Gloria Gaynor.

It’s Only Life After All, (United States) – New York Premiere. A revealing exploration of the beloved duo The Indigo Girls — from their serendipitous meeting at Emory University to their worldwide acclaim — It’s Only Life After All beautifully demonstrates how the musical pair has always remained authentic to their roots as artists, activists, and friends. Directed by Alexandria Bombach. Produced by Kathlyn Horan, Jess Devaney, Anya Rous, Alexandria Bombach.

After the Movie: Songwriting Masterclass by Indigo Girls.

Rather, (United States) – World Premiere. Rather is a long overdue tribute to an icon of journalism, a late-in-life Twitter superstar, father, husband, and voice of reason, compassion and brilliance—Dan Rather. Directed by Frank Marshall. Produced by Frank Marshall, Jenifer Westphal, Joe Plummer, Jeff Hasler, Ethan Goldman, Aly Parker.

After the Movie: A conversation with Peabody Award-winning news anchor Dan Rather and director Frank Marshall.

Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story, (United States) – World Premiere. Following the Russian invasion of his native Ukraine, Eugene Hütz recalls the influence Ukrainian and Roma culture had on him in this globe-spanning history of his punk band Gogol Bordello. Directed by Nate Pommer and Eric Weinrib.

After the Movie: A performance by Gogol Bordello.

Songs About Fucking, (United States) – World Premiere. Songs About Fucking introduces the artist, showman, and robe-clad raconteur Marc Rebillet as he embarks on one of the first live music tours after COVID-19 lockdown. Directed by James Gallagher. Produced by Lizzie Shapiro, Andrew Swett, Gus Deardoff.

After the Movie: A musical Q&A with Marc Rebillet.

Uncharted, (United States) – World Premiere. Filmmaker Beth Aala goes behind the scenes of Alicia Keys’ “She Is The Music” songwriting camp in this revealing look at the music business. Through the experiences of young Black and Brown women, we are shown how hard it is to succeed in a world granting very little access and opportunity for them. Directed and produced by Beth Aala. Executive Produced by Abby Greensfelder.

After the Movie: A performance from She Is The Music artists, curated by Alicia Keys.

Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway!, (United States) – World Premiere. The hit Broadway musical about a small-town pie baker with big dreams gets the silver screen treatment. Directed by Brett Sullivan, music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, book by Jessie Nelson. Produced by Michael Roiff, Barry Weissler, Fran Weissler, Sara Bareilles, Jessie Nelson, Paul Morphos. With Sara Bareilles, Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews.

After the Movie: A special performance from Sara Bareilles.

>> VIEWPOINTS
Tribeca’s home for distinct points of view and bold directorial visions, Viewpoints discovers the most boundary-pushing, rule-breaking new voices in independent film.

Apolonia, Apolonia, (Denmark, Poland) – North American Premiere. The striking character-driven documentary Apolonia, Apolonia dives into the exhilarating lifestyle of a young French painter. Filmmaker Lea Glob’s intimate exploration of Apolonia Sokol’s creative pursuits and setbacks results in poignant and deeply-felt storytelling. Directed by Lea Glob. Produced by Sidsel Siersted.

Asog, (Philippines, Canada) – World Premiere. This unique narrative incorporating documentary elements follows Rey, a 40-year-old non-binary teacher and typhoon survivor, on a roadtrip to fame. With surreal comedy and social portrait realism, filmmaker Seán Devlin explores climate change, LGBTQ+ issues, and the impact of colonialism on contemporary Philippines. Directed by Seán Devlin, written by Seán Devlin, Jaya, Arnel Pablo. Produced by Amanda Ernst. With Jaya, Arnel Pablo, Ricky Gacho Jr.

Break the Game, (United States) – World Premiere. Record-breaking gamer Narcissa Wright grapples with her toxic obsession for attention and her space in the streaming community after coming out as transgender, all while attempting to set a new world record for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Directed and produced by Jane M. Wagner.

Catching Dust, (UK, Spain) – World Premiere. A young couple living through turmoil at a commune in the heart of Big Bend gets a visit from New York transplants seeking a new lease on life. Tensions boil over and egos come to a head, leaving everyone frayed and on the edge of disaster. Directed and written by Stuart Gatt. Produced by Mark David, Jon Katz, Edward R. Pressman, Stuart Gatt. With Erin Moriarty, Jai Courtney, Dina Shihabi, Ryan Corr.

