Jackson Yee and Diana Lin in “Big World” (Photo courtesy of China Film Co.)
“Big World” (2024)
Directed by Yang Lina
Mandarin with subtitles
Culture Representation: Taking place in an unnamed city in China, the dramatic film “Big World” features an-all Asian cast of characters representing the working-class and middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: A 20-year-old man with cerebral palsy dreams of going to college so he can become a teacher while he goes through various ups and downs in his relationships with his mother and grandmother.
Culture Audience: “Big World” will appeal primarily to people who are interested in dramas about disabled people and their families.
Jiang Qinqin in “Big World” (Photo courtesy of China Film Co.)
“Big World” is uneven and a little too long. However, it’s a likable drama about a 20-year-old man with cerebral palsy and his relationships with his grandmother, his mother, and a possible girlfriend. The movie handles disability issues realistically by showing the compassion and prejudice that disabled people experience.
Directed by Yang Lina and written by You Xiaoying, “Big World” (whose total running time is 132 minutes) has a misleading trailer than makes the movie look more comedic than it really is. There are also huge parts of the storyline that are not seen in the trailer, which makes it look like the movie is mostly about the main character trying to find acceptance in a music group where his grandmother is a member. “Big World” is about much more than Chunhe’s role in the music group. It’s his coming-of-age story where he learns about self-acceptance and self-confidence.
“Big World” (which takes place in an unnamed city in China) begins by showing protagonist Lin Chunhe (played by Jackson Yee), a young man with cerebral palsy, on the rooftop of the apartment building where he lives. He’s writing his last will and testament. Chunhe is not suicidal but he believes his life expectancy won’t be as long other people’s.
Chunhe lives with his prickly single mother Chen Lu (played by Jiang Qinqin), but his life will soon be brightened by the return of his beloved grandmother Chen Suqun (played by Diana Lin), who is Lu’s mother. For the past year, Suqun was at a senior living home, but she has come back to live with Chunhe and Lu because Lu asked her to help take care of Chunhe.
Lu often acts like Chunhe is a burden. By contrast, Suqun treats Chunhe with unconditional love and respect. Suqun encourages Chunhe’s dream to apply to a place called Normal University because he wants to eventually become a teacher. Lu discourages this dream because she says the university is too far away (about 90 minutes by train) from where they live.
Chunhe has some unusual quirks (for example, he likes to sleep next to a life-sized model skeleton in his bed), but he is generally a sweet person who is very perceptive and polite. Chunhe doesn’t give up easily when people tell him that he can’t do something. But he has moments where he naturally gets depressed.
And he still has emotional scars from being rejected by his parents in some way. His father (played by Yue Xiaojun) abandoned the family when Chunhe was a child. His mother never physically abandoned Chunhe but she’s often cold and distant to him.
One of the most impactful scenes in the movie is when Chunhe remembers an incident that happened when he was about 7 or 8 years old. He hid in a suitcase in a bedroom in his home, and his parents thought he went missing. While hiding in the suitcase in a bedroom, Chunhe overheard his parents talking about him. Lun asks Chunhe’s father, “If we don’t find him, wouldn’t our lives be better?”
Near the beginning of the movie, Chunhe turns 20 years old. Suqun has a small birthday party for him where she has invited four members of her musical group. Suqun is the main organizer of the group, which is a singing choir with backup musicians.
The group meets in a nearby park and has been invited to perform in the city of Xin’an. There’s one big problem. The group’s drummer Lao Diao (played by Zou Chengyong) has suddenly quit because he feels disrespected. Diao tells Suqun he no longer wants to be a part of the group because no one in the group has gone to his son’s supermarket, like Diao requested.
And faster than you can say “doting grandmother,” Suqun suggests Chunhe as the group’s new drummer. Never mind that Chunhe hasn’t played the drums since he was in kindergarten. Suqun and Chunhe want to prove that he’s up for the challenge.
Chunhe’s role in the musical group is not really the main focus of the story. Subplots that are not shown in the trailer include Chunhe’s infatuation with a young woman named Yaya (played by Zhou Yutong), whom he meets one day in the park when her frisbee lands near him. Lu also becomes pregnant (the father of the child is never seen or mentioned in the movie), but she wants to keep the pregnancy a secret from Chunhe for as long as possible.
Yee (who does not have cerebral palsy in real life) does an admirable job in the lead role. Lin is outstanding as lively and inspirational Suqun. Although the movie shows Chunhe’s relationships with the three main women in his life, his relationship with his grandmother Suqun is the heart and soul of the movie. Some of the movie’s subplots could have been handled better, but “Big World” brings out emotions in all the right places and is a memorable film to watch for anyone looking for a good story about family love and overcoming life’s challenges.
China Film Co. released “Big World” in select U.S. cinemas on April 18, 2025. The movie was released in China on December 27, 2024.
Reviews for New Releases: March 7 – April 25, 2025
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Culture Representation: The documentary film “Pets” features a predominantly white group of people (with some African Americans, Asians and Latin people) discussing the special bonds that they have with their pets.
Culture Clash: Several of the pet owners talk about the challenges they face, particularly if they take care of several pets or if they take care of any pets with special needs.
Culture Audience: “Pets” will appeal primarily to people who like feel-good documentaries about animals and animal caregivers.
Kristin Hartness and Jay Yontz with their pig Ziggy and an unidentified pug in “Pets” (Photo by Al Drago/Disney+)
The documentary “Pets” offers a mostly lighthearted view of how pets and humans deeply affect each others’ lives. The movie excels at giving perspectives from people of diverse backgrounds and ages. The content is more entertaining than educational.
Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, “Pets” has a similar format to her 2020 documentary “Dads,” which was her feature-film directorial debut. Some of the interviews are soundbites that were recorded in a studio, while the other interviews are in longer segments that are feature profiles. The interview soundbites are from children. The longer profiles are of adults who treat their pets like beloved members of their families. Besides the subject matter, the main difference between “Dads” and “Pets” is that “Pets” does not have interviews with celebrities.
“Pets” begins with a montage of video clips from social media showing people getting emotional when they find out that they’ve gotten pets as gifts. Throughout the documentary, there are soundbites of children commenting about their own experiences with their own pets. A recurring comment from all pet owners is that pets give unconditional love and generally make people feel better; people can learn a lot from pets; and pets can be easier to confide in than people.
