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The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival will debut highly anticipated TV shows and introduce audiences to online storytellers without boundaries in its Tribeca TV and N.O.W. (New Online Work) sections. The Tribeca TV line-up includes 18 shows made up of eight series premieres, three season premieres, one mid-season premiere, two feature documentaries and five indie pilots.
The 5th edition of N.O.W. includes 12 programs in the Episodic and Short Form Showcases, in addition to the Creators Market. N.O.W. will also present five The New York Times Op-Docs. The Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 18-29.
This year’s Tribeca TV lineup includes world premieres of new series, including Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story, from Executive Producer Jay-Z, based on the timely book of the same title; Sweetbitter, a coming-of-age series about a young woman working the restaurant industry in New York City and Cobra Kai, with Ralph Macchio reprising his iconic role from The Karate Kid franchise.
Two feature films exploring iconic television shows will World Premiere: Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary, looking at the fan favorite with a dedicated cult following, created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow and Mr. SOUL!, which focuses on the groundbreaking show Soul!, which presented the breadth of black artistry and culture for the first time to nationwide audiences via the medium of television. National Geographic’s acclaimed Genius series returns to Tribeca with Genius: Picasso, starring Antonio Banderas, on the heels of the series’ world premiere at last year’s festival. The star-studded cast of HBO’s hit series Westworld, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and James Marsden will be in attendance for the New York premiere of season two’s premiere episode. Tribeca TV also presents the best in new independent voices in episodic television with its Pilot Season section with five new unaffiliated projects.
“Tribeca TV has become a destination for some of the most highly anticipated and well-received shows on television,” said Cara Cusumano, Director of Programming at the Tribeca Film Festival. “While we continue that tradition with an exciting slate of new and returning series premieres, we also sought to pay homage to the rich cultural history of TV through two feature documentaries about groundbreaking shows of the past, and all-new episodes of a true-crime trailblazer.”
The N.O.W. Showcase features the latest work from 18 unique online creators who are using their platforms to tell original stories. In the Episodic Showcase the projects range from coming-of-age stories about gender non-conforming friends in Dinette, to Snugglr, a comedic series about a young Turkish woman who takes up the strange profession of cuddling with strangers for profit, to an animated series based on the Oscar®-nominated short film Pig: The Dam Keeper Poems. Some of the works in the Short Form Showcase include a documentary about the devastating water crisis in Flint, Michigan called Flint is a Place; a film set in the dystopian future wherein an aging fisherman in Vietnam discovers an android woman from his past called The Last Fisherman; and Crime Cutz, a hybrid documentary-music video all set to the music of the band Holy Ghost!
These online creators, as well as an additionally curated 15 participants – including, for the first time, VR and immersive filmmakers – are invited to take part in the Tribeca Creators Market – a private industry market that brings creators together with distributors, brands, and MCNs to pitch and discuss their latest work.
“We started Tribeca N.O.W. five years ago to recognize a truly unique brand of storytellers emerging from the online space,” said Liza Domnitz, Senior Programmer, Tribeca Film Festival. “Here were creators who found the Wild West landscape of the web the perfect playground for their hysterical, provocative and moving visions. Tribeca is proud to be a leader in recognizing these diverse filmmakers who, this year, have created vastly different work ranging from an episodic, dark comedy about addiction, to a visual extension of a popular podcast, to a serial version of a beloved Oscar®-nominated animated short film.”
TRIBECA TV
Bobby Kennedy for President (Netflix) – World Premiere.
Executive Producers: Laura Michalchyshyn, Dawn Porter, Gunnar Dedio, Nestan Behrans, Dave Sirulnick, Justin Wilkes, Jon Kamen.
Acclaimed director Dawn Porter reveals anew what America gained and what it lost in the life, vision, politics, and hope of Bobby Kennedy.
After the screening: A conversation with director Dawn Porter and Ambassador William vanden Heuvel.
Screening: Wednesday, April 25, 5:00 PM, SVA Theatre
Cobra Kai (YouTube Red) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, Susan Ekins, Will Smith, James Lassiter, Caleeb Pinkett, Ralph Macchio, William Zabka.
Epic adversaries return to the dojo in Cobra Kai, an all-new series in which Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their star-making roles (and rivalry) from the iconic film franchise, The Karate Kid. With Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Mary Mouser, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Courtney Henggeler.
After the screening: A conversation with writers, directors, and executive producers Hayden Schlossberg, John Hurwitz, and Josh Heald and series stars and executive producers Ralph Macchio and William Zabka.
Screening: Tuesday, April 24, 7:45 PM, SVA Theatre
Drunk History (Comedy Central) – Season Five, Midseason Premiere
Executive Producers: Derek Waters, Jeremy Konner, Will Ferrell, Owen Burke, Adam McKay.
Derek Waters, along with an ever-changing cast of actors and comedians, travels across the country to present the liquored-up narrative of our nation’s rich history. With Derek Waters, Jeremy Konner.
After the screening: A conversation with co-creator, director, and host Derek Waters, co-creator and director Jeremy Konner, and other special guests. Each screening ticket provides access to two (2) complimentary drink tickets.
Screening: Thursday, April 26, 8:30 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub
Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary, directed by Brent Hodge, produced by Aly Kelly, Matthew Galkin. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary
Tribeca alum Brent Hodge examines the untold stories and pivotal moments from the making of one of the greatest “one-season wonders” ever produced—one that influenced pop culture far beyond the series’ short TV life. With Paul Feig, Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, James Franco.