Chasing Chasing Amy, (United States) – World Premiere. A filmmaker goes on a journey of self-discovery while making a documentary on the development and creation of Kevin Smith’s controversial LGBTQ+ film, Chasing Amy. Directed by Sav Rodgers. Produced by Alex Schmider, Carrie Radigan, Lela Meadow-Conner, Matthew Mills, Sav Rodgers.

Deep Sea, (China, Netherlands) – North American Premiere. The visually-remarkable coming-of-age animated film Deep Sea thrusts a young girl down to a dreamlike aquatic world where she encounters bizarre creatures and fights to reconnect with her mother. Employing sumptuous watercolor and 3D animation, Tian’s film is a feast for the eyes and heart. Directed and written by Xiaopeng Tian. Produced by Qiao Yi. With Wang Tingwen, Su Xin, Teng Kuixing, Yang Ting, Ji Jing, Fang Taochen.

Hey Viktor!, (Canada) – World Premiere. Twenty-five long years after his time in the limelight, former child actor Cody Lightning tries to revive his fortunes with a self-produced sequel to Smoke Signals in this smart, irreverent new comedy. Directed by Cody Lightning, written by Cody Lightning, Samuel Miller. Produced by Samuel Miller, Blackhorse Lowe, Joshua Jackson, Kyle Thomas, Sara Corry, Blake McWilliam. With Cody Lightning, Hannah Cheesman, Simon Baker, Adam Beach, Gary Farmer, Irene Bedard, Colin Mochrie.

Kim’s Video, (United States) – New York Premiere. For decades, Kim’s Video was a gold mine of extraordinary films until its collection vanished into Italy amid a mysterious sale. Now, take a deep dive into the unbelievable true story of the New York video store and cultural landmark beloved by cinephiles. Directed by David Redmon, Ashley Sabin. Produced by Francesco Galavotti, David Redmon, Ashley Sabin, Dale Smith, Deborah Smith, Rebecca Tabasky.

The Last Night of Amore, (Italy) – North American Premiere. Lieutenant Franco Amore is about to retire after 35 years dedicated to the Italian State Police, until a tempting offer arrives on his last day on the job. Writer-director Andrea Di Stefano delivers a contemporary mafia tale involving greed, corruption, and, of course, family affairs. Directed and written by Andrea Di Stefano. Produced by Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Gabriele Moratti, Marco Colombo, Marco Cohen, Benedetto Habib, Fabrizio Donvito, Daniel Campos Pavoncelli. With Pierfrancesco Favino, Linda Caridi.

Melody of Love, (Ethiopia, Belgium, Argentina, Germany) – World Premiere. Ethiopian jazz guitarist Michael is called upon by his mother to leave Addis Ababa and join her in Brussels, stoking his deep resentment toward European entitlement in this rich, evocative meditation on the internalized weight of colonialism. Directed and written by Edmundo Bejarano. Produced by Carlos Vargas. With Elijah Akalu.

Öte, (Turkey) – World Premiere. Directed by and written by Malik Isasis & Esra Saydam. Produced by Eda Çarıkçı, Esra Saydam & Malik Isasis. With Iman Artwell-Freeman, Eren Alici, Gülsüm Ölgen, Ziya Sudançikmaz.

Playland, (United States) – North American Premiere. Haunting, whimsical, and exquisitely realized, Playland pays tribute to a long-lost Boston gay bar and the beautiful queer souls who gave it life. Directed and written by Georden West. Produced by Russell Sheaffer, Hannah McSwiggen, Danielle Cooper.

>> MIDNIGHT
Surprising, shocking, frightening, and thrilling, Tribeca Midnight is the destination for the best in horror and more for late night audiences.

 

One Night with Adela, (Spain) – World Premiere. After her night shift ends, Adela goes on a drug-fueled, violent rampage of furious revenge on those who ruined her in this remarkably paced, audacious debut. Directed and written by Hugo Ruiz. Produced by Roberto Valentín Carrera, Pedro Azón Ramón y Cajal, Israel Luengo Arana, Hugo Ruiz, Fausto Arias Figuerola-Ferretti, Tote Trenas. With Laura Galán, Gemma Nierga, Jimmy Barnatán, Rosalía Omil, Raudel Raul, Fernando Moraleda.

