Tribeca Festival continued to roll out the lineup for its 25th anniversary, unveiling the 2026 NOW (New Online Work) lineup featuring digital-first storytelling by social media creators across platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
Tribeca NOW takes place during this year’s Festival from June 3–14 in New York City.
The 2026 slate features ten boundary-pushing creators whose work spans genres, formats, and platforms, united by distinct voices and a cinematic approach to digital storytelling. Submissions were evaluated holistically, recognizing not only standout individual pieces but each creator’s broader body of work, storytelling voice, and cultural impact.
This year’s Official Selections include: And They Were Roommates (@atwrtheseries), a New York City rom-com series; Shanked (@shankedshow), a chaotic country club workplace comedy; BK Coffee Shop (@bkcoffeeshop), a viral Gen Z satire set in Brooklyn; VHS Dates (@vhsdates), found-footage comedy about dating in the ‘80s; Sideline Archive (@sideline.archive), which uncovers forgotten stories through vintage sports memorabilia; That’s That on That (@tajrani), deep-dive portraits of the uncredited architects of Black history; Emmy Award-nominated journalism from Retache (@retachemedia); 15 Second Film (@15secondfilm), a micro-filmmaking experiment turning strangers into storytellers; Mechanical Pencil (@amari.k.jones and @palmerwilliams3), coming-of-age stories rooted in ‘90s Black cinema; and TIME 100 Creator and Emmy Award-nominated host Taylor Cassidy (@taylorcassidyj).
In addition to the Official Selections, Tribeca NOW will host a series of live events, including a screening and conversation with Keke Palmer (@keke) and Lawrence Murray (@lawrencesmurray) centered on KeyTV’s The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl, moderated by NOW Creator Taj Rani (@tajrani). The program also features the world premiere of two episodes of Keep The Meter Running from Kareem Rahma (@kareem), the beloved New York City taxi series making the leap from short-form social video to long-form storytelling on YouTube. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Rahma and producer Adam Faze (@adamfaze), moderated by New York Times pop music critic and Popcast host Jon Caramanica (@joncaramanica).
Returning for its third year, Whalar Group brings two dynamic live conversations to Tribeca NOW at The Lighthouse, Brooklyn’s premier campus for creators, spotlighting the evolving relationship between digital storytelling and Hollywood filmmaking. The signature Tribeca NOW conversation convenes leading voices from across film and creator ecosystems to explore how these worlds are converging in real time. In addition, Whalar Group and The Lighthouse also present “What’s Next,” a reunion panel with New York-based creators from Tribeca’s 2025 “Up Next” cohort, returning one year later to reflect on momentum, growth, and what comes after the breakthrough moment.
2026 TRIBECA NOW LIVE EVENTS
Tribeca NOW Creators Showcase
Tribeca NOW spotlights 10 boundary-pushing digital storytellers transforming the creator landscape with their distinctive voices, from found-footage dating-satire and sports archaeology to reverse-migration documentaries, Black history deep-dives, and a country-club workplace comedy gone gloriously off the rails. These visionaries are building audiences on their own terms, and they’re just getting started.
KeyTV’s The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl with Keke Palmer & Lawrence Murray.
Join Keke Palmer and Lawrence Murray for a screening of The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl, a KeyTV original. Both homage and satire, DivaGurl draws from the sonics and shenanigans of early aughts girl groups and pop culture.
After the Screening: NOW Creator Taj Rani (@tajrani) will moderate a live conversation with Keke Palmer and Lawrence Murray, exploring digital platforms as a proving ground for talent, how KeyTV is cultivating a new wave of storytellers, and the role digital has played shaping their own careers.
Keep the Meter Running (YouTube) World Premiere of two episodes.
Tribeca Festival welcomes Kareem Rahma (@kareem) and producer Adam Faze (@adamfaze) for an exclusive screening of their new series, Keep The Meter Running. The beloved web-based series, featuring New York City taxi drivers and their favorite local spots, and followed by millions online, makes the leap to long-form storytelling on YouTube. The evening includes two episodes, featuring Tribeca-exclusive premiere not yet available online.
After the Screening: A live conversation with Kareem Rahma and Adam Faze about the creative leap from vertical social video to cinematic storytelling, and what the future holds for creator-driven distribution. Moderated by New York Times pop music critic and “Popcast” host Jon Caramanica (@joncaramanica).
The Lighthouse Creator Conversation
Step inside the future of storytelling as Tribeca NOW and Whalar Group host their third annual conversation exploring the collision of social media and Hollywood filmmaking. Bringing together leading voices shaping the creator economy, this event takes over The Lighthouse, Brooklyn’s premier campus for creators, for an insider look at where storytelling is headed next.
“What’s Next” – Tribeca Creators Panel at The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse presents “What’s Next,” a reunion panel with New York–based creators from Tribeca’s 2025 “Up Next” cohort, returning one year later to reflect on momentum, growth, and what comes after the breakthrough moment. Moderated by a Whalar Group executive and hosted at The Lighthouse Brooklyn.
2026 TRIBECA NOW OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
And They Were Roommates | @atwrtheseries
Created by Emily Rose Lyons
A solo-produced New York City-set award-winning romantic comedy series proving that one person with a vision can do it all.
15 Second Film | @15secondfilm
Created by Jeb McCormick
A micro-filmmaking experiment that transforms strangers into storytellers in fifteen seconds flat.
BK Coffee Shop | @bkcoffeeshop
Created by Pooja Tripathi
A viral satirical series using Brooklyn café culture as a lens for the absurdities of modern Gen Z life.
Mechanical Pencil | @amari.k.jones
Created by Amari K. Jones & Palmer Williams III
Culturally grounded coming-of-age stories rooted in faith, community, and the enduring spirit of ’90s Black cinema.
Retache | @retachemedia
Created by Mariano Avila, Andrea Lerdo & Hillia Aho
An Emmy-nominated documentary project chronicling the overlooked human stories driving America’s reverse migration to Mexico.
Shanked | @shankedshow
Created by James Lynch, Patrick Farley & Mikey Smith
A chaotic country club workplace comedy blending The Office with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – and a golf cart.
Sideline Archive | @sideline.archive
Created by Hugh Coles
A documentary series using vintage sports apparel and forgotten memorabilia to uncover the stories that define fan identity.
Taylor Cassidy | @taylorcassidyj
A TIME 100 creator and Emmy-nominated host bringing Black history to mass audiences through bold, accessible digital storytelling.
That’s That on That | @tajrani
Created by Taj Rani
A sharp, deeply researched series shining a light on the uncredited contributors who shaped Black history and popular culture.
VHS Dates | @vhsdates
Created by Lee Citron and Trevor Worley
An Emmy-winning creative team delivers a found-footage satire exploring the universal, often hilarious pursuit of love in the 1980s.
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