Spring Studios Welcomes Tribeca Film Festival 2015
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer
One of the greatest cultural draws to New York City during this time of year is the annual event known as Tribeca Film Festival. As the years continue to go by, the festival only grows larger in magnitude and encompasses more films, interactive sessions, art displays, parties and Red Carpet events than the previous year. Thousands of visitors are eager to enjoy the experience, thus, in turn, stimulating the New York economy as well.
The 14th Annual Tribeca Film Festival is set to kick off next month on April 15th, 2015 and extend through April 26th, 2015. This year a new venue will centralize all the activity, a 150,000 square foot state-of-the-art creative, production & event center located at 50 Varick Street which will double up as a resource center, and creative workspace, with food, and drinks available as well. That venue is known as Spring Studios . As a bit of trivia, the Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,600 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 4.9 million attendees, and has generated an estimated $900 million in economic activity for New York City.
The 2015 film selection includes feature films from 31 countries, including 64 World Premieres, three International Premieres, 13 North American Premieres, five U.S. Premieres, 11 New York Premieres and one restoration. A total of 119 directors will present feature works at the Festival, with 40 of these filmmakers making their feature directorial debuts. The 2015 film slate was chosen from a total of 6223 submissions.
What makes 2015 an outstanding year and one that marks history at the festival, thirty of the Festival’s feature film directors are women –the highest percentage in the Festival’s history. Nine of these directors (as well as two screenwriters) are eligible to receive the third annual Nora Ephron Award, which recognizes a woman who embodies the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer. The award is sponsored by COACH. The majority of these women are part of the World Documentary Feature Competition.
“We were inspired by, and really admire the ambition and risk-taking of the filmmakers who are striving to capture the emotions and complexities of everyday life in this year’s submissions,” said Frederic Boyer, Artistic Director Tribeca Film Festival.
There is no better way to open the film festival this year than with a look at one of the most iconic television shows which has aired for 40 years. Opening night salutes ‘Saturday Night Live‘ and pays tribute in this intriguing documentary called Live From New York! celebrating the program’s recent 40th anniversary special that aired on NBC this year. The film explores the show’s early years, an experiment that began with a young Lorne Michaels and his cast of unknowns, and follows its evolution into a comedy institution. Archival footage is interwoven with stolen moments and exclusive commentary from “SNL” legends, journalists, hosts, crew and others influenced by the comedy giant. Live From New York! captures what has enabled “SNL” to continually refresh itself for over 800 episodes and rise to the top as a household favorite. Live From New York! is directed by Tribeca alum Bao Nguyen and produced by JL Pomeroy and Tom Broecker.
A category known as the Shorts Section has many talented filmmakers and directors ready to impress their audience. The lineup includes 60 short films. Over 3,076 submissions were viewed by a panel who narrowed it down to 40 films which will make their world debut and talent extends across 18 countries including Argentina, Denmark, Finland, Iraq, Israel, Liberia, Norway, Sweden and more. The shorts will be presented in nine programs which are made up of five narrative, three documentary and one combined narrative/documentary program. Highlight talent includes Dick Van Dyke, Katie Holmes and SNL alumni Fred Armisen and Paula Pell, as well as visual artists like JR, who directs “Les Bosquests” about his experience in the ghetto of Montfermeil where he created “Portraits of a Generation” and Daniel Arsham, who directs Juliette Lewis in a space-inspired film – both part of the artistic “Gallery Opening” program. A number of TFF alumni return, including David Darg and Bryn Mooser who are back for the fourth time with “Body Team 12,” a short documentary on the recent Ebola outbreak produced by Olivia Wilde.
Photo Courtesy of ScreenDaily.com
The Tribeca Film Festival along with giant presenter, AT&T, announced the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections, along with the films selected for the Viewpoints section, which recognizes fresh voices in international and American independent cinema. Fifty-one of the 97 feature-length titles were named as part of the film program of the Festival’s 14th edition.
The Festival also announced that AT&T will once again invite audiences to Festival screenings for free on Friday April 24 as part of AT&T’s “Film for All” Friday. This is a time to take advantage of learning all about the festival and to experience the magic of film for yourself. This year, 12 narrative and 12 documentary features making their North American, International, or World Premieres will compete for cash prizes totaling $225,000. Here are just some of the films:
The Adderall Diaries, directed and written by Pamela Romanowsky. (USA) – World Premiere. Elliott (James Franco), a once-successful novelist inflicted with writer’s block and an Adderall addiction strives to escape his problems by delving into the world of a high-profile murder case. Amber Heard, Ed Harris, and Cynthia Nixon co-star in this adaptation of Elliott’s best-selling memoir.