Perpetrator, (United States, France) – North American Premiere. Teenager Jonny gains supernatural abilities through a mystical transformation, just as girls from her new school go missing. Jonny takes the investigation into her own hands in this coming-of-age, feminist horror-noir. Directed and written by Jennifer Reeder. Produced by Derek Bishé, Gregory Chambet. With Kiah McKirnan, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Lowell, Melanie Liburd, Ireon Roach. A Shudder release.

The Seeding, (United States) – World Premiere. When a hiker gets lost in the desert, a gang of feral children propelled by haunting legacies traps him in a sadistic battle for survival with a frightening endgame. Directed and written by Barnaby Clay. Produced by Brian R. Etting. With Scott Haze, Kate Lyn Sheil.

You’ll Never Find Me, (Australia) – World Premiere. During a rampaging storm, a shaken young woman arrives at a stranger’s door in an RV park seeking shelter. They both question motives and desires as things escalate to a deadly, bizarre showdown. Directed by Josiah Allen, Indianna Bell, written by Indianna Bell. Produced by Josiah Allen, Indianna Bell, Jordan Cowan, Christine Williams. With Jordan Cowan, Brendan Rock.

>> ESCAPE FROM TRIBECA Our Psychotronic Sidebar presenting genre movies from around the globe, giveaways, and special events sure to please even the rowdiest movie lovers.

Adipurush, (India) – World Premiere. Reimagining the epic Indian poem “Ramayana,” the big-budgeted visual feast Adipurush tells the tale of a prince on a mission to rescue his wife from a ten-headed demon overlord. Directed by Om Raut, written by Om Raut, Manoj Muntashir Shukla. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishna Kumar, Om Raut, Prasad Sutar, Rajesh Nair. With Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon, Sunny Singh.

Enter the Clones of Bruce, (United States) – World Premiere. Get ready to play a game of death … and another … and another. The wild documentary Enter the Clones of Bruce dives into the Bruce Lee exploitation craze, otherwise known as Bruceploitation. Directed by David Gregory. Produced by David Gregory, Carl Daft, Frank Djeng, Vivian Wong, Michael Worth. A Severin Films release.

Enter the Dragon, (Hong Kong, United States). One of the most influential crowd pleasers of all time, Enter the Dragon became a global phenomenon along with its beloved star, the legendary Bruce Lee. Join us for this 50th Anniversary screening and celebrate the legacy of this superstar performer and choreographer. Exciting, hilarious and jaw dropping. Directed by Robert Clouse, written by Michael Allin. Produced by Paul Heller, Andre Morgan, Fred Weintraub.

After the Movie: Co-star Angela Mao and Producer Andre Morgan will speak about Bruce Lee and the production of the film, and the Andersons Martial Arts Academy will lead a performance and an audience participation ceremony in honor of his passing 50 years ago.

Final Cut, (France) – New York Premiere. In this clever and raucous “requel” of the Japanese cult hit One Cut of the Dead, a French film crew hilariously struggles to pull off an ambitious, livestreamed, single-take filming of the alien zombie apocalypse. Directed and written by Michel Hazanavicius. Produced by Michel Hazanavicius, Alain de la Mata, Noémie Devide, Brahim Chioua, Vincent Maraval, John Penotti. With Bérénice Bejo, Romain Duris. A Kino Lorber release.

Suitable Flesh, (United States) – World Premiere. After murdering her young patient, a once-esteemed psychiatrist helplessly watches her life spiral into a nightmarish maelstrom of supernatural hysteria and gruesome deaths, all linked to a seemingly unstoppable ancient curse. Directed by Joe Lynch, written by Dennis Paoli. Produced by Barbara Crampton, Bob Portal, Joe Wicker, Inderpal Singh. With Heather Graham, Judah Lewis, Bruce Davison, Johnathon Schaech, Barbara Crampton, Jonah Ray.

All festival tickets can be purchase on their official site and prices can range from $25-$350 depending on the film or experience. Individual day passes or weekend passes are also available as well.