Travis Ford and Adam Burke (a gay couple in Ridgefield, Connecticut) are shown during their journey of adopting a puppy named Blue from the Sato Project, a rescue group that finds homes for stray dogs from Puerto Rico. Ford and Burke say that Blue is the first pet they’ve adopted without meeting the pet in person first. They’re adopting Blue to be a companion for their senior dog Delilah, who was 17 years old at the time the documentary was made.
Sterling Davis (a cat rescuer in Asheville, North Carolina) talks about how he grew up in an abusive household that left him emotionally scarred, but his life changed with the help from a special Himalayan cat that he named Rick James, who died several years ago. Davis (who says he used to be a rapper) now operates a cat rescue service that does a lot of TNR (trap-neuter-return) work for feral cats that need to live outdoors. He says his experience surviving an abusive childhood has made him feel compassion for stray cats because he can relate to them feeling helpless in a bad situation. His rescue van (which is called Trap King) has an image of his cat Rick James. At the time this documentary was filmed, Davis had a cat named Alanis Mewisette that was his closest feline companion.
Sergi Basolí (an adventurer in Calella de Palafrugell, Spain) has dedicated his life to traveling by sea and by land. Before he met his love partner Eva (who is briefly seen in the documentary with their son Joe), he was a bachelor looking for a travel companion. He found that companion with a friendly mutt named Havana. And when he unexpectedly adopted a stray kitten named Goku, Havana treated Goku like Goku was her own child. Goku and Havana both learned how to live on sailboats and navigate rough terrain on hikes.
Kristin Hartness and Jay Yontz (an engaged couple in Providence, North Carolina) have a male pig named Ziggy, who was adopted by Hartness in 2011, when Ziggy was a baby. Ziggy is now almost 300 pounds. Having a pig of this size meant that Hartness and Yontz had to give up certain housing, so they spent a number of years traveling by motor home, just so they could keep Ziggy. Hartness and Yontz now own and operate Ziggy’s Rescue Farm Sanctuary, which has a specialty in taking care of animals with special needs. A cute female pig named Zippy (with paralysis in the lower half of her body) is featured in the documentary.
Shinobu Takahashi (a dog rescuer in Nagoya, Japan) talks about how a special dog he had named Daca changed him at a low point in his life when Takahashi was feeling down over the failure of a business that he owned. Daca (who is now deceased) inspired Takahashi to go into dog rescuing as a profession. Takahashi is also a dog trainer.
Shizue Funahashi (a retired widow in Nagoya) is part of a dog interaction program that Takahashi started for senior citizens because Japan has a law that rescue groups and adoption shelters cannot adopt out pets to people ages 65 and older. Funahashi talks about how her two dogs are her best friends. She also gets teary-eyed when she remembers how her late husband’s dog Pom Pom was his constant companion and died one year after her husband passed away.
Rodney Stotts (a falconer in Charlotte Court House, Virginia) says he used to be a drug dealer in Washington, D.C., but he turned his life around because of his love of animals. The special owl in Stotts’ life is named Hoot. Stotts has a rescue sanctuary for birds of prey and other animals. He’s also shown introducing Hoot to kids who visit the sanctuary.
The children interviewed in the “sound bites” parts of documentary are interviewed solo or in pairs. (The kids interviewed in pairs are siblings.) The kid interviewees are all adorable and range in ages from 6 to 15 at the time the documentary was filmed.
Howard’s children Beatrice Howard-Gabel and Theo Howard-Gabel are among those interviewed. The other children interviewed are Sabrina Beesely, Abner Chen, Axcel Chen, Eteri Coast, Sasha Dolan, Julia Gallagher, Amelia Jenkins, Xiaowan Jin, Iris Klumpe, Goldie Lee, Wyatt Liskey, Rhett Lopez, Mickele McKerring, Teddy McMahon, Tess Miyao, Ella Grace Oh, Kalista Price, LJ Randle, Jordan Roberto-Chen, Landon Sayer and Breanna Williams. Sayer is one of the more memorable kids because he and his dog both have cleft palates.
“Pets” touches on the realistic topic of coping with the death of a pet. It’s not a big part of the documentary, but the topic is handled with sensitivity without being too mawkish. Although the adults featured in the documentary profiles are engaging to watch, the documentary could have had better of a gender balance for the adults who are interviewed. Hartness and Funahashi are the only women who get significant screen time in “Pets.”
The documentary also could have been a little bit more information about pets in the workplace. For example, it would’ve been great to have at least one story about dogs that work for law enforcement, cats in bodegas, or horses that are part of guided tours. Mammals and birds get the vast majority of pet screen time in the documentary, while reptiles, amphibians and insects are barely mentioned and only briefly seen in the documentary. Of course, the possibilities are endless on what types of pets could have been in this documentary, so it’s understandable that the filmmakers had to narrow down the choices for a feature-length film.
“Pets” is an easy and very likable viewing choice for people of many generations and life experiences. There are plenty of other documentaries that explore the scientific aspects of domesticated animals. “Pets” is like looking at a family photo album and listening to personal stories rather than reading a fact-heavy textbook and getting an academic lecture.
Culture Representation: The documentary special “In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” features a predominantly white group of people (with one African American) discussing the feud between “It Ends With Us” co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over accusations that include sexual harassment, retaliation and defamation.
Culture Clash: Since December 2024, Lively and Baldoni (who is also the director of “It Ends With Us”) have been embroiled in multiple lawsuits against each other and with other people, with Lively accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, while Baldoni has accused Lively of civil extortion and defamation.
Culture Audience: “In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” will appeal primarily to people who want to get an incomplete and rehashed summary of this feud.
“In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” is yet another hastily assembled, cheap-looking documentary about a celebrity scandal that has less information than what anyone can find on Wikipedia. Everything about this documentary reeks of lazy, bandwagon-jumping filmmaking. It’s a dull rehash revealing nothing new and leaving out crucial facts about the Blake Lively/Justin Baldoni feud. Some of the people interviewed have questionable credibility.
Directed by Chris Hackett, “In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” has a total running time of 42 minutes, but most of it is a weak regurgiation of well-known facts, padded with interviews that don’t have much that’s meaningful to say. A sure sign of a poorly made documentary is when at least half of it consists of journalists from gossip media re-stating what’s already known and giving their opinions. Needless to say, no one in the inner circles of Lively and Baldoni and no one connected to the lawsuits is interviewed in the documentary.