Bridgend, directed by Jeppe Rønde, co-written by Jeppe Rønde, Torben Bech, and Peter Asmussen. (Denmark) – North American Premiere. Sara (Hannah Murray) and her dad arrive in a town haunted by a spate of teenage suicides. When she falls in love with Jamie (Josh O’Connor), she becomes prey to the depression that threatens to engulf them all. Jeppe Rønde’s debut is based on the real-life Welsh county borough of Bridgend, which has recorded at least 79 suicides since 2007.
Dixieland, directed and written by Hank Bedford. (USA) – World Premiere. In the hot lazy days of a Mississippi summer two star-crossed lovers, a recently released ex-con (Chris Zylka) and an aspiring stripper (Riley Keough), become trapped in a downward spiral of crime and obsessive love, as they try to ditch their small town lives. Featuring an impressive performance by Faith Hill.
Franny, directed and written by Andrew Renzi. (USA) – World Premiere. Richard Gere delivers a bravura performance as the title character, a rich eccentric who worms his way into the lives of a deceased friend’s young daughter (Dakota Fanning) and her new husband (Theo James). The narrative feature debut of writer-director Andrew Renzi, Franny is a warm and winsome drama about the pangs of the past, and the families we choose.
Autism in Love, directed by Matt Fuller. (USA) – World Premiere. What does it mean to love and be loved? With remarkable compassion, director Matt Fuller examines the reality of autistic adulthood and shows how the members of this often-misunderstood community cope with the challenge of keeping romance alive. Autism in Love is a celebration of accepting the differences in others, and in ourselves.
The Birth of Saké, directed by Erik Shirai. (USA) – World Premiere. Traditional and labor-intensive, the production of Saké has changed very little over the centuries. Erik Shirai’s love song to the artisans who have dedicated their lives to carrying on this increasingly rare artform follows the round-the-clock process for six straight months, offering a rare glimpse into a family-run brewery that’s been operating for over 100 years. In Japanese with subtitles.
Democrats, directed and written by Camilla Nielsson. (Denmark). – North American Premiere. In the wake of Robert Mugabe’s highly criticized 2008 presidential win, Zimbabwe’s first constitutional committee was created in an effort to transition the country away from its authoritarian leadership. With unprecedented access to the two political rivals overseeing the committee, this riveting, firsthand account of a country’s fraught first steps towards democracy plays at once like an intimate political thriller and unlikely buddy film. In English, Shona with subtitles.
In My Father’s House, directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, co-written by Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg, and Pax Wassermann. (USA) – World Premiere. After moving into his childhood home on Chicago’s South Side, Grammy Award–winning rapper Che “Rhymefest” Smith hesitantly sets out to reconnect with his estranged father, the man who abandoned him over twenty years ago. In My Father’s House is a stirring, multigenerational chronicle of Che’s sincere but often-fraught journey to build a future for his own family by reconnecting with his traumatic past.
In Transit, co-directed by Albert Maysles, Nelson Walker, Lynn True, David Usui, and Ben Wu. (USA) – World Premiere. The Empire Builder is America’s busiest long-distance train route, running from Chicago to Seattle. Throughout these corridors sit runaways, adventurers, and loners – a myriad of passengers waiting to see what their journey holds. A touching and honest observation, co-directed by the iconic documentarian Albert Maysles, In Transit breathes life into the long commute, and contemplates the unknowns that lie at our final destination.
There are also segments of the Tribeca Film Festival that draw you in for the diversification of their genres.
The Spotlight section features 40 films, consisting of 23 narratives and 17 documentaries. Twenty-four films in the selection world premiere at the Festival. The Midnight section will premiere five films, four of which are world premieres from dynamic new genre voices from around the world. It is an eclectic lineup of twisted tales that run the gamut from creature features to ominous, creepy horror films, including a real life underground wrestling revenge story and an unsettling babysitter thriller.
This year’s Special Screenings have been programmed to provide exciting film experiences partnering both new and classic films with unique live performances. They include the world premiere of the documentary Mary J. Blige – The London Sessions, which follows Mary as she writes, records, and curates one of her most experimental albums to date. The premiere will take place at the Beacon Theater and what is even more exciting is that the film will be followed by a live performance from Mary J. Blige. Nelson George will premiere his documentary, A Ballerina’s Tale, about one of the most notable and trailblazing figures in the ballet world, Misty Copeland. The evening will be followed by a conversation with Misty, and a performance by her protégées. The evening will be followed by a conversation with Misty, and a performance by her protégées from Project Plie. A restoration of the effervescent comedy Speedy, Harold Lloyd’s silent film from 1928, will be presented with a new score performed live by DJ Z-Trip. Rounding out the program is the special event, which is also part of the Midnight section, Rifftrax Live: The Room. Rifftrax, an expansion of cult classic TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 by its original cast members, skewers cult classic films with live comedic commentary. By going to the festival’s website, you will be able to see all the films that are in store for viewers this year in these categories.
There are always those specific type of films that cater to specific interests and hobbies.
Since its inception in 2006, the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival has become the premier outlet to showcase independent films that focus on sports and competition. The feature films that will screen as part of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival explore a wide array of topics including two brothers’ quest for football greatness, the historic saga of Sacramento and its favorite son fighting to pull off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history; a daredevil’s attempt to test the limits of outer space; a man’s transition into adulthood after he retires from the sport that he loves; an inside look at the world’s oldest horse race seen through a master vs. protégé championship battle; a bullfighter’s last shot at glory, a view of Cuba’s drag racing scene as racers prepare for the first sanctioned race in Cuba in more than 50 years; and a glimpse at the magic of baseball as told by 20 of the sport’s all-time greats. Short films that will screen as part of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival examine some of the most discussed sports figures in modern history including Jesse Ventura, Nadia Comaneci, Jim Plunkett, Surya Bonaly, David Tyree, and more.
All of this year’s Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival films will screen throughout the day as ‘Sports Saturday’ on Saturday, April 25 at Regal Battery Park Stadium 11. The films will also screen throughout the Festival, prior to this date.
In addition to the film program, the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will offer three ‘Tribeca Talks: After the Movie’ events, a series of conversations where audiences view a film and then participate in a conversation after the screening with filmmakers, film subjects, and industry leaders. Among those participating in this year’s Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival conversations are Spike Lee, Eva Longoria, Nate Silver, and Retta. The Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will also include Sports Day as part of the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair on Saturday, April 25. Sports Day gives sports fans an opportunity to enjoy a variety of free, sports-related games, and activities. Sports Day is free and open to the public and will take place on North Moore Street, between Greenwich and West Streets, in Manhattan.
Spring Studios will be the venue to come to this year for the 2015 Innovation Programming which offers a wide variety of activities to spark the interest of all the attendees.
Over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space will feature Storyscapes, the third annual complimentary showcase of interactive installations presented in collaboration with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin, and a variety of experiential programs covering a range of tech disciplines, from virtual reality to online privacy.
In addition to Storyscapes, Spring Studios will also house signature virtual reality (VR) demonstrations. Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, founded by Jeremy Bailenson and Worldviz LLC, have teamed up to create VR experiences that allow you to travel as a marine biologist to the bottom of the sea; play quarterback in a football game; and walk a mile in the shoes of someone of a gender, race, or age, other than their own. Events will also feature Tribeca Talks®: Imagination powered by The Hatchery, featuring panel discussions with tech thought leaders, including Google’s Captain of Moonshots Astro Teller and AOL Chairman and CEO, Tim Armstrong. There will also be a daylong TFI Interactive summit, an initiative of the non-profit Tribeca Film Institute with leadership support from the Ford Foundation.
“The interplay between technology and entertainment continues to move at an astounding pace. In this age of multimedia consumption audiences are challenging storytellers to up their game in creating compelling content that not only entertains but is also highly personalized,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder, Tribeca Film Festival. “It continues to be our mission at the Festival to explore this evolution and foster a vibrant storytelling environment for all creators.”
Following is the calendar of TFF innovation events taking place at Spring Studios:
- Storyscapes presented in collaboration with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin (Thursday, April 16 – Sunday, April 29)
- TFI Interactive summit, an initiative of the nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute with leadership support from the Ford Foundation (Saturday, April 18)
- Games for Change’s Games and Media Summit: This daylong summit will explore new and innovative platforms, including films that play like games, and games that incorporate film, all to inspire social progress. (Tuesday, April 21)
- Tribeca Talks Imagination powered by The Hatchery (Wednesday, April 22)
- Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab (Thursday, April 23 – Saturday, April 25)
Additional innovation events during the Tribeca Film Festival include:
- Games for Change Festival in its second installment as part of the Tribeca Film Festival, taking place at the NYU Skirball Center (Tuesday, April 21 – Thursday, April 23 & Saturday, April 25)
- Sixth Annual Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards (Friday, April 24)
Anyone familiar with the Tribeca Film Festival knows that, in addition to film, the senses are partial to the arts as well.
Eight contemporary artists, including longtime participants Stephen Hannock and Clifford Ross, who have contributed work to the program since its inception, as well as new contributors Daniel Arsham, Robert Bordo, Elizabeth Colomba, Prune Nourry, Jean Pagliuso, and Piers Secunda, will donate original work to be presented to the filmmakers whose films are selected by the TFF jury as winners in their respective categories. The Tribeca Film Festival Artists Awards Program was created by TFF co-founder Jane Rosenthal to celebrate New York artists. A free exhibition of the work will be open to the public from April 13 – April 25, 2015 between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but closed on April 23, 2015.
Elizabeth Colombo: Athena, 2015, Oil on canvas, gold leaf frame, 14 x 11 inches and Stephen Hannock: Rockets Over the Delta (Mass MoCA #218), 2015, Acrylic on panel, 8 1/8 x 6 3/4 inches
For all those that love comedy and plenty of memories, a big treat is coming your way at Tribeca Film Festival. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a special screening of the film and the international premiere of the documentary Monty Python – The Meaning of Live directed by Roger Graef and James Rogan will be shown at the film festival. In honor of the anniversary, the Festival will also host special screenings of classic Python films Monty Python’s Life of Brian and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. The five surviving members of the legendary comedy group, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, will come together for the special presentation of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, which will screen on Friday April 24 at The Beacon Theatre.
Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Enterprises
This feature-length documentary offers unprecedented access to the preparations and staging of the Pythons’ 2014 reunion shows at The O2 in London and additionally gives a fascinating insight into the personalities, relationships, and circumstances that made the Pythons into a global phenomenon. Dive into the history of Monty Python on stage and discover the genesis of some of its most well-known pieces, as they prepare for their final live show. The documentary will premiere on Saturday, April 25, Monty Python’s Life of Brian will screen on April 25, and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life on April 26. Each film presentation will be followed by a Q&A with some of the members of Monty Python.
Photos Courtesy of Tribeca Enterprises
So, as you can see, there is definitely going to be twelve days of fantastic films, awesome activities and exciting events. Here are the details of how you can attend Tribeca Film Festival:
The new Spring Pass is on sale now at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets. This pass will provide access to Spring Studios, throughout the Festival, where much of the activity will take place and food and drinks will be available. This Pass will also provide reduced ticket prices for select special events. The Spring Pass costs $400, discounted to $300 if purchased before April 15. Pass holders can invite one guest to accompany them to Spring Studios each day of the Festival. An Individual Day Pass for Spring Studios costs $50, discounted to $40 if purchased before April 15.
Advance selection ticket packages and passes are now on sale for American Express Card Members as well as the general public. All advance selection packages and passes can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).
Single tickets cost $18.00 for evening, and weekend screenings, and $10.00 for weekday matinee screenings. Single ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 31 for American Express Card Members, Sunday, April 5 for downtown residents, and Monday, April 6 for the general public. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Regal Cinemas Battery Park (102 North End Avenue), Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (260 W. 23rd Street), and the Tribeca Film Festival creative hub at Spring Studios (50 Varick Street). The 2015 Festival will offer ticket discounts on general screenings and Tribeca Talks: After the Movie and Directors Series panels for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only.
To keep up with all the updates for Tribeca Film Festival, like them on Facebook at facebook.com/TribecaFilm. Follow the festival on Twitter @TribecaFilmFest and on Instagram @tribeca and join the conversation by using the hashtag #TFF2015 or #TribecaTogether.
