HAPPENING NOW: Everything You Need To Know About Tribeca Film Festival
It's that time of the year again! New York City is a buzz with all things Tribeca Film Festival. Though a bit paired down this year still due to the pandemic, the Festival has made an amazing hybrid vibe of virtual and physical that is a hit. So much is happening. We'll be bringing you a few key film reviews as well but for the moment. Here's a can't miss from Festival Founders, themselves, Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal on how to get films made. Listen up:
Now, here's a quick peek at what's going on just one of the days of this action-packed Festival (mark on your travel list now, to make sure you're in NYC for this for 2022):
The Battery saw the world premiere of Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James. In attendance for photos were: Emmy-nominated director/writer Sacha Jenkins, writer/producer Steve Rivo, producer/editor Jason Pollard, and executive producers, Mass Appeal CEO Peter Bittenbender, Douglas Banker, and Rick’s daughter, Ty James. The film, screening as part of Tribeca’s Juneteenth programming is the definitive portrait of the legendary funk/R&B icon, set to a soundtrack that compels you to get out of your seat from the opening moments.
On the rooftop of Spring Studios, Jason Hirschhorn, Chief Executive Officer of the REDEF Group, a digital content curation company focused on media, music, technology, fashion and sports, joined film and television director and producer Doug Liman for a Tribeca Talk where they look back at what sparked his career, the backstory of Bourne Identity, and take a deep dive into his incredibly successful career. Liman reflects on how he got started in filmmaking noting, “What lit my fire was that my father’s client gave me a projector and a Super 8 sound recorder. I instantly started geeking out on technology and started recording. I started making films at the age of 6.”
Founding members Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke of the legendary rock band Blondie join New York City artist and director Rob Roth for a wildly entertaining Storytellers conversation where they discuss their chart-topping success and fearless spirit, which led to induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Speaking about Jean-Michel Basquiat, the band recalls “He was a good kisser!” and “He smoked a lot of pot.” Clem and Chris reflect back on their favorite Andy Warhol memories, saying they loved “shooting guns in Andy’s factory. No joke. We miss that factory.” The group also discusses the constant changes happening in New York City. Chris humorously makes a comment saying “Today, there’s not enough of a distinct group of weirdos.”
Nana Mensah made her directorial debut at Pier 76 with the feature film Queen of Glory. Also in attendance were stars Meeto Gattuso, Adam Leon, Oberon KA Adjepong, and producers Kelley Robbins Hick, and Jamund Washington. Academy Award-Winning Actress Lupita Nyong'o attended to express her support of the film.
At the world premiere of Ultra Sound, actress Rainey Qualley attended wearing a stylish khaki blazer. Producer Rob Schroeder posed with his son, Henry. In the second half of the film, New York celebrated its reopening and 70% of the city being vaccinated with fireworks over Memorial Park.
At Hudson Yards, the cast and crew of Building A Bridge posed for the photocall, including directors Shannon Post and Evan Mascagni, real life subjects Father James Martin, Jason Steidl, Marianne Palacios, executive producers James O’Donnell, Brian Hull and Laura Hull, Mark McDermott, editors Michal Labik, Ellen Knechel, composers Teddy Abrams and Nate Farrington, cinematographer Nick Capezzera, and Sister Jeannine Gramick.
At the Brooklyn Commons at MetroTech, the Pursuing Happiness shorts program debuted, which focuses on navigating life’s ups and downs. Shorts include GraceLand, Six Nights, Magnolia Bloom, Enjoy, We Do This Once, and The Angler.
The environmental documentary Reflection: A Walk with Water made its world premiere and the 2020 (we interviewed this director and will have the full info for ya in our "Green" section.)
This is the center of the Universe for the moment, Ladies and Gentleman. And that's not even half of what is happening, boots on ground!