“In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” mentions the basic facts of this feud. In August 2024, the Columbia Pictures drama “It Ends With Us” (based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel of the same name) was released in theaters and became a hit. According to Box Office Mojo, “It Ends With Us” had worldwide ticket sales totaling more than $351 million.
In the movie “It Ends With Us,” which takes place mainly in Boston, Lively plays a flower shop owner named Lily Bloom, and Baldoni plays a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid. Lily and Ryle meet, fall in love, and eventually get married. After they’re married, Ryle is controlling and abusive to Lily, although there were hints that he was problematic before Ryle and Lily got married.
In addition to being co-stars of “It Ends With Us,” Baldoni and Lively had behind-the-scenes roles for the movie. Baldoni was the movie’s director. He is also a co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, the production company that bought the rights to the book “It Ends With Us” and is one of the production companies that financed the movie. Lively (who is not affiliated with Wayfarer) was a producer of the movie. Christy Hall wrote the adapted screenplay for “It Ends With Us.”
During the publicity tour for “It Ends With Us,” people noticed that Baldoni was doing interviews separately from the rest of the cast members, who all unfollowed him on social media. Lively got some criticism for promoting her liquor brand while doing interviews for the movie instead of talking about the more serious subject of domestic violence. In an interview to promote “It Ends With Us,” Lively admitted that her husband Ryan Reynolds (who is not listed in the movie’s credits) rewrote at least one scene in the film.
In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, with Lively alleging that Baldoni sexually harassed her while filming “It Ends With Us” by (among other accusations) unwanted kissing and inappropriate touching that was not in the script; graphic talk about his sex life and genitals; and coming into her trailer unannounced while she was breastfeeding her baby son Olin. The complaint also alleged that Baldoni and his public-relations team retaliated against Lively for speaking up about this alleged harassment. The alleged retaliation included engineering a smear campaign against Lively after the release of the movie.
The same day that the complaint was filed, The New York Times published an article that presented seemingly damning evidence (mostly text messages) to support Lively’s claims. “It Ends With Us” author Hoover and several of Lively’s co-stars spoke out in support of Lively. Also in December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit (which is separate from the complaint) against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, who worked with Baldoni as his publicists during the publicity campaign for “It Ends With Us.”
As a result of all this negative publicity over Lively’s allegations, Baldoni was dropped from William Morris Endeavor (WME), the same talent agency that represents Lively. Liz Plank, who co-hosted the “Man Enough” podcast with Baldoni and Jamey Heath, quit the podcast after Lively’s legal claims went public. In December 2024, Baldoni (who describes himself as a feminist) then filed a libel lawsuit seeking $250 million in damages against The New York Times. All parties involved in these lawsuits are denying the accusations against them.
In January 2025, Baldoni sued Lively, Reynolds and the couple’s publicist Leslie Sloan for $400 million for civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy. Reynolds is a defendant in the lawsuit because Baldoni claims that Reynolds exerted too much control during the making of “It Ends With Us,” and Baldoni claims that Reynolds’ Nicepool character in 2024’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” movie was a cruel parody of Baldoni. In March 2025, Baldoni and Abel filed a separate lawsuit against publicist Stephanie Jones, who was Abel’s former employer.
“In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” is such a shoddily made documentary, it doesn’t mention that Baldoni was dropped by WME and that he filed a lawsuit against his former publicist because of this feud. The documentary doesn’t go into details about the publicists who are plaintiffs or defendants in these lawsuits. Instead, “In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” is just a collection of interviews with people who have little or no connection to any of the plaintiffs or defendants.
Aaron Boucher, a business owner in Hoboken, New Jersey, has a store that was used as the location for Lily Bloom’s flower shop in “It Ends With Us.” He talks briefly in the beginning of the documentary by saying predictable things about how he was thrilled to have his store used in the movie. Boucher has nothing important to say, unless you think it’s fascinating that he got photo of himself with Baldoni. The photo is shown in the documentary.
Emily Reynolds Bergh, the founder of R Public Relations, is apparently in this documentary because she describes herself as a big fan of “It Ends With Us” author Hoover. Reynolds Bergh gives generic comments about the lawsuits doing damage to the reputations of all the plaintiffs and defendants. She also says that if she were the PR representative for Lively or Baldoni, she would advise each of them to show more humility and vulnerability.
Freelance entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa is in the documentary to comment on a previously unreleased 2016 video interview that she did with Blake Lively and Parker Posey for the movie “Cafe Society.” In the interview, Lively and Posey are rude to Flaa after Flaa congratulates Lively for her “bump” (pregnancy), because it was in the news at the time that Lively had announced she was pregnant. (The pregnancy resulted in the birth of Lively’s second child, Inez.)
Flaa released the video in August 2024, around the time that Lively was getting backlash for how Lively was doing publicity for “It Ends With Us.” Flaa titled the 2016 video interview this way: “The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job.” The video went viral and got millions of views. What the documentary doesn’t mention is that Flaa has publicly denied she was part of a smear campaign against Lively. The documentary also doesn’t mention Flaa has said that just because Lively was rude to her in that interview, it doesn’t prove or disprove Lively’s legal claims against Baldoni.
Tia Streaty, an actress who worked briefly with Baldoni when he co-starred on the TV comedy/drama series “Jane the Virgin’ (which was on the air the 2014 to 2019), describes him as “very down-to-earth” and “considerate.” But this documentary is about the disputes over how Baldoni was as the director/co-star of “It Ends With Us,” not how he was in a TV series that he did years earlier. The interview with Streaty is ultimately pointless because she barely knew Baldoni. The documentary does not interview anyone who worked with Lively.
People from the media who are interviewed in the documentary are gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who seems to side with Baldoni; BuzzFeed senior writer Natasha Jokić, who seems to be on Lively’s side; and The Ankler reporter Matthew Frank, who seems mostly neutral and comments that neither side in the legal dispute will end up looking good. The documentary also includes videoclip montages of people commenting on social media about the feud. That’s another indication of how low-quality a documentary is: Many of the quoted “sources” are random strangers on social media.