After the movie: A conversation with director Brent Hodge and Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig.
First Screening: Saturday, April 21, 8:00 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub;
Genius: Picasso (National Geographic) – World Premiere
Executive Producer: Ken Biller
In its second season, Genius explores the Spanish expatriate Pablo Picasso’s devotion to his craft, his contribution to modern art, and his turbulent personal life. With Antonio Banderas, Alex Rich, Clémence Poésy, Samantha Colley, Poppy Delevingne, T.R. Knight, Seth Gabel.
After the screening: A conversation with showrunner Ken Biller, executive producers Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo, and cast-members Antonio Banderas, Alex Rich, Clémence Poésy, Poppy Delevingne, and Samantha Colley.
Screening: Friday, April 20, 8:30 PM, BMCC Tribeca PAC
Little Women (PBS) – North American Premiere
Executive Producers: Colin Callender, Sophie Gardiner, Heidi Thomas, Lucy Richer, Rebecca Eaton.
Set against the backdrop of a country divided, the story follows the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy on their journey from childhood to adulthood under the guidance of their mother Marmee. Little Women is a coming-of-age story that is as relevant and engaging today as it was on its original publication in 1868. With Emily Watson, Michael Gambon, Angela Lansbury, Maya Hawke, Annes Elwy, Kathryn Newton, Dylan Baker and Jona Hauer-King.
After the screening: A conversation with Executive Producers Colin Callender and Rebecca Eaton along with cast-member Maya Hawke.
Screening: Friday, April 27, 5:00 PM, SVA Theatre
Mr. SOUL!, directed by Melissa Haizlip, Samuel Pollard, written and produced by Melissa Haizlip. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary
Mr. SOUL! offers an entertaining, essential look at the groundbreaking television show SOUL!, which, under producer-host Ellis Haizlip’s passionate guidance, showcased the breadth of black artistry from 1968 to 1973.
After the movie: A tribute to SOUL! hosted by Blair Underwood and featuring performances from Robert Glasper and more.
First Screening: Sunday, April 22, 8:00 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub
Picnic at Hanging Rock (Amazon Prime Video) – North American Premiere
Executive Producers: Jo Porter, Anthony Ellis, Penny Win.
A penetrating reimagining of the iconic, timeless Australian classic, Picnic at Hanging Rock plunges audiences into the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and their governess on Valentine’s Day, 1900. With Natalie Dormer, Lily Sullivan, Madeleine Madden, Samara Weaving, Lola Bessis, Yael Stone, Inez Curro, Harrison Gilbertson, Ruby Rees.
After the screening: A conversation with director Larysa Kondracki, executive producer Jo Porter and cast member Natalie Dormer.
Screening: Saturday, April 28, 8:00 PM, SVA Theatre
Phenoms (FOX, FOX Sports) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: David Brooks, Mario Melchiot, Tony Sella.
Chronicling the journey of the next great soccer players on their quests to represent their respective countries in the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, Phenoms allows fans and viewers to experience the personal lives of players through unprecedented behind-the-scenes access.
After the screening: A conversation with Executive Producer David Brooks, Producer Arbi Pedrossian, Director Chris Perkel, and Editor Thomas Verette.
Screening: Wednesday, April 25, 8:30 PM, SVA Theatre
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Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story[/caption]
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story (Paramount Network) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Michael Gasparro, Nick Sandow, Sybrina Fulton, Tracy Martin, Chachi Senior.
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story depicts the life and legacy of Trayvon Martin, presenting the definitive look at one of the most talked-about, controversial events of the last decade.
After the screening: A conversation with co-directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst, the parents of Trayvon Martin, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, executive producers Mike Gasparro and Chachi Senior, and special guest.
Screening: Friday, April 20, 5:45 PM, BMCC Tribeca PAC
The Staircase – International Premiere
Executive Producers: Matthieu Belghiti, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade.The true-crime phenomenon The Staircase returns with all-new chapters, as convicted murderer Michael Peterson faces his final trial.
After the screening: A conversation with creator and director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade and producers Matthieu Belghiti and Allyson Luchak
Screening: Saturday, April 28, 6:00 PM, SVA Theatre
Sweetbitter (STARZ) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Stephanie Danler, Stuart Zicherman, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Sarah Esberg.
New to New York City, 22-year-old Tess is quickly intoxicated by the chaotic, adrenalized world of the upscale restaurant industry, where she tastes expensive wine, explores dive bars, and learns who she can trust. With Ella Purnell, Tom Sturridge, Caitlin FitzGerald, Paul Sparks, Evan Jonigkeit, Eden Epstein, Jasmine Matthews, Daniyar.
After the screening: A conversation with Sweetbitter creator, executive producer, and writer Stephanie Danler, showrunner Stuart Zicherman, and cast-members Ella Purnell, Caitlin FitzGerald, Tom Sturridge, and Paul Sparks.
Screening: Thursday, April 26, 5:00 PM, SVA Theatre
Westworld (HBO) – Season Two, New York Premiere
Executive Producers: Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, J.J. Abrams, Athena Wickham, Roberto Patino, Richard Lewis, Ben Stephenson.
As a new chapter begins, Westworld continues on its dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. With Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden, Tessa Thompson.
After the screening: a conversation with co-creators, showrunners, and directors Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, and cast-members Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and James Marsden.
Screening: Thursday, April 19, 8:30 PM, BMCC Tribeca PAC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvhMHJfB5U8
PILOT SEASON
Screening Showcase: Monday, April 23, 6:45 PM, Cinépolis Chelsea
Fabled (USA) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Evan Jonigkeit, Alex Gayner, Zosia Mamet.