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The Glorious Corner

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G.H. Harding

SO LONG, FAREWELL — I’ve been a TV-guy for decades; from Mary Tyler Moore; MASH; The X-Files and Seinfeld on down; I’ve seen great shows fall low with just terribly written finales, but the final-Ted Lasso episode this week was nothing short of brilliant. The acting, the writing, the joie de vivre off the charts.

 Joie de vivre literally translates into the joy of living and the three seasons of Ted Lasso were all just sensational in every way. Sure, there were some standout episodes (Beard After Hours), but Jason Sudeikis and gang were always just wonderful. Some pundits said that this third season ran off the rails a bit, but this last episode neatly tied them all up. And I’d be remiss in not mentioning the brilliant music that accompanied each and every episode; from The Monkees’ “Sometime In The Morning” to the new Ed Sheeran record which debuted in this last episode. Just so neatly done.

Hannah Waddingham

I’ll tell you what I really liked from the get-go was the fact that this episode began after Ted clearly told Rebecca he was going home in the last episode. The fact that they didn’t show it, made it a lot easier to digest. Hannah Waddingham is a star and she had her moment with Ted, in the seats, asking him one more time to stay.

She’s going to be as huge star, so get ready to see a lot more of her.

Brett Goldstein too (Roy Kent) was just tremendous. He’s huge already!

Roy Kent became the new coach of AFC Richmond with Nate as an able assistant. Ted Crimm (James Lance) finished his book originally titled The Lasso Way, but Ted after reading it and loving it, wanted a new title. Hence, The Richmond Way.

Just a great episode; a tad longer at 76-minutes, but richly written and acted. I am going to miss this show tremendously.

Utterly brilliant in every way.

Milli Vanilli

MILLI VANILLI — (Via Deadline) A feature doc about controversial pop group Milli Vanilli has been picked up by Paramount +.

The eponymous doc, which tells the story of the duo who were forced to return their Grammy Award for Best New Artist after it was revealed that they didn’t sing on any of their records, is premiering at the Tribeca Festival.

The streamer will launch the doc in the U.S. as well as in Canada, the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Produced by MRC and MTV Entertainment Studios, Milli Vanilli tells the story of Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, who became fast friends during their youth in Germany. With Rob coming from a broken home and Fabrice having left an abusive household, they shared a similar upbringing, as well as a future goal: to become famous superstars. In a few short years, their dreams came true. Their first album went platinum six times in 1989, and their hit Girl You Know It’s True sold over 30 million singles worldwide. Rob and Fab became the world’s most popular pop duo in 1990. However, their ascension to success came with a devastating price that ultimately led to their infamous undoing.

“For over 30 years, the story of Milli Vanilli – in particular Rob and Fab – has been reduced to sensational headlines,” said director Luke Korem. “With this documentary, we pull back the curtain on pop music. Featuring interviews with the real singers, record executives, the producer mastermind behind the deception and exclusive interviews with Rob and Fab, we unveil the truth of this complex, exciting and dramatic story. I’m thrilled that Paramount+ shares our vision and will bring this film to audiences around the world.”

“Finally – the true story of Milli Vanilli has been told,” added Fabrice Morvan. “I’m thankful Luke Korem and his team went to the lengths that they did. The journey I returned to during the filming of this documentary didn’t leave any stone unturned. At last I can close this chapter in peace… Get ready to take a walk in our steel-toe boots.”

Flatiron Building

SHORT TAKES — Nomad’s Flatiron Building looks to be turned into a residential house. Not a bad idea at all. Great address (175 Fifth) and a great location … Brian Lowry, who used to cover TV for Variety, now is at CNN. Great writer and he did a fantastic book on The X-Files years back. Congrats …

Donnie Kehr at Steve Walter’s CuttingRoom Sunday performing his Beautiful Strange album live … As you can well imagine, the reviews for Succession’s finale were just tremendous; both pro and con for certain, The Washington Post ran an interesting piece on the show as well; from a more medical-point of view. I loved it; take a look: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/05/30/succession-wealth-family-life-psychologists/

Slade

Daryl Easlea: a brilliant writer from the U.K. has a book coming out on Slade entitled Whatever Happened To Slade?Remember them?