“In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” also has an interview with intimacy coordinator Mia Schacter, who has never worked with Lively or Baldoni. Schacter looks at text messages between Lively and Baldoni that were released as “evidence” over Lively’s and Baldoni’s communication about an intimate scene in “It Ends With Us.” Schacter comments, “These texts made me think that at one point, she did feel a lot of trust with him.”
Schacter also points out that an “It Ends With Us” video outtake that Baldoni released of a slow-dancing scene between him and Lively only proves that he was trying to do things (such as kiss her) that weren’t in the screenplay. She also thinks it’s contradictory that Lively reportedly refused to have an intimacy coordinator, even though that was one of her demands in a contract for “It Ends With Us.” Some of the people in the documentary say that much of the evidence can be argued as being supportive of either side.
Attorney/legal analyst Dina Doll is the most outspoken commentator in the documentary and makes it clear that she thinks Lively’s case is more believable. Doll says about Baldoni’s libel lawsuit against The New York Times: “It’s not The New York Times’ job to give all sides of the story. You might not like that, but that doesn’t open them up to liability.” Actually, anyone who knows anything about ethics in journalism knows that a news report is supposed to get as many facts and as many sides of the story as possible.
Doll comments, “Blake Lively has the stronger case because all of Justin Baldoni’s arguments about fame and control don’t really refute her claim of sexual harassment.” With all these lawsuits filed in this massive feud, the documentary does nothing to give any real insight. At the time that this documentary premiered on TV, the only lawsuit that had a trial date announced was Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni. That lawsuit is expected to go to trial in May 2026.
Doll is shown in the conclusion of the documentary saying: “The bigger loser is victims of domestic violence. This movie [‘It Ends With Us’] was about domestic violence, and nobody’s talking about domestic violence.” Anyone who watches “In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” will lose something too—valuable time in watching a shallow and insufficient documentary that barely scratches the surface of what could have been reported this documentary.
Investigation Discovery premiered “In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni” on March 31, 2025.
Culture Representation: Taking place on the fictional island of Carpathia, the fantasy film “The Legend of Ochi” features a cast of working-class human characters and monkey-like creatures called Ochi.
Culture Clash: After a hunting attack separates a male baby Ochi from his mother, a teenage girl rescues the baby Ochi and goes on a quest to reunite the baby with his mother at the same time the girl looks for her estranged mother.
Culture Audience: “The Legend of Ochi” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the movie’s headliners and are interested in uncomplicated family-friendly entertainment where magical creatures are big parts of the story.
Willem Dafoe and Finn Wolfhard in “The Legend of Ochi” (Photo courtesy of A24)
“The Legend of Ochi” isn’t quite the epic adventure that this fantasy movie’s title implies. It’s a simple and sentimental story about woodland creatures, lonely humans, and family reunions with obstacles. The creature puppetry steals the show. Although there’s competent acting from the cast members, the movie’s biggest flaw is that not enough information is given about many of the characters and the island they inhabit.
Written and directed by Isaiah Saxon, “The Legend of Ochi” is his feature-film debut. The movie had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Saxon has a background in directing music videos and short films. At times, “The Legend of Ochi” looks like it could have been a short film, because there are parts of the movie that could have been removed and it wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the story.
“The Legend of Ochi” takes place on the fictional island of Carpathia, which is in an Eastern European country that is not named. The people in the movie speak with a range of accents that sound German, Russian, and everything in between. “The Legend of Ochi” was actually filmed in Romania in the Carpathian Mountains region.
In the production notes for “The Legend of Ochi,” Saxon says that Chinese golden snub-nosed monkeys were the main inspiration for how the Ochi creatures look in the film. The Ochi might also remind people of how the gremlins look in the “Gremlins” movies before the gremlins transform into monsters when doused with water.
Later in the movie, it’s explained that Ochi are mysterious creatures who hide in the woods. They communicate by making siren calls that sound a lot like the combination of a monkey screeching and a bird cooing. It’s later explained in the movie that when Ochi creatures talk in a collective chorus, the sound is magical and powerful.
“The Legend of Ochi” begins with exposition-dump narration from the movie’s protagonist: a girl named Yuri (played by Helena Zengel), who’s about 15 or 16 years old. Yuri is the only biological child of a pompous and domineering man named Maxim (played by Willem Dafoe), who lives with Yuri and her adopted brother Petro (played by Finn Wolfhard), on a farm. Petro, who is about 17 or 18 years old, was adopted by Maxim when Petro became an orphan at age 14.
Petro is conflicted between being loyal to Maxim or loyal to rebellious Yuri. There are also seven boys (ranging in ages from about 10 to about 14 years old) who have been entrusted in Yuri’s care by the boys’ families so Yuri can teach the boys how to hunt and become self-sufficient with military-styled training. The boys spend a lot of time with Maxim inside and outside the household, but he is not their adoptive father. Petro gets training along with the boy, but because Petro is more experienced than the younger boys, Maxim expects Petro to be a role model to the younger boys.
In the movie’s opening narration, Yuri has this to say about her life: “I was born on a small island in a black sea. Most people here live right from the land. It’s how we’ve always survived. For a long time, nothing much changed here. But things are starting to feel different. People say it’s a dangerous place. There are bears and wolves. And something else—something people feel is much worse.”
She is then seen going to a library and getting a 1992 book titled “Carpathian Beasts & Demons.” (The movie doesn’t specify what year the story takes place, but it appears to be in the early 1990s, before smartphones and social media existed.) Inside the book, there are illustrations of the Ochi as demon-like creatures. The illustrations indicate that humans have been battling Ochi for centuries.
Yuri continues in her narration: “For as long as I’ve known, I’ve fought them. I’ve never seen one myself, but I’ve heard them at night by going down from the mountain. I still don’t know the whole story. But since I was 4 years old, the one thing I knew for sure is that it destroyed my family.”
Maxim has repeatedly told Yuri that Yuri’s mother Dasha (played by Emily Watson) abandoned the family. Maxim also forbids Yuri from trying to find Dasha. “I’m going to find her!” Yuri shouts at Maxim during an argument at the family dining table.
The village where Yuri lives is a mixture of ancient and modern. People travel by horse-drawn carriages, but people also travel by car. Yuri lives on a farm and the people in the community “live off of the land,” but there are also contemporary grocery stores in the area.