This anthology series reimagines classic fairy tales through the perspective of its female characters, whose overlapping stories take place in the same small town. With Zosia Mamet, Trace Lysette, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Paul Wesley, Norbert Butz.
Nice (USA) – World Premiere
Executive Producer: Naomi Ko.
Teddy, a sarcastic-but-loveable 23-year-old, prides herself on being the black sheep of her conservative Korean-American family. But when her cancer returns—and she keeps it a secret—everything in her life takes on new meaning. With Naomi Ko, Sun Park, Kim Cooper, Parvesh Cheena, Nathan Yueh, Connor Gould.
Tantalum (USA) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Clara Aranovich.
Detroit-based tech mogul Colton stands on the edge of a bridge in the middle of the night, ready to jump to his death. But when a strange woman perched above him derails his plan, he finds he’s in for a bizarre, and increasingly violent, night. With Marcus Henderson, Susan Deming, Jeffery Waddell, Langston Fishburne.
Oversharing (USA) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Katie Flynn, Terri Timely.
When a new business venture fails, uptight Jenny is forced to start renting out her apartment online. But diving into the sharing economy proves not to be so easy for someone who never actually learned to “share.” With Beth Dover, Sarah Burns, David Danipour, Thomas Fowler.
On the Spectrum (Israel) – World Premiere
Executive Producers: Ron Eilon, Danna Stern, Koby Gal Raday, Dganit Atias Gigi.
On the Spectrum follows three 20-something roommates, all on the autism spectrum, as they navigate the day-to-day concerns of work, friendship, and romance. With Neomi Levov, Niv Majar, Ben Yosipovich, Uri Gat, Avi Dangur, Tal Yakimov.
N.O.W. SHOWCASE
A curated selection of independent, online creators invited to showcase their latest work at public screenings as official Tribeca Film Festival selections and on TribecaFilm.com. Divided into two groups: Episodic and Short Form.
EPISODIC
Premiere Screening: Thursday, April 19, 8:30 PM, Regal Battery Park Theater
Cleaner Daze, created by Tess Sweet (USA) – Episode One (New York Premiere), Episode Two (World Premiere). Cleaner Daze, a dark comedy series about addiction, follows Jasmine, a newbie drug counselor, and her eccentric co-workers as they struggle to wrangle a misfit crew of teenage drug addicts. With Abigail Reno, Karin Babbitt, Tess Sweet, Kemi O’Connor.
Tess Sweet is an award-winning writer and director, a recovering drug addict, and a lover of dark comedy. In 2011, Sweet graduated with an M.F.A. from the film and television directing program at the University of California at Los Angeles. Sweet now resides in the Bay Area, where she works as a freelance director and editor, serves as president of Loud and Clean, and runs programs for with at-risk youth.
Dinette, created by Shaina Feinberg (USA) – World Premiere. The original series Dinette focuses on a group of female and gender non-conforming friends who come together for a commitment ceremony in the waning days of 2017. Shaina Feinberg leads the ensemble cast through a series of inter-connected vignettes riffing on wounded machismo and the patriarchy.
Shaina Feinberg has directed and produced content for RIOT, Shatterbox and IFC’s Comedy Crib. Her debut as a writer and director, the award-winning feature The Babymooners, blurred the lines between documentary and fiction while examining gender stereotypes. In 2017, her short film Shiva, a hybrid of improvised comedy and actual grief, premiered at Tribeca. Senior Escort Service, her follow-up to Shiva, is a full-length movie that blends nonfiction and fiction.
Driver Ed, created by Jacob A. Ware, Amanda Cowper (USA) – World Premiere. A guy decides to get his driver’s license to impress his NASCAR-loving girlfriend, but unexpected things happen on the open road. With Jacob A. Ware, Layla Khosh, Eddie Diaz, Becca Blackwell.
Jacob A. Ware is an actor and writer, best known for playing Harold Selby on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. He is the head writer and host of the RYOT Studio show Screen Time; his television credits also include Law and Order: SVU, Shades of Blue, and Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Amanda Cowper is a New York City-based producer and director. As associate producer on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, Cowper produces all of the show’s field pieces.
Home, created by Micah Sudduth, Keylee Sudduth (USA) – World Premiere. Pulling from the true life experiences of the filmmakers, Home mines the humor and heartbreak of growing into adulthood, leaving home, and balancing individual creative careers as a married couple in the millennial age.
Micah Sudduth grew up in the woods of East Texas and survived years of homeschooling so that he could one day pursue his dream of a) being around people and b) making films.
Keylee Sudduth is a Texan born and raised actor and filmmaker. In childhood, she always found herself better able to connect with others through theater. That has now grown into an unabashed passion for cinematic storytelling.
Pig: The Dam Keeper Poems, created by Erick Oh (USA, Japan) – New York Premiere. Pig: The Dam Keeper Poems is a 2D animated series based on the world of The Dam Keeper, the beloved Oscar-nominated short film by Tonko House. The series shows how Pig remembers his father’s departure and having to step into the role of the dam keeper.
Erick Oh is a Korean filmmaker and animator based in California, whose independent films have won awards at numerous film festivals. After receiving his B.F.A. from Seoul National University and his M.F.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles’s film program, Oh worked at Pixar Animation Studios as an animator, working on Academy Award®-winning films, including Inside Out and Finding Dory.