A Bronx Tale

Here’s the cover … To close this year’s Tribeca Festival, there will be a special 30th anniversary screening of the film, A Bronx Tale, Saturday, June 17. After the film, Robert DeNiro (who directed the movie), Jane Rosenthal, and Chazz Palminteri will participate in a  live conversation with David Remmick, editor of the New Yorker. Definitely one of the major highlights of this year’s fete … (Via Showbiz 411):

Billy Joel

Billy Joel is wrapping it up. The Piano Man will end his record-breaking run at Madison Square Garden in July 2024. It will be his 150th monthly show. The whole run has been an incredible success, allowing Billy to stay mostly close to him and bring all his fans to him. At times, he’s strayed to other cities and countries, but every month like clockwork he’s been at the Garden playing his hits to very happy fans. The sold out residency began back in 2014, believe it or not. Billy has outlasted dozens of Broadway shows, some mayors, governors, presidents, etc. The run has been a phenomenon and a stunning success. Joel will turn 75 next May, so that plus the magic 150 number and it all makes sense … Happy Bday Melani Rogers; Ronnie Wood;  and David Keeps.

NAMES IN THE NEWS — Daryl Easlea; Tony King; David Geffen; Ed Rosenblatt; Glenn Friscia; Jim Burgess; Kent Denmark; Mikael Wood; Lester Bangs; Anne Leighton; Vince Aletti; Fred Goodman; Mark Bego; Mike Greenblatt; Ken Dashow; Jane Rosenthal; Robert DeNiro; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Markos Papadatos; and ZIGGY!

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The Glorious Corner

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G.H. Harding

FAMILY’S A BITCH-THE END OF SUCCESSION — Sunday’s finale of Succession (HBO) was a mixed bag. I’ll be honest: At first I thought the finale was totally underwhelming, but after some additional thought and reading some other excellent reviews, I’ve come to the point where I now believe it was, pure and simple, how it had to end.

Greg didn’t win the crown; Tom did, but only as a puppet master for the notorious Swede Alec Matsson. One terrific take on the show said that there were never really any heroes; just a family fighting for control and only really fighting with each other.
If you followed this season closely, you knew full well that none of the siblings could really do anything near what Logan Roy did. In the episode where he chastised them all by proclaiming you are not serious people- you – it should have immediately tipped you off that an outsider, yes Tom, would get the crown.
Roman melted down at the funeral; Shiv changed sides so often you never really knew where her loyalties lay and Kendall had him own set of issues. Also, the fact that he killed someone in Season 1 came into play again.
Creator Jesse Armstrong wrote this one (With Open Eyes) and it was as strong, while being a bit confusing, as everything he’s done. Truth be told, he was right to end it now as some of the themes kept repeating. Sure Brian Cox was not in the last few, but his presence still loomed large. Face it, none of the siblings could have done what he did.
Funnily enough, in the next-to-final scene with the three siblings, Kendall said that his father told him years ago, at The Candy Kitchen, that he would inherit the whole shebang. The Candy Kitchen does exits in Bridgehampton, New York and actually is a fine, fine establishment. I bet they’ll be packed this week!
The last scene of he show was a dejected Kendall wandering near the water with Logan’s bodyguard Colin. I wondered, as did many others, whether he’d off himself. He didn’t.
Is there room for a sequel or spin-off? Of course. Tom is the prefect puppet master for Matsson. There definitely is more intrigue to come. Brilliant writing and acting. I can’t see any of the actors ever equaling what they did on this show. Bravo!
SHORT TAKES — Talk about promotion! Q1043’s latest one involves a golden shovel! Sounds like something out of Willy Wonka! … Micky Dolenz jets off to London today for the weekend’s James Burtonevent with Van Morrison; John Oates; Brian May; and more. We’ll have details next column … Eric Clapton’s London-tribute for the recently departed Jeff Beck was just excellent.

Joss Stone

None more so than Joss Stone on “I Put A Spell On You.” What a voice. I’m amazed she’s not bigger; very Janis Joplin.

Gary Clark

Also, Gary Clark delivered a blistering, amazing performance on Stevie Wonder’s “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers.” No question that he’s the next guitar-wizard. Here they both are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvO2_noxaXQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO2BLAXveVo  …

The Flash

I watched all 9 seasons of the CW’s The Flash and the first 5 were pretty terrific. The remaining ones got poorer and poorer as the original cast disappeared one by one. Grant Gustin, The Flash, was there the whole time, but their finale last week was terribly confusing – save for a song by Tony Award winner Jesse L. Martin (for Rent) – a key member of the original cast. The last two seasons had a myriad of costumed villains, some from the comic, some not, but just wildly messed up. The CW was sold to Nexstar last year and big changes are in their future. Sad … and, CNN is reporting that Universal Music is close to snapping up the rights to the Queen-catalog for $1 billion-plus. Good for them.