Yuri lives in a household that does not have a TV or a computer. Her main connection to the outside world is music that she listens to on headphones. Her father and other people in the community are very religious. However, Yuri seems to be in defiance of her strict religious upbringing because she listens to death metal music.
One of the movie’s first scenes shows Maxim taking Yuri and some of his boy trainees into the woods for a nighttime hunting expedition. The purpose is to find and kill Ochi. “The Legend of Ochi” raises questions that the movie never bothers to answer. The biggest question is “Why are Ochi considered such a threat to humans?”
Another clue is a quick glimpse early on in the movie that shows a herder of Highland cows in a field. One of the cows is dead and appears to have been mauled by an unknown animal. Considering that there are wolves in the area, a wolf could have killed this cow. But the movie constantly shows that Ochi seem to be blamed and feared as the worst creatures and enemies of humans living on Carpathia.
Yuri mentions that there are wolves and bears in the area, but these wolves and bears are never seen in the movie. Based on what’s seen in the movie, the Ochi do not kill people, but people have been taught that Ochi will kill people. There is a curfew at night to avoid being near Ochi, who are mostly nocturnal creatures.
The only animals the Ochi are actually seen eating are insects. Humans don’t kill Ochi for food. Humans hunt Ochi simply because Ochi have been described for centuries as “predators” of humans. The point that the movie seems to be making is that if mythology is told enough times and for an extended period of time, people will believe it.
Yuri is the first person in her family to seriously question what she’s been taught about the Ochi creatures. During that nighttime hunting trip to kill Ochi, several of them are seen by Maxim and his squad of young people. Maxim orders them to shoot as many Ochi as they can. Luckily, none of the Ochi gets wounded. But in the chaos, a male baby Ochi gets separated from his mother. Maxim and his squad go home.
The next morning in a barn, Maxim gives a lecture to Yuri and the boys by telling them, “Last night was beautiful,” even if they didn’t hit any of their targets. Maxim warns them the demon is still upon them. “We are cursed with a wickedness.” And he tells them they must all give their hearts to “the cause.”
The isolation that Yuri feels in this male-dominated environment is obvious and doesn’t seem to faze Maxim. During this lecture in the barn, Yuri is crouched quietly on a perch, while the boys are gathered in unity around Maxim. He mentions the problems in some of the boys’ families (such as alcoholism, mental illness, poverty) that led these boys’ families to give Maxim the responsibility of looking after them. “You are all my sons,” Maxim says as he tells them he expects obedience and loyalty from them.
The boys who are not Petro barely talk or don’t talk at all. Their names are Ivan (played by Răzvan Stoica), Oleg (played by Carol Borș), Vlad (played by Andrei Antoniu Anghel), Gleb (played by David Andrei Bălțatu), Pavel (played by Eduard Oancea), Tudor (played by Tomas Otto Ghela) and Edi (played by Eduard Ionut Cucu), whose personalities are blank slates. In fact, the only people in the movie who have significant lines of dialogue are Yuri, Maxim, Petro and Dasha. As already revealed in “The Legend of Ochi” trailer, Dasha is a pivotal character in the film.
The night after the hunting trip, Yuri goes back to the area in the woods where Ochi creatures were seen. And that’s when she sees the lost male baby Ochi, who has a leg caught in one of the traps that Maxim and his squad set in the words. Yuri sets the baby free, and it runs away in fear. However, Yuri manages to coax Baby Ochi into a backpack and takes Baby Ochi home and hides it in her bedroom.
Yuri treats Baby Ochi’s leg wound. And slowly, Yuri and Baby Ochi learn to trust each other. One of their first bonding experiences is when Yuri shows Baby Ochi a caterpillar from her vivarium. When Yuri sees that the Ochi doesn’t hurt the caterpillar, she quickly figures out that Ochi are not as dangerous as she’s been told they are.
Although Yuri is lonely and wants to keep Baby Ochi as her friend, she knows the right thing to do is to return Baby Ochi back to his family. It isn’t long before Yuri (who is very unhappy living with Maxim) decides to run away from home to find Ochi’s family and to find her mother Dasha. Predictably, when Maxim finds out that Yuri has run away from home and has an Ochi with her, there’s a “race against time” hunt when Maxim and the boys go looking for them.
For an unknown reason, Maxim is dressed as a gladiator when he goes on a hunting mission. It seems to be the movie’s way of showing Maxim’s over-the-top, bombastic personality. Dafoe portrays Maxim almost at cartoonish levels, but the character becomes a little bit more grounded in the last third of the movie.
The Ochi, which are combination of puppetry and visual effects, have wonderfully expressive faces and a combination of intelligence and empathy. Baby Ochi is quite simply adorable and is by far the most charming character in the movie. Some viewers might not like the “cuteness” that the Ochi bring to the movie, but other viewers will welcome it once it becomes obvious that “The Legend of Ochi” is a sweet-natured family film and not an edgy movie.
That doesn’t mean it’s a perfect movie. A few scenes are very awkward and nonsensical. For example, after Yuri has run away with Baby Ochi, she goes into a supermarket to get (steal) some food. Even though she hides Baby Ochi in her backpack, he makes himself known when he reaches for some eggs, and some people in the store see him. Customers scream and run in fear.
That’s not what’s odd and ridiculous about this scene. What’s odd and ridiculous is that during this panic, a cashier takes out a shotgun that he had stashed near the cash register and starts shooting at Yuri and Baby Ochi. Who does that to an unarmed kid? Yuri gets away with Ochi in a rolling cart and crashes through the front window with the cart when store employees lock the front doors. She then steals a car in the parking lot because the car just happens to have the keys in the ignition.
None of this is really spoiler information because “The Legend of Ochi” is the type of movie where you can tell how it’s going to end the minute that Yuri runs away from home. The movie’s trailer also reveals that Yuri suddenly and inexplicably begins to understand the Ochi language, so she begins communicating with Ochi in this language, which is subtitled in the movie. The parallels between Yuri and Baby Ochi are obvious because this is a story about a child wanting to be reunited with the child’s mother, despite forces who don’t want this reunion to happen.
The movie’s performances are capable, although “The Legend of Ochi” doesn’t explain a lot of things about Yuri and her family. It should come as no surprise that Dasha has a very different version of why she stopped living with Maxim and Yuri. Dasha’s story of how she lost her left hand (which has been replaced with a wooden prosthetic) indicates that this family’s history is very dark and troubled.