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Snugglr[/caption]
Snugglr, created by Georgia Bernstein, Cemre Paksoy (USA) – World Premiere. Snugglr is an improvised comedy that follows a young Turkish girl, Cemre, who cuddles strangers, professionally as a last resort to make rent. She winds up fully dressed and in bed with all kinds of characters – including a high school student discovering her sexuality, a piano playing dad, and a twelve-year-old with lice, all of whom are looking for more than just a snuggle, in one weird way or another. In English, Turkish with English subtitles.
Georgia Bernstein is a filmmaker from Los Angeles. A recent graduate from Northwestern University, she’s living in Chicago where she created and directed a short film for Condé Nast and Indigenous Media based off her web series, Snugglr. Her first short film about modern neuroticism was an official selection in the 13th annual CineYouth Festival.
Cemre Paksoy is an actor and filmmaker living in Chicago. She recently adapted Snugglr, the web series, into a short film that can be seen on Condé Nast’s The Scene. She’s from Turkey where she windsurfs and pets dogs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-xJZ_Xh7_o
SHORT FORM
Premiere Screening: Thursday, April 19, 7:15 PM, Regal Battery Park Theater
Crime Cutz, created by Ben Fries, Alden Nusser, with the music of Holy Ghost! (USA) – World Premiere. Crime Cutz is a documentary that profiles four New Yorkers to the soundtrack of Holy Ghost!’s Crime Cutz EP. Each subject is invited to interpret a song in their unique style, showcasing these individuals as both subject and collaborator, blurring the line between documentary and music video. With Brad Pawly, Caramia Lior, Lori Brizzi, Louis Orlando, Stuart Hodes, Elizabeth Hodes.
Ben Fries is an award-winning director, producer, and composer from New York City. He has directed more than 20 music videos for bands, including Holy Ghost! and Danny Brown, and has composed music for films such as The Search for General Tso, The City Dark, and The Most Unknown.
Alden Fitzpatrick Nusser is a native Manhattanite who got his start directing short documentaries for news outlets, including The New York Times, the New Yorker, and HBO. He is now developing several projects; among them is a samurai flick set in the tropics and a documentary-opera about a plastic surgery-obsessed grande-dame.
Everything is Stories, created by Mike Martinez, Tyler Wray (USA) – World Premiere. Peter Stefan, owner of Graham Putnam & Mahoney funeral parlor in Worcester, Massachusetts, found himself thrust into the national spotlight in the spring of 2013 amid a damning controversy. With implications that still linger to this day, Stefan and his team faced the question of where to draw the line on who deserves a burial. Directed by Daniel Navetta.
Everything is Stories was initially created as a podcast by Garrett Crowe, Mike Martinez, and Tyler Wray. It is now also a documentary series that explores unconventional narratives of the past and present to preserve the eccentric, the authentic, and the personal.
The Last Fisherman, created by Shal Ngo (USA, Vietnam) – World Premiere. In a dystopian future, on the South China Sea, an aging fisherman discovers an android woman from his past.
Shal Ngo is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker who seeks to bring the inner workings of the human brain to the big screen. After graduating from New York University in 2008, he began working in narrative, documentary, and commercial filmmaking. He is now in development on two projects: his debut feature, a sci-fi thriller about a sentient smart house, and a series of stop-motion documentaries about the psychology of mental health.
Flint is a place, created by Zackary Canepari (USA) – World Premiere. This cross platform series about Flint, Michigan, document a specific moment within this American city in an intimate, character-driven way. What happens here happens in many other urban American cities. But in Flint, it happens all at once. It’s what makes Flint so important in the national conversation.
Zackary Canepari is a documentary photographer and filmmaker. In 2010, he teamed with filmmaker Drea Cooper to make California is a Place, a short documentary series about California; their first feature documentary, T-Rex, about female boxer Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, premiered at SXSW in March 2015 and was featured on PBS before the 2016 Olympics.
99 Names of God, created by Yumna Al-Arashi (UK) – World Premiere. Arab-American filmmaker Yumna Al-Arashi embraces the rhythmic rituals that have run alongside Islamic tradition throughout the centuries in this surreal and poetic short film. Piecing together old and new, Al-Rashi’s dream-like imagery breathes fresh air to a subject hardly seen in positive light.
London-based artist Yumna Al-Arashi was born to a Yemeni father and Egyptian mother and raised in the United States. Her work confronts her own struggles of identity and belonging as both a woman and a Muslim. Her background in politics—she studied international politics at the New School—and journalism shines in her work, in which she focuses on humanitarian issues such as women’s rights and labor injustices.
Under Her Skin, created by Rémy Bennett, Kelsey Bennett (USA) – World Premiere. Under Her Skin is an intimate character portrait of 71-year-old photographer Jane Rule Burdine which explores her work, personal struggles, and triumphs in the Mississippi Delta where she grapples with the beautiful yet harrowing complexities ingrained in the culture and landscape of the American Deep South. With Jane Rule Burdine.
Rémy Bennett received her B.A. in acting from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Her film work includes Martin Scorsese’s Wolf of Wall Street and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, and she also runs Hurry Sundown Productions with her husband, Monroe Robertson, and sister, Kelsey Bennett.
Kelsey Bennett is a New York City-based photographer and filmmaker who has shown work in her home city, as well as Los Angeles and London and has contributed to Interview magazine, Dazed, and Vice magazine.