Queen

Disney had it previously, but Queen’s music is more popular than ever before. It’s a real shame Freddie is not her to share in it. If you wondered the record for the biggest previously was for Bruce Springsteen’s catalog at $500 million.

NAMES IN THE NEWS — William Schill; Crimshaw; Joel Diamond; Katherine Clarke; Terry Jastrow; Anthony Pomes; Barry Fisch; Mark Bego; Dave Sholin; Les Bider; Lush Ice; Steve Walter; Peter Abraham; Jack Cunningham; Randy Alexander; Howard Bloom; Ken Dashow; Norena Barbella; Angela Tarantino; and BELLA!
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Events

Midnight Moment: The Doors: Lizard Kings

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From June 1–30, 2023 | Nightly 11:57pm – 12am metallic crystal-ridged lizards prowl and skitter across the screens of Times Square in The Doors: Lizard Kings by Zach Blas. Featuring five fantastical computer-generated creatures choreographed across 63 distinct channels, June’s Midnight Moment stems from Blas’s 2019 immersive media installation The Doors, a work exploring psychedelia, drug use, artificial intelligence, and Silicon Valley’s connections to California counterculture from the 1960s.

Slimy, glowing, and covered with mineral elements modeled after nickeline and tungsten, each of the five rendered reptiles takes on distinct personalities derived from AI neural networks trained on a constellation of sources, including Aldous Huxley’s 1954 novel The Doors of Perception and the 1960s California psychedelic rock band The Doors. Blas modeled the creatures after the prehistoric Barbaturex morrisoni, a now extinct lizard named after The Doors frontman Jim Morrison, a play on Morrison’s epithet “The Lizard King” and a prominent symbol of psychedelic liberation in the 1960s. As the lizards move through black mirrored passageways, Blas sees them as traveling in time between the psychedelic culture of the past and the present.

The Doors: Lizard Kings also nods to the contemporary psychedelic trends of microdosing LSD and psilocybin mushrooms, as well as taking nootropics. Blas suggests that this new drug culture, popularized in the tech industry, re-engineers psychedelic experience to optimize labor, promising to “unlock” doors of the mind for workers  to labor faster and more efficiently. The Doors: Lizard Kings proposes a new generation of Barbaturex morrisoni, computational symbols for a 21st century psychedelia predicated on worker productivity, smart drugs, and AI hallucinations.

Film Credits
Zach Blas, The Doors: Lizard Kings 2019 / 2023
Originally commissioned by Edith-Russ-Haus für Medienkunst, Oldenburg, Germany; de Young Museum, San Francisco, US; and Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Netherlands

  • Computer Graphics Supervisor: Harry Sanderson
  • Animation: Mikkel Aabenhuus Sørensen
  • Animation Assistant: Yan Eltovsky
  • Modeling and Visual Effects: Dayne Kolk
  • Simulation Assistant: Aslak Kjølås-Sæverud
  • Compositing: Felix Lee
  • Video Editor: Martin Gajc
  • Project Manager: Talia Golland
  • Project Assistant: Audrey Amman

Sound Credits
The original presentation of The Doors featured an aural accompaniment that oscillates between abstract soundscapes and poetry spoken in AI generated voice resembling Jim Morrison’s.

  • Machine Learning Engineers (video and poetry):  Ashwin D’Cruz and Christopher Tegho
  • Machine Learning Engineers (voice and music): Sam Parke-Wolfe and Cameron Thomas
  • Musicians: xin and Aya Sinclair
  • Supervising Sound Editor: Tom Sedgwick
  • Mix Engineer: Ben Hurd