Watson gives the best performance of the cast members, as is often the case with any her projects. It’s too bad that the character of Dasha is in less than half of the movie. Zengel is convincing as introverted teen Yuri, but she mumbles some of her lines. Wolfhard doesn’t have much to do as Petro, the quasi-mediator between the feuding Yuri and Maxim.
“The Legend of Ochi” has excellent cinematography by Evan Prosofsky and has some heart-tugging moments (including an emotion-stirring music score by Evan Prosofsky) that will either endear or irritate viewers. The movie follows a lot of familiar formulas but has a positive message (without getting preachy) about showing compassion for those who are misunderstood and mistreated. Despite the movie’s flaws, the story can’t be faulted for this overall impactful message.
A24 released “The Legend of Ochi” in select U.S. cinemas on April 18, 2025, with an expansion to more U.S. cinemas on April 25, 2025.
Culture Representation: Taking place in Canada, the sc-fi horror film “The Shrouds” features a predominantly white group of people (with a few Asian people) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: A widower, who owns an unusual business where people can visually monitor corpses that are insides of graves, tries to solve the mystery of who’s trying to sabatoge his business.
Culture Audience: “The Shrouds” will appeal primarily to people who fans filmmaker David Cronenberg, the movie’s headliners and body horror movies.
Vincent Cassel and Guy Pearce in “The Shrouds” (Photo courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films)
“The Shrouds” can get muddled and has some pacing that’s too slow. However, it’s a generally intriguing mix of a sci-fi horror story, a mystery thriller and a conspiracy tale that explores the intersections of corporate greed and death exploitation. The movie is supposed to be set in an unspecified period of time but it touches on timeless issues of grief and what happens beyond death.
Written and directed by David Cronenberg, “The Shrouds” had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and subseuqently made the rounds at other film festivals in 2024, including the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. “The Shrouds” takes place in an unnamed city in Canada. The movie was actually filmed in Toronto.
“The Shrouds” begins by showing a widower named Karsh (played by Vincent Cassel) looking through a hole in a rock wall as he sees the floating corpse of his wife Rebecca, nicknamed Becca (played by Diane Kruger), who died of cancer six years ago. The movie has several dream-like sequences where the lines are blurred between reality and hallucinations.
Viewers soon find out that Karsh is so obsessed with what’s happening to the corpse of his wife, he’s made an entire business of out it. Karsh also has an artificial intelligence assistant named Hunny (also played by Kruger), who looks eerily like a young version of Becca. Hunny is perky and helpful assistant
Karsh is next seen getting a dental exam. His dentist Dr. Hofstra (played by Eric Weinthal), tells Karsh, “Grief is rotting your teeth.” Dr. Hofstra then offers to give Karsh the JPG photos of Becca’s teeth from past dental exams. Karsh politely declines this offer.
The next scene takes place at The Shrouds, the name of the business that Karsh owns. It’s a combination of a high-tech, non-denominational cemetery and a restaurant, with the cemetery located right outside the back of the restaurant. As morbid as this might sound, apparently the business is doing well enough that Karsh hopes to expand his business to other cities and is looking for investors.
Karsh is having lunch at The Shrouds restaurant while he’s on a first date with a woman named Myrna Shovlin (played by Jennifer Dale), who describes herself as someone who’s been divorced for 20 years. This date was arranged by Dr. Hofstra, who thought that Karsh and Myrna would hit it off and because he thinks lonely Karsh needs to start dating again. The Shrouds restaurant is decorated with artifacts of ancient shrouds (displayed in glass cases) that Karsh tells Myrna are real shrouds.
Karsh and Myrna makes some small talk. He admits he’s still having a hard time getting over the death of his wife Becca. He tells Myrna that when Becca was buried, “I had an intense, visceral urge to get in the box with her.” Karsh also says that he can’t stand the thought of Becca being alone in her grave. He also describes himself as a “non-observant atheist.”
He further explains that Becca was Jewish, which is why she didn’t want to be cremated. Karsh adds, “She said she wanted to lie beside me in death.” Karsh then shows Myrna what The Shrouds cemetery business looks like by demonstrating how he uses it.
That’s how Myrna finds out that the business has high-tech graves with built-in video screens that allow people to watch and monitor the corpses inside the graves by computer-related devices with access to the screens. Karsh brags to Myrna that his company has invented the technology (called GraveTech) to make this type of grave monitoring possible. He tells Myrna that people who sign up for this service are not repulsed by looking at rotting corpses but are comforted by this activity.
Karsh also tells Myrna that by monitoring Becca’s corpse, he feels connected to her with her body in death, just as he was in life—perhaps even more in death because he has complete control over when he can see Becca. “And it makes me happy,” Karsh comments. This creepy revelation is enough to make Myrna feel uncomfortable. She quickly ends the date, and Karsh never sees her again.
Karsh will soon become consumed with two other women who become his lovers, as already revealed in “The Shrouds” trailer. Terry (also played by Kruger) is Becca’s twin sister. Terry used to be a veterinarian, but she now works as a dog groomer. Terry is a conspiracy theorist who believes that Becca was secretly being used for experiments during Becca’s cancer treatments.
Soo-Min (played by Sandrine Holt) becomes Karsh’s other lover. She meets Karsh because she was sent by her husband Karoly Szabo (played by Vieslav Krystyan), a wealthy Hungarian who might be interested in bringing The Shrouds to Europe. Soo-Min happens to be blind, but she doesn’t let her blindness stop her from being a shrewd and calculating businessperson.
Before these romantic entanglements happen, The Shrouds cemetery is mysteriously vandalized. The perpetrator also sent a video recording to Karsh of the nighttime vandalism when it happened. The video does not show the vandal’s face, and the vandal doesn’t speak in the video.
Karsh doesn’t report this crime to law enforcement because he thinks it will be bad publicity for his business. Instead, he enlists the help of computer technology expert named Maury Entrekin (played by Guy Pearce) to try to find out who’s behind this sabotage. Maury also happens to be the ex-husband of Terry, but he has remained on friendly terms with Karsh since the divorce.