Tribeca N.O.W.: THE NEW YORK TIMES’ OP-DOCS
Screening Time: Thursday, April 26, 5:30 PM, SVA Theatre
The New York Times’ Op-Docs returns to Tribeca for year two of beautifully depicted short documentary stories, all told with Op-Docs signature expertise. Touching upon unforgettable historical events, to universally relatable family struggles, all the way to emotionally-charged, timely debates, this crop of online films is an impressive and uniquely diverse group.
After the screening, please join us for a conversation with the filmmakers, moderated by The New York Times’ Op-Docs Executive Producer, Kathleen Lingo.
The Blue Line, directed by Samantha Knowles (USA) – World Premiere. When a small town makes the controversial decision to paint a blue line in support of police on one of its busiest roads, an explosive division emerges between residents for and residents against the line.
Birth Control Your Own Adventure, directed by Sindha Agha (USA). How the filmmaker’s birth control side effects made her four different people.
Earthrise, directed by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee (USA) – World Premiere. The Apollo 8 astronauts recount their memories of capturing the first image of Earth from space in 1968 and evokes the awe of seeing Earth framed against the blackness of space. Also screening as a part of the Shorts Program: Home Sweet Home.
The Happiest Guy in the World, directed by Lance Oppenheim (USA) – World Premiere. Mario Salcedo boarded his first cruise nearly twenty years ago — and hasn’t returned since.
My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes, directed by Charlie Tyrell (Canada). Was my father’s leftover stuff the key to who he really was?
Tribeca N.O.W. Creators Market
Time and Location: Wednesday, April 25, Tribeca Festival Hub
Industry and independents will come together at the Tribeca Creators Market, an invite-only event where creators discuss their work with distributors, brands, and MCNs.
The following online and VR/immersive filmmakers will participate in the Creators Market:
Gabriela Arp is an independent filmmaker and virtual-reality director whose work focuses on reinterpreting memory and creating experiences that blur the line between reality and imagination. She was a Sundance Institute Knight Fellow in 2017 and was selected for the Oculus VR for Good Creators Lab program.
·Sydney, Australia native
Lauren Augarten published her first play, Define You, at just 14 years old. She moved to the United States at 21 to study at David Mamet’s Atlantic Theater School, she created the digital series Same Same, based on her experience as a newly out queer woman in Brooklyn, New York. The series won the LGBT Category award at the LA New Media Film Festival, and was an official selection at Newfest. It has been featured in The Huffington Post, Washington Post and Buzzfeed, and was recently acquired for European distribution.
Jesse (Jesus) Ayala is a creator specializing virtual-reality, social-impact storytelling. Ayala is the creative director and founder of Fovrth Studios and was selected for the Oculus VR for Good Creators Lab in 2017, as a creative fellow with Future of Storytelling for Good in 2016, and as a nominee at the Shorty Awards in 2018.
Lindsay Branham is an Emmy®-nominated filmmaker and social scientist with an interest in art that inspires human connection in imaginative ways. Her work focuses on how investigative storytelling, combined with emerging technology, can foster behavior change in places of violent conflict or in settings of intractable human rights abuses.
Misha Calvert is an award-winning actor and show creator, whose projects span film, television, and digital. Her acclaimed series, Tinder is the Night, is currently screening at festivals around the world.
Baron Davis is a professional basketball player as well as an actor, filmmaker, and CEO and founder of No Label Productions. Alongside his 2-time NBA All-Star’s career, he produced the Emmy®-nominated documentary Crips & Bloods: Made In America, and directed the documentary film The Drew; No Excuse, Just Produce which aired on Showtime.
Jenn Duong is a director and producer who works primarily in virtual reality. She has created a range of cutting-edge virtual-reality projects, ranging from short-form documentaries to music experiences.
After rising to fame with her role on The Real World: Ex-plosion,
Ari Fitz (Arielle Scott) created two YouTube Channels, Ari Fitz and TOMBOYISH. She posts videos on an array of subjects that touches upon her life, gender, sexuality, and fashion. She has garnered a strong following, with over 13 million views across both channels.
Native New Yorker,
Tatienne Hendricks-Tellefsen attended Atlantic Acting school and RADA. Recent Theater credits include: Measure for Measure, and Women by Chiara Atik. Hendricks-Tellefsen wrote, produced, and stars in Adult.
Manon Lucy Mathews is an actress and alumnus of The Second City Conservatory in Hollywood, as well as The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade. Bud Light tapped Manon to create original content for them and she has also worked with T-mobile, JBL Speakers, and Mastercard. She is now starring in the YouTube RED series Single by 30, as well as the Universal web series Off Script.
Monique Moses has starred in and created content for Bustle, BrickTV, Comedy Central and IFC Comedy Cribs—including X Pat, the IFC series she wrote, and Sport Court, also on IFC, which was listed among Indiewire’s “10 Best Web Series of 2017.”
Daniel Navetta is a multi-disciplinary creative artist. He founded the influential creative agency, APK.NYC. Channeling a wealth of experience as a musician and content creator, he has worked with a dynamic range of brands, agencies, networks, musicians, and artists. His work as a director and producer has earned him nods for multiple MTV awards, and a GRAMMY nomination. His films have also been exhibited at Museum of Contemporary Art and the Brooklyn Museum.
Landon Stahmer is an emerging writer, director, and producer from Nebraska. Stahmer created the popular horror web series Look-See, which is distributed by CryptTV, and has received over 20 million views. He has produced content for many digital distributors, including, most notably, AwesomenessTV; he also has projects in development at the studio level.