Zach Blas (b. Point Pleasant, West Virginia) is an artist, filmmaker, and writer whose practice spans moving image, computation, theory, performance, and science fiction. Blas engages the materiality of computational technologies while also drawing out the philosophies and imaginaries lurking in artificial intelligence, biometric recognition, predictive policing, airport security, the Internet. Blas has exhibited, lectured, and held screenings at venues internationally, including the 12th Berlin Biennale, Walker Art Center, Tate Modern, British Art Show 9, 12th Gwangju Biennale, de Young Museum, the 68th Berlin International Film Festival, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, ICA London, Van Abbemuseum, e-flux, ZKM Center for Art and Media, and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. His practice has been supported by a Creative Capital award in Emerging Fields, the Arts Council England, Edith-Russ-Haus für Medienkunst, and the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. His work is in the collections of Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, and Whitney Museum of American Art. Blas’s practice has been written about and featured in Artforum, Frieze, ArtReview, BBC, The Guardian, and The New York Times. His 2021 artist monograph Unknown Ideals is published by Sternberg Press. Blas is an Assistant Professor of Visual Studies in the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto.

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Celebrity

The Glorious Corner

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G.H. Harding

LASSO’S MOM CITY — I believe that the best ever episode of Ted Lasso was dropped this week, entitled Mom City. It started off innocently enough with Ted leaving for work and walking right past his mother! He realized it and turned back to her. Turns out she had been in London for a week and was just now seeing Ted.

Ted introduced her to just about everyone and she immediately bonded with the team as well as Leslie and Rebecca. As Ted watched he realized that good-time feeling she generated (and he did too) with everyone held back a devastating fact: that Ted’s dad committed suicide.
They eventually resolved their issues, but Ted’s mom said she was there for a far more specific reason; that his son Henry was missing him. It immediately set up perhaps the last-ever episode of the show next week.
Elsewhere, Jaime dealt with his own family issues. Re-connecting with his mother and step-father. Keeley and Roy joined him and found themselves at one point alone in Jaime’s childhood room and at one point spied posters of themselves from years back. It was, quite possibly, the funniest moment ever in the series.

Harry Nilsson

Also, Harry Nilsson’s “Puppy Song” was a key musical moment in the EP. Harry, we love you!

All resolved, the show ended abruptly as Ted was going to tell Rebecca some news.
Many have said that in this third season, the show had lost it’s way a bit. In this episode, it was all pulled together quite beautifully. All I can say is, what a great show. It will be missed for sure.

Joel Diamond

SHORT TAKES — The #1 iTunes song currently is Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do with It.” Much deserved … Producer Joel Diamond used to live at 220 Central Park South in NYC. His building was torn down and re-built. It is now part of what they call Billionaire’s Road. WSJ-reporter Katherine Clarke’s new book is about just that.. Via Random House, Billionaire’s Row is out on June 13 …

Sasha Prendes

We dropped the name of new Latino-artist Sasha Prendes last time; we just saw a teaser clip for her new video “Shake This.” Check it out here: https://www.sashaprendes.com/video … Micky Dolenz headlined at this week’s Abbey Road On The River and delivered his usual high-octane performance.

James Burton

He leaves for England this week for the James Burton & Friends/One Night Only event June 4 at London’s Palladium … Terry Jastrow interviewed by Brad Balfour for his podcast this week …

Finally caught A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks and enjoyed it immensely. Hanks did a movie, with Steven Spielberg in 2004 called The Terminal, which was fantastic. This movie reminded me of that; a tremendously nuanced performance by Hanks as a peculiar man who found trouble with almost everyone and everything after the death of wife. He describes his life and wife in one great line: My life was in black and white and she was the color. Based on the film A Man Called Ove and with a sensational screenplay by David Magee and directed by Marc Forster, I just loved it …

Whoopi Goldberg

ENDQUOTE: Via Deadline: The View’s Whoopi Goldberg Claims ‘American Idol’ Led To The Downfall of Society. Ouch! Check it out here: https://deadline.com/2023/05/the-view-cohost-whoopi-goldberg-claims-american-idol-led-to-downfall-society-1235380500/ … Happy Bday Buddy Blanch and Bobby Shaw!

NAMES IN THE NEWS — Jodi Ritzen; Rich Dart; Daryl Easlea; Ali Hawthorne; Adrianba Kaegi; Wayne Avers; John Billings; Jane Blunkell; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Chris Gilman; Zach Martin; Anthony Noto; Anthony Pomes; Rhonda Shore; Howard Bloom; Robert Funaro; Michael Jensen; Bob Merlis; Roy Trakin; Evan Evanston; and CHIP!
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