The movie’s most valuable player in the cast is undoubtedly Kruger, who gives standout performances as three very different characters. She makes each character very distinct from each other in very convincing ways. Cassel is adequate in his role but comes across as somewhat stiff in some scenes. Holt and Pearce are serviceable in their performances.
Cronenberg is known for making movies with striking and inventive visuals. In this regard, “The Shrouds” continues that tradition. However, this movie won’t be considered a masterpiece. Some of the characters could have been better-developed. For example, Terry is ultimately defined by her feelings for Karsh (she had a longtime crush on him) and some sibling rivalry cattiness (Terry was jealous of the more-glamorous Becca), rather than being a well-rounded person with a full life of her own
“The Shrouds” blends the multiple storylines—the mystery of the vandal, Karsh’s love triangle, and the business expansion of The Shrouds—to sometimes clumsy results. And at one point in the movie, it becomes very easy to figure out (before it’s actually revealed in the movie) who’s responsible for trying to ruin Karsh’s business. And as a horror movie, it’s not that scary and is really more of a psychological drama. Despite these flaws, “The Shrouds” can keep viewers interested if they are curious about finding out the answer to the mystery and want to think about what would happen if GraveTech cemetery technology existed in real life.
Sideshow/Janus Films will release “The Shrouds” in select U.S. cinemas on April 18, 2025, with an expansion to more U.S. cinemas on April 25, 2025.
The following is a combination of press releases from the Tribeca Festival:
The 2025 Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, revealed a powerhouse selection of documentary, narrative and animated features showcasing global music legends, influential cultural figures and untold stories from emerging and established voices. Scheduled to run June 4 – 15 in New York City, the annual festival promises to unite communities and fans globally through its bold curation of films.
Continuing Tribeca’s tradition as a premiere music documentary destination, the Festival kicks off Wednesday, June 4 with the previously announced world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes, directed by Emmy® winners Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin. The world premiere of global superstar Miley Cyrus’ highly anticipated visual album Something Beautiful, directed by Cyrus, Jacob Bixenman, Brendan Walter and produced by Tribeca alum Panos Cosmatos (Beyond the Black Rainbow, TF ’11), will be followed by an exclusive conversation with Cyrus. The documentary lineup also features chart-topping performers like Counting Crows and Culture Club. Billy Idol, Becky G and Eddie Vedder will deliver exclusive performances following the world premiere of their films, while members of Metallica, Depeche Mode, Wizkid and Ty Dolla $ign will sit for post-premiere conversations, exclusively for Festival attendees.
The 2025 feature film lineup is stacked with incredible casts such as Emmy nominee Rose Byrne, Demi Lovato and Oscar® winner Octavia Spencer starring in Tow; The Best You Can starring Emmy nominee Kevin Bacon and Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick marking their first co-starring roles in 20 years; Rosemead starring Emmy nominee Lucy Liu; Dragonfly with Oscar nominees Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn; and Everything’s Going to be Great starring Emmy winner Bryan Cranston and Oscar winner Allison Janney. Additional highlights include A Tree Fell in the Woods with Emmy nominees Alexandra Daddario, Daveed Diggs and Josh Gad; Deep Cover starring Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard; She Dances, written, produced and starring Emmy nominee Steve Zahn along with co-star Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke; and Sovereign starring Emmy winner Nick Offerman, Jacob Tremblay, Emmy nominee Dennis Quaid and Emmy winner Martha Plimpton, among others. The Festival will also bring audiences the live action film How To Train Your Dragon starring Mason Thames, Nico Parker and Gerard Butler.
“Tribeca has always been more than a festival—it’s a home for artists navigating an ever-changing industry and an ever-changing world,” said Tribeca Festival Co-Founder and Tribeca Enterprises CEO Jane Rosenthal. “For over two decades, we’ve championed emerging voices, celebrated established storytellers, and built a creative community where artists can grow, connect, and thrive. We’re proud of the ecosystem we’ve cultivated and can’t wait to share it with the world this June.”
This year’s slate of documentary world premieres showcases cultural icons across generations including comedy legend Andy Kaufman in Andy Kaufman Is Me; Barbara Walters in a career-spanning profile in Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything; Gloria Steinem in Dear Ms. about the history and legacy of Ms. Magazine; and Jack Kerouac in Kerouac’s Road: The Beat of a Nation featuring Josh Brolin, Michael Imperioli, and Matt Dillon, among many others. Additional anticipated documentary world premieres are Long Live The State on the legendary NYU-founded alt-comedy troupe and Titan: the OceanGate Disaster exploring the submersible’s ill-fated journey to the Titanic.
Over the course of the Festival, audiences will see works from a diverse roster of notable filmmakers including world premieres by RZA (One Spoon of Chocolate), Takashi Miike (Sham), Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan (Re-Creation), and Mariska Hargitay with her feature directorial debut My Mom Jayne. The lineup also features compelling selections such as the climate justice documentary, and this year’s Closing Night film, Yanuni from producer Leonardo DiCaprio and director Richard Ladkani (TF ‘05); Surviving Ohio State, produced by George Clooney, examining the decades-spanning pursuit of accountability by sexual abuse survivors; and Room to Move, following New York City dancer and choreographer Jenn Freeman, executive produced by Amy Schumer.
Tribeca will also welcome back its widest group of filmmaker alumni to-date from across its extensive programs that support emerging artists, such as Lilian T. Mehrel with the world premiere of Honeyjoon (AT&T Untold Stories, ‘24), Travis Wood (Rising Voices alum, ‘22) with the world premiere of The Travel Companion, and 2024 Tribeca Creators Market alumni Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana with the world premiere of Backside, Cristian Carretero and Lorraine Jones with the world premiere of Esta Isla, and Steven Feinartz with the New York premiere of Are We Good?. Additionally, 32 Festival alumni are returning to Tribeca with their latest projects, including Rick Gomez (TF ‘21) with She Dances; Brandon Kramer (TF ‘21) with Holding Liat; and Dan Krauss (TF ‘13, ‘16, ‘19) with Bodyguard of Lies.
“At Tribeca, we believe that storytelling is a force — one that connects us, challenges us, and inspires us to reimagine what’s possible,” said Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming Cara Cusumano. “This year’s film lineup is a testament to that power, bursting with creative risk, iconic artists, and new perspectives that spark vital conversations and drive culture forward. These films are a powerful reflection of the world we live in — and the world we want to shape.”