Matt Steffanina is a world-renowned choreographer who has worked with countless artists, including Jason Derulo, Taylor Swift, and Chris Brown. In 2016, he won The Amazing Race, a victory that transformed him into an international superstar. Steffanina is YouTube’s most-followed dancer in the world, with more than 10 million subscribers and more than a 1.5 billion views on his videos.
Casey Stein & Bernard Zeiger
Casey Stein (Holy Night Director/Co-Creator) is a Washington, D.C.-born, New York City-educated, and Brooklyn-based director. A lover of skateboarding, theater, and emerging technology, he has worked with the likes of the New York Times and 20th Century Fox.
Bernard Zeiger (Holy Night Writer/Co-Creator) is an award-winning screenwriter and professional game designer. He studied film and economics at New York University and is now an associate writer at Kognito, a health simulation company.
Jacob Wasserman is a writer, director, and producer based in Los Angeles, California.
Also participating in the Tribeca N.O.W. Creators Market are the N.O.W Showcase creators Tess Sweet, Shaina Feinberg, Georgia Bernstein & Cemre Paksoy, Keylee Sudduth & Micah Sudduth, Jacob A. Ware & Amanda Cowper, Yumna Al-Arashi, Ben Fries & Alden Nusser, Mike Martinez & Tyler Wray, Shal Ngo, Remy Bennett & Kelsey Bennett.
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The Guilty[/caption]
For the seventh time, Willemstad will host Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam (CIFFR), from Wednesday April 11 through Sunday April 15, 2018. CIFFR presents the highlights of the most recent edition of IFFR, gripping new titles from other film festivals, and promising new work by filmmakers from the region, most importantly in its Yellow Robin Award Competition and the Caribbean Shorts Competition.
This year’s edition opens with Gustav Möller’s thrilling debut The Guilty, which won the Audience Award at IFFR 2018, and closes with Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool by Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin) with a wonderful role played by Annette Bening.
BLACK MOTHER[/caption]
BLACK MOTHER
Khalik ALLAH | Jamaica, USA | 2018 | English | n.s.
In his artistic documentary, filmmaker/photographer Khalik Allah (1985, US) gives Jamaicans the opportunity to share their dreams and wisdom, but also to talk about the harsh everyday reality. The self-taught photographer and filmmaker portrays contemporary Jamaicans in a particularly honest fashion. From young streetwalkers and streetwise rappers to Rastafarians, mothers, agricultural laborers and devout church girls.
EL CHATA (The Sparring Partner)
Gustavo RAMOS PERALES | Puerto Rico | 2018 | Spanish | e.s.
Director Ramos Perales (1980, Puerto Rico) took the scintillating boxing scene of Puerto Rico as the point of departure for his debut drama The Sparring Partner about second chances and perseverance. Convincing acting and action-packed fight scenes reveal that boxing seems to promise a better life for many Puerto Ricans, but even with great ambition and talent, there’s a constant pull to abandon the straight and narrow.
HIJOS DE LA SAL (Children of the Salt)
Luis and Andrés RODRÍGUEZ | Venezuela | 2018 | Spanish | e.s.
Hijos de la sal is the second feature film by brothers Luis and Andrés Rodríquez (1974, Venezuela). This luxuriant, absorbing family drama is set in the salt pans of Cumaragues, Venezuela where, after the death of their father, Evaristo, the lives of Enrique (13) and Maria (16) get a lot harder. Sound plays a major role in the film; the almost tangible presence of the wind, waves and music lend it a magic-realist edge.
MOKO JUMBIE
Vashti ANDERSON | 2017 | Trinidad & Tobago, USA | English | n.s.
A romantic drama about roots and tolerance by Trinidadian-American filmmaker Vashti Anderson. While visiting her aunt in Trinidad, young Englishwoman Asha meets mysterious neighbour Roger. This starts a romantic, magical search for identity and love. Intense debut film that delicately navigates taboos, superstition and spirituality.
EL SILENCIO DEL VIENTO (Silence of the Wind)
Álvaro APONTE-CENTENO | Puerto Rico, Dom. Republic, France | 2017 | Spanish | e.s.
In his debut film, Silence of the Wind, Álvaro Aponte-Centeno (1979, Puerto Rico) depicts a humane, yet no less dramatic side of the global immigration crisis. Together with his sister Carmen, Rafael is part of a human trafficking network that helps move fortune seekers to Puerto Rico. The country’s beautiful landscapes contrast markedly with the tragedies of human trafficking victims.
Netflix has released the Trailer for 
AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN[/caption]
Western Canada’s biggest genre festival, Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) returns for it’s 15th anniversary with its boldest and most eclectic lineup yet, with 43% of the festival’s feature films by female filmmakers. 
Athina Rachel Tsangari: The Capsule[/caption]
The 30th Filmfest Dresden, one of the most renowned and best-endowed short film festivals in Europe, running from April 17 to 22, 2018, unveiled this year’s anniversary program of 270 short films, as well as panel discussions and other events, enticing short film fans from across the world once more to the capital city of Saxony. One main focus this years is on “Europe”, bringing 30 years of European and the festival’s history together in several programs.
Each year, the festival centrepiece consists of the International and National Competitions: 69 short films from a total of 2,200 submissions are in the running this year for the ten “Golden Horsemen” and four special prizes. In the International Competition section, a total of 23 animation and 19 fictional films are going to be screened in seven programmes during the festival week. These include short films from 28 countries, with France and Canada leading the way here, as well as seven co-productions.
