Films, Films and More Films

Films, Films and More Films

By:  Hope Wilkos, Writer

The Tribeca Film Festival 2014 was an amazing experience.  So much talent and creativity united through the power of film.  Since its inception, the film festival has attracted millions of film enthusiasts and supported a robust economic push throughout New York City.

Although the month of August will soon be behind us, it is only just the start of the time required to prepare in order to get ready for Tribeca Film Festival 2015.  The dates were recently announced so it is time to mark your calendars for April 15 – April 26, 2015.

 Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival

Drawing off the successes from the festival in 2014 and years past, next year’s film festival promises to be even more stimulating and entertaining.  Celebrating its 14 year anniversary, there will be much more to captivate and motivate.

Tribeca Film Festival supports and celebrates both American independent voices and established directors from around the world. The Festival hosts screenings of feature and short length films, curated conversations, and master classes. The 2015 Festival will feature Storyscapes, Tribeca’s celebrated transmedia section in collaboration with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin, the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival and the second edition of Tribeca Innovation Week.

Deadlines to submit U.S. and International films for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival are as follows:

• September 15, 2014:              SUBMISSIONS for features, shorts transmedia projects
• October 17, 2014:                   EARLY DEADLINE for feature and short films
• November 26, 2014:              OFFICIAL ENTRY DEADLINE – features, shorts, transmedia projects
• December 24, 2014:              LATE ENTRY DEADLINE for feature length world-premiere films only

Submissions rules and regulations and complete information regarding eligibility for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival are now available at www.tribecafilm.com/festival/submissions. Questions regarding submissions may be directed to entries@tribecafilmfestival.org or by calling 212-941-2305.

A master of acting and filmmaking, Director Ron Howard will inspire film applicants, requesting review of their entries , with his knowledgeable tips and advice in a personal short video which can be seen at this link:  YouTube: http://youtu.be/SymeXZx8vvw.

Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival

While many may think that this event only spans two weeks, it is far from that short an affair.  Movie making never stops. It is a bustling world all year round because creativity never stops to rest.

Many independent filmmakers are in the process of releasing their work for the public to enjoy and get swept into their magical world. Topics are varied and interests are massively entertaining as the emotions of the film on the big screen tear at our hearts.

On September 12, 2014, theaters in the United States will welcome the arrival of ‘I AM ELEVEN’, looking deeply into the lives of children that are on the cusp of both childhood and adolescence. These young minds, still unguarded and remarkably honest, offer a powerful insight into the future of our world.  The acclaimed film, which played at festivals in the United States and around the world, recently completed its theatrical release in Australia where it played a record-breaking 26 weeks, one of the longest theatrical runs of any documentary in Australian film history. Become part of the excitement by going to their Facebook page and finding them on Twitter. I AM ELEVEN, directed by Genevieve Bailey, is being distributed in the United States by International Film Circuit.

 Courtesy of The 2050 Group 

A by-product of the Tribeca Film Festival with nothing but rave reviews and high acclaim for the documentary,  Nas will go on the road for a US tour with the documentary film NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC  where the film will screen and Nas will perform Illmatic from start to finish following the screening. The opening of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival kicked off with the premiere of the film and a concert and was a spectacular way to experience the film.  It all begins in New York City on October 1st and then moves on to Rochester, New York on October 2nd and from there it becomes a whirlwind tour as thirteen cities are hit along the way, all in the month of October.  

Nas: Time is Illmatic follows the trajectory of his 1994 landmark debut album, Illmatic. It traces Nas’ influences and the insurmountable odds he faced in creating the greatest work of music from hip-hop’s second golden era. The documentary is directed by multimedia artist, One9, written by Erik Parker, and produced by One9, Parker, and Anthony Saleh. The film was supported by The Ford Foundation’s Just Films, Tribeca Film Institute’s Tribeca All Access program, and Hennessy V.S. to help bring Nas’ inspiring story of tireless pursuit of excellence to audiences nationwide.

“I want to thank Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and the Tribeca Film family for all of the love & support they’ve given Time Is Illmatic,” said Nas . “It is an honor to be in partnership with them, and I feel there is a cultural kinship bonded by the city of New York.”

“When we started this project, Erik Parker and I couldn’t imagine that audiences would one day be able to experience the film with a live performance ofIllmatic, the album that started it all. It will make each night a truly special moment for the culture. We are sure people of all generations will be inspired by the story of Nas, the Jones family, and electrified by a live performance,” said One9.

Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival

Another very promising individual, Chris Lowell, is set to make his directorial debut with ‘Besides Still Waters‘ which is set to be released this coming November.  The film stars Ryan Eggold (“The Blacklist”), Beck Bennett (“Saturday Night Live”), Brett Dalton (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Erin Darke, Jessy Hodges, Will Brill, Britt Lower and Reid Scott (“Veep”).  The film quickly became the 13th most-funded narrative film of all time, and the only one of the top 100 to more than triple its goal, which was surpassed on the second day of a month-long campaign.

Winner of both the Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2013 Austin Film Festival, Beside Still Waters is about Daniel Thatcher (Ryan Eggold), a young romantic who has recently fallen on hard times, who enlists his childhood friends to relive the glory days of their youth, whether they like it or not.

Courtesy of The 2050 Group 

Another award-winning film that takes us back to nature is ‘A Will For The Woods.’  This is an outstanding documentary, the first feature film on this particular topic, and is directed by four Brooklyn-based filmmakers, Amy Browne, Jeremy Kaplan, Tony Hale and Brian Wilson, has touched a cultural nerve along its path of winning nine awards and screening at more than a dozen leading film festivals across the nation.  This month, the film opened in theaters in New York, its real home of origin.  The film had its world premiere at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina where it won both the Audience Award and the Environmental Award. It has also screened at the AFI Docs film festival in Washington, DC, Camden International Film Festival, DOC NYC and San Francisco IndieFest (where it won the Audience Award and Jury Award), among other leading festivals.  While death is an area that seldom brings happiness, this film gives us satisfaction in knowing that we can give back to the environment.  Musician, psychiatrist, and folk dancer Clark Wang advocates for green burial and even prepares for his own in this documentary film. Clark and his partner Jane have discovered a burgeoning movement that uses burial to conserve and restore natural areas, forgoing contemporary funeral practices that preserve the body at the ecosystem’s expense. With the help of a compassionate local cemeterian, the spirited pair aim to save a tract of forest from being clear-cut. As the film follows Clark’s battle with lymphoma and his dream of leaving a loving, permanent legacy, environmentalism takes on a deeply human intimacy. Making the most of the time that he has, Clark finds joy in his music and dance, connection with his friends and family, and great comfort in the thought that his death, whenever it happens, will be a force for regeneration.  There is a powerful message for the audience.

It comes around full circle to Tribeca Film Festival where not only is the talent of the writers and directors highlighted but also the outstanding acting ability of the stars of the screen.  As film enthusiasts around the world get ready to celebrate 2015 immersed in fine films, Tribeca Film Festival took a break in the new to honor the memory of the two artists that we lost within the last couple of weeks.  To celebrate the life and work of Robin Williams, this past Tuesday  the Tribeca Cinemas hosted a screening of Penny Marshall’s ‘Awakenings‘, a film that showed the world how very talented Williams truly was.  All the proceeds from this special evening went to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival

Lauren Bacall was also remembered for her witty participation in the Tribeca Talks of 2002.  She was a panel guest at the very first Tribeca Film Festival.  Her Hollywood expertise was shining through as the discussion focused on love in the movies.

 Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival