Tribeca Film Festival 2019

The 18th Annual Tribeca Film Festival, running from April 24 to May 5, is set with the world premiere of Academy Award-winning director Roger RossWilliams and HBO’s feature documentary Apollo. The film debut will be held at the historic theater itself, the Apollo theater.

Other festival highlights: Tribeca and CHANEL's fourth annual Through Her Lens program to support women filmmakers with a three-day mentorship, classes, and awards of $100,000 in filmmaker grants; 25th anniversary of the 90s iconic film Reality Bites, starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Janeane Garofalo, Steve Zahn, and Ben Stiller, who also directed; music-themed documentaries headlining the lead singer of band INXS, Michael Hutchence (Mystify: Michael Hutchence), Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman (The Quiet One), and musician Linda Ronstadt (Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice), with a special performance after the premiere from nine-time Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow; and more.

The feature program includes 103 films from 124 filmmakers. The films selected in the three competition sections consist of 50 percent women directed films. The lineup includes 81 World Premieres, three International Premieres, eight North American Premieres, one US Premiere, and 10 New York Premieres. This year's program includes 42 first-time filmmakers, with 19 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects. 40 percent of the feature films have one or more women directors, 29 percent of the feature films are directed by people of color, and 13 percent of the feature films are by individuals who identify as LGBTQIA.

“Our goal each year is to strike a balance between discovering new talent and showcasing new projects by notable filmmakers and storytellers. At Tribeca, we believe in amplifying fresh voices as well as celebrating the continued success of artists in the industry,” said Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President of Tribeca Enterprises. “The art of filmmaking is displayed across the program in both narrative and documentary films.”

The festival announced its Closing Night film with acclaimed director Danny Boyle’s highly anticipated film, Yesterday, about a musician who realizes he is the only person who remembers TheBeatles’ songs.

Here is a list of 10 films we selected to watch at this year’s festival:

1. 'Stray Dolls' (Sonejuhi Sinha - US Narrative Competition)

Riz is a recent South Asian immigrant who takes a job at a seedy motel in a bid to start over in America. The motel’s other employees and guests pull her back into a life she preferred to leave behind. With Geetanjali Thapa, Olivia DeJonge, Robert Aramayo, and Cynthia Nixon.

2. 'Mystify: Michael Hutchence' (Richard Lowenstein - Documentary Competition)

Michael Hutchence was flying high as the lead singer of the legendary rock band INXS until his untimely death in 1997. Richard Lowenstein’s kinetic yet intimate documentary examines Hutchence’s deeply felt life through his many loves and demons. With Kylie Minogue and Helena Christensen.

3. 'Georgetown' (Directorial Debut by Christoph Waltz - Spotlight Narrative)

Eccentric social climber Ulrich Mott throws lavish parties with his much older wife, Elsa, in the tiny Washington, DC neighborhood. But when her daughter starts asking questions, Ulrich must mount an increasingly elaborate charade to conceal his skeletons and convince everyone of his innocence. With Christoph Waltz, Annette Bening, Vanessa Redgrave, and Corey Hawkins.

4. 'After Parkland' (Emily Taguchi and Jake Lefferman - Spotlight Documentary)

In the immediate aftermath of the devastating 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, filmmakers embedded with students and parents whose lives were forever changed—from quiet hours of grief and reflection to those of political awakening.

5. 'A Day in the Life of America' (Directed & Produced by Jared Leto - Viewpoints)

Filmed in all 50 states over the course of a single Fourth of July, this collaborative documentary project explores our collective national beliefs, culminating in a vivid, contradictory, kaleidoscopic portrait of who we are as a nation.

6. 'A Regular Woman' (Sherry Hormann - International Narrative Competition)

Based on real-life events, A Regular Woman gives a voice to Hatun "Aynur" Sürücü, a Turkish-Kurdish woman living in Berlin with her young son, who was the victim of an honor killing by her brother at the age of 23.

7. 'What's My Name: Muhammad Ali' (Antoine Fuqua - Spotlight Documentary)

One of the most iconic figures in athletic history, Muhammad Ali’s incredible story from world champion boxer to inspiring social activist is explored through his own voice and never-before-seen archival material by acclaimed filmmaker Antoine Fuqua, with executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter. An HBO Sports release.

8. 'Roads' (Sebastian Schipper - International Narrative Competition)

From the breakout director of Victoria, an unlikely pair of teenage loners hit the road in an impromptu border-crossing adventure in this cross-cultural road movie. With Fionn Whitehead, Stéphane Bak, and Moritz Bleibtreu.

9. 'Dreamland' (Miles Joris-Peyrafitte - Spotlight Narrative)

Produced by Margot Robbie, amid the dust storms and economic depression of Dustbowl Era Texas, Eugene Evans finds his family farm on the brink of foreclosure. His last bet to save the farm is the bounty on the head of fugitive bank robber Allison Wells. With Margot Robbie, Finn Cole, Travis Fimmel, Kerry Condon, Garrett Hedlund, and Darby Camp.

10. 'The Quiet One' (Oliver Murray - Spotlight Documentary)

As an original member of The Rolling Stones, bassist Bill Wyman has lived an extraordinary life. In this equally extraordinary film, he pulls back the curtain on the hours of unseen footage, personal photographs, and vast archive of memorabilia he has amassed.

by Lia N. (with additional content from the TFF programming Team)