In addition to its Competition sections, the 30th Filmfest Dresden also has an extensive array of 27 special programs. For young audiences, there are five children and youth programs for differing age groups with the latest and most exciting short films from throughout the world. International short film entertainment under the open skies can again be enjoyed by all at the Festival Open-Air event on Dresden’s Neumarkt square. This is drawing the crowds on the festival weekend with a special program for the whole family.
* The Unfinished Adventure Named Europe
The great European dreams after the end of the Cold War are now being overshadowed by crises. And Europe is wrestling with its identity. These conflicts and confrontations, as well as the inner plurality of the European construct are also reflected in short film. In the three “A Path to Freedom”, “Border Regions” and “Europe Is Falling Apart” programs, which embrace both historic and current perspectives and are intended to explore the utopian as indeed the dystopian horizons here, Filmfest Dresden is looking back on 30 years of Europe. Among others, the themes include the euphoria in Germany immediately after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the question about the geographic and formal-aesthetic borders of Europe, as well as the unvanquished nationalism in the fortress of Europe. The films in the “Focus Europe” program debunk their discourse as being “post-truth”, while providing thought-provoking impulses and posing questions: How can the political regression within the EU be brought to an end? And does the Europe project still have a chance?
The first trailer is here for Under the Silver Lake, the contemporary neo-noir thriller from writer-director David Robert Mitchell (
One October, the documentary chronicling radio host Clay Pigeon as he talks to a diverse cross-section of people throughout New York city, exploring a microcosm of themes and issues including race, religion, economics, politics and culture, will be released nationally starting Friday, May 11.
Filmed entirely in October of 2008, a time when gentrification is rapidly displacing the working and middle classes, Wall Street is plummeting, and then-Senator Barack Obama is making his first presidential bid, One October is a lyrical time capsule that captures the heart and spirit of New York. When seen from our current vantage point, the film foreshadows the roiling political upheaval spreading across the country today in 2018. Directed by Rachel Shuman and executive produced by three-time Academy Award® nominee Edward Norton (“Primal Fear,” “American History X” and “Birdman”), this captivating feature documentary, which had its World Premiere at the 2017 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, chronicles intrepid radio host Clay Pigeon as he talks to a beautifully diverse cross-section of people throughout the city, exploring a microcosm of themes and issues including race, religion, economics, politics and culture. With today’s news filled with ratings-hungry, sensationalist headlines and political pundits yelling over one another, Pigeon is quite the antithesis with his man-on-the-street style interviews, offering an authentic, warm-hearted and more humanitarian approach to journalism.
Maysles Cinema in Harlem, NYC, where several of the scenes in the documentary were filmed, will host a week-long theatrical release of One October, screening along with the short documentary THE MONOLITH, directed by Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr., about pioneering NYC artist Gwyneth Leech, starting Friday, May 11. One October will also be released nationally on VOD on May 11 via Passion River Films on iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Microsoft XBOX and other digital platforms. The film will also screen nationwide in 
Unapologetic[/caption]
Nine filmmakers and six projects have been selected for Film Independent’s 2018 Documentary Lab, an intensive five-week program designed to help filmmakers who are currently in post-production on their feature-length documentary films.
This year’s projects span the globe – from a film about undocumented youth in the US, to an indigenous family in the Andes standing up to one of the largest gold producers in the world, to an unexpected environmental film about invisible elves, the free market and the surprising power of belief told through an Icelandic grandmother’s quest to save a threatened landscape.
“We’re delighted to welcome this talented group of filmmakers who will be joining us for the eighth year of the Documentary Lab from diverse regions across the US and as far away as Egypt,” said Jennifer Kushner, Director of Artist Development. “Through mentorship, career development and a lively collaborative work environment, the Lab provides support to filmmakers as they work to bring these meaningful nonfiction stories to audiences.”
Through a series of meetings and workshops, the Documentary Lab provides creative feedback and story notes to participating filmmakers, while helping them strategize for the completion, distribution and marketing of their films.
Additionally, the program serves to advance the careers of its Fellows by making introductions to film professionals who can advise on both the craft and business of documentary filmmaking. Lab Fellows attend multiple guest speaker and workshopping sessions with established documentary directors, institutional funders, legal professionals, festival programmers and distributors, and each is paired with an experienced Creative Advisor who provides one-on-one support and insight as the Fellows ready their projects for release.
This year’s Documentary Lab Advisors and Guest Speakers include Ramona S. Diaz (
Emir Hadžihafizbegović[/caption]
Legendary actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović will participate in two Q&As at the upcoming 2018 Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival (BHFF), following screenings of his two films Men Don’t Cry and The Frog. On Friday, April 13, Hadžihafizbegović joins director Alen Drljević for a Q&A following the 9:30pm screening of Men Don’t Cry. On Saturday, April 14, Hadžihafizbegović joins renowned producer Ademir Kenović and emerging director Elmir Jukić for a Q&A following the 6:00PM screening of their film The Frog. Both events take place at SVA Theatre in New York City.
Emir Hadžihafizbegović is a Bosnian film, theater, and television actor. Emir has appeared and been in more than 80 roles in theater and on TV spanning a 30 year career. Mr Hadžihafizbegović was born in the Bosnian city of Tuzla in 1961. He received his diploma in acting at the Academy of Arts in Sarajevo in 1986. He was awarded the Golden Arena for best actor at the Pula Film Festival and Best Actor Award at the Durban International Film Festival. Hadžihafizbegović was also the Minister of Culture and Sport in Sarajevo Canton. Hadžihafizbegović is twice nominated for the BHFF 2018 Jury Award for Best Acting Performance, for his roles in The Frog and Men Don’t Cry.
Drljević’s 
Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco and Matt Bomer Star in Maryam Keshavarz’s VULTURE CLUB[/caption]
YouTube has completed principal photography on the upcoming film VULTURE CLUB starring Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon and award-winning actors Edie Falco and Matt Bomer. In VULTURE CLUB, a veteran emergency room nurse secretly struggles to free her grown son, a journalist, from capture by a terrorist group. After running into roadblocks with government agencies, she discovers a clandestine community of journalists and advocates who might be able to help her. VULTURE CLUB will debut in theaters and then on YouTube Red later this year.
VULTURE CLUB was directed by Maryam Keshavarz (writer-director of Circumstance) and was co-written with Jonathan Mastro. This powerful film is a thought-provoking story about a mother forced to take drastic measures to try and save her only son.
“VULTURE CLUB follows the singular journey of a woman abandoned by her government who finds community in the most unexpected places,” says Maryam Keshavarz. “It’s an honor to work with Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco and Matt Bomer who are the incredible talents and an innovator like YouTube to tell this timely story.”
“This emotional drama grapples with relevant issues journalists around the world face today. Maryam Keshavarz lends her powerful perspective as an Iranian-American filmmaker, and Susan Sarandon’s moving performance immediately drew us into this compelling film,” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube. “We are excited to be in business with Anna Gerb, Neal Dodson, and J.C. Chandor and work with the extremely talented cast of Vulture Club.”
VULTURE CLUB features Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking, Thelma & Louise) who plays “Helen” a mother desperate to rescue her son. Sarandon was recently nominated for a 2017 Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe and a SAG Award for Feud. Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress Edie Falco (The Sopranos, Nurse Jackie) plays “Charlotte” who is also the mother of a journalist. Golden Globe Award-winning and Primetime Emmy-nominated actor Matt Bomer (Normal Heart, White Collar, Magic Mike) plays “Sam,” a journalist who is trying to help Helen save her son. Julian Morris (Pretty Little Liars, Mark Felt) plays Helen’s son “Andy,” a war journalist covering dangerous international events. Rounding out the cast are Lola Kirke (Mozart In The Jungle, Gone Girl) who plays “Amy” the mother of a patient at the hospital, Adepero Oduye (12 Years A Slave, The Big Short) plays “Keesha,” the head emergency room nurse at the hospital, and Sheila Vand (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Girl Walks Home Alone At Night) as “Sheila,” a journalist and Andy’s former girlfriend.
The award-winning film “Murder in the Woods” directed and produced by Mexican filmmaker Luis Iga, will screen at the upcoming 20th Annual XicanIndie Film Fest in Denver. The film written and produced by Chicana filmmaker Yelyna De Leon, stars José Julián (A Better Life) and features distinguished actor Danny Trejo (Machete).
The film will play at the 
For over 40 years, “Su Teatro” has established a national reputation for displaying homegrown productions that speak to the history and experience of Chicanos. “We’re exhilarated to premiere ‘Murder in the Woods’ at the 20th anniversary of ‘Su Teatro’ XicanIndie Film Fest. We’re the third oldest Chicano Teatro in the US; our audience is 75% Latino. The all-Chicano cast featured injects a distinct spin that keeps it real for us. We’re privileged to welcome the fresh young talent, faces we know we’ll be seeing more of in the future,” said Festival Director Daniel Salazar.
“As a Chicana, who majored in Chicano Studies and Film and TV at UCLA, I am so honored to be able to bring a film with Latino and Chicano leads to Denver. Growing up, I always loved the arts but the lack of content and great roles for Chicanas were far and few between, which is why I decided to create better roles and projects that could star people of color. Because although there is a lot of talk about the diversity and inclusion problem that Hollywood has, the projects being made for us and by us, are still only a handful, so we decided to make a film to help solve that issue. Because representation matters and the truth is that brown is beautiful. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to screen in Denver at the XicanIndie Fest and can’t wait to meet aspiring actors at ‘Su Teatro’ to hopefully help inspire them, because we need more projects being made for us, by us,” added writer and producer Yelyna De Leon.
“Murder in the Woods” distinguishes itself as being an All-American horror / slasher film in English, with an All-Latino cast in non- stereotypical roles, created by Latinos with a story that is of universal interest. The award-winning film had its Festival Premiere at the legendary “Festival Internacional de Cine de Guadalajara en LA” (FICG in LA) at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. The film will also be playing at the renowned 34th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) on Saturday April 7th at 9:15pm and Monday April 9th at 8:45pm with Q&A sessions with the filmmakers to follow.
“Murder in the Woods” has received six nominations and has won six awards including Best Film at the LA Skins Film Festival; Best Supporting Actor (Kade Wise), Best Sound Design and Best Soundtrack at the Macabre Faire Film Festival in New York; the Panavision New Filmmakers Grant and the Luminys Grant. The ensemble lead cast includes actors Jose Julian (A Better Life, Shameless), Jeanette Samano (ISA, Female Fight Squad), Chelsea Rendon (Vida), Catherine Toribio (Jane the Virgin), Jordan Diambrini (The Outfield) and Kade Wise (Empire). It also features Danny Trejo (Machete), Soledad St. Hilaire (Beatriz at Dinner), Kurt Caceres (Lawless Range) and Rolando Molina (American Dad!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo4EjP5S_fY