The final selections were chosen from a record-breaking number of submissions (13,541). This year’s program includes 118 feature films representing 94 world premieres, 135 filmmakers and 36 countries. 48 (40%) of the features are directed by women and 42 (36%) are directed by BIPOC filmmakers. 44 filmmakers are making their feature debut at this year’s Tribeca Festival and 32 directors are returning with their latest projects.
Learn more about the Tribeca Festival programming team at TribecaFilm.com.
The full festival lineup will be announced soon. For more updates on programming follow @Tribeca and #Tribeca2025 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. A Tribeca Membership or 2025 Tribeca Festival passes and ticket packages can be purchased at tribecafilm.com.
About the Tribeca Festival The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 24th year from June 4–15, 2025 in New York City.
In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.
About the 2025 Tribeca Festival Partners The 2025 Tribeca Festival is presented by OKX and with the support of our partners: AT&T, Audible, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Canva, CHANEL, City National Bank, Don Julio Tequila, Fiji Water, Indeed, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NBC4 and Telemundo 47, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, National CineMedia, New York Magazine, Spring Studios New York, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, Vulture, and Whalar.
An archival photo of Billy Joel in “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” (Photo courtesy of HBO)
OPENING NIGHT GALA
Billy Joel: And So It Goes, (United States) – World Premiere. A sweeping portrait of a true New York icon, this definitive documentary captures the grit, genius, and soul of William Martin Joel — from his Long Island roots to sold-out stadiums. With rare archival footage and revealing new interviews, the film charts the rise of one of America’s greatest singer-songwriters, whose music became the heartbeat of a city and the soundtrack of a generation. Directed and produced by Susan Lacy, Jessica Levin. Produced by Emma Pildes. An HBO Documentary Films Release.
CLOSING NIGHT GALA
YANUNI, (Austria, Brazil, United States, Canada, Germany) – World Premiere. Both a love story and a call to action, YANUNI follows the fearless Indigenous chief Juma Xipaia, who has survived six assassination attempts as she leads a relentless fight to defend her people’s land alongside her husband, Hugo Loss, a steely Special Forces Unit ranger. When she discovers she is pregnant, their battle takes on new urgency. Directed by Richard Ladkani. Produced by Juma Xipaia, Leonardo DiCaprio, Anita Ladkani, Richard Ladkani.
SPOTLIGHT+
Spotlight+ is Tribeca’s premier showcase for high-profile screenings paired with unforgettable live experiences. Featuring exclusive performances, conversations, and one-night-only events, this series brings the film off the screen and into the spotlight — making each screening a cultural moment.
Mark Maron in “Are We Good?”
Are We Good?, (United States) – New York Premiere. Beloved comedian and groundbreaking podcast host Marc Maron reluctantly pulls back the curtain on his everyday life as he pushes to maintain a successful stand-up career while grappling with the sudden, devastating loss of his partner. Directed by Steven Feinartz. Produced by Steven Feinartz, Julie Seabaugh, Ethan Goldman. After the Movie: A conversation with Marc Maron.
Billy Idol Should Be Dead, (United States) – World Premiere. Punk legend turned pop sensation Billy Idol bares it all in this electrifying documentary, revealing his rise to fame, battle with addiction and triumphant comeback that captivated millions of fans worldwide. Directed and produced by Jonas Åkerlund. Produced by Mark Monroe, Orian Williams, Violaine Etienne, Ryan Kroft. After the Movie: An intimate performance by Billy Idol.
Depeche Mode: M, (United States, Mexico) – World Premiere. captures the band’s 2023 Mexico City shows, blending concert footage with interstitial elements, exploring music, mortality, and Mexican culture’s relationship with death. Directed by Fernando Frías. After the Movie: A conversation with Depeche Mode and director Fernando Frias.
Just Sing, (UK) – World Premiere. On the cusp of graduation, the members of USC’s celebrated SoCal VoCals have one more challenge to conquer before adulthood: The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella in New York City. Directed by Abraham Troen, Angelique Molina. Produced by Sarah Thomson, John Battsek. After the Movie: A special performance by the SoCal VoCals.
Matter of Time, (United States) – World Premiere. Set against the backdrop of a powerful and emotional benefit performance by Eddie Vedder, Matter of Time chronicles the fight to cure epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare and often fatal genetic disease. Directed by Matt Finlin. Produced by Karen Barzilay. After the Movie: An intimate acoustic performance by Eddie Vedder.
Metallica Saved My Life, (UK) – World Premiere. Metallica Saved My Life dives into the powerful, life-changing impact of foundational heavy metal band Metallica on their fans. Directed by Grammy award winning director Jonas Åkerlund, this documentary shares the intertwined stories of the group and their most devoted fans, revealing the deep connection that can only be forged through music. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund. Produced by Alice Webb, Jonas Åkerlund. After the Movie: A conversation with members of Metallica and director Jonas Åkerlund.
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, (United States) – New York Premiere. Elegance Bratton dives into the electrifying, black queer roots of house music, tracing its underground rise from Chicago’s dance floors to global dominance. Fueled by rhythm, resistance, and radical joy, this pulsating documentary celebrates the trailblazing artists who turned sound into a movement — and a sanctuary. Directed by Elegance Bratton. Produced by Chester Algernal Gordon, Elegance Bratton. After the Movie: A house music dance party with Celeste Alexander, Lori Branch, and Lady D.
Nobu, (United States) – New York Premiere. Nobu traces the journey of legendary sushi master Nobu Matsuhisa from his humble beginnings to becoming a world renowned chef with a global restaurant empire bearing his name. Directed and produced by Matt Tyrnauer. Produced by Gianni Nunnari, Corey Reeser, Jeffrey Soros, Simon Horsman. After the Movie: A conversation with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and director Matt Tyrnauer.
Rebbeca (AKA Becky G), (United States) – World Premiere. As chart-topping Latin music superstar Becky G embarks on her most personal and ambitious project to date, her debut Mexican regional album, she is prompted to revisit her roots and dive deep into a beautiful and complicated past. Directed and produced by Jennifer Tiexiera, Gabriela Cavanagh. After the Movie: A special performance by Becky G.
The Rose: Come Back to Me, (United States, South Korea) – World Premiere. The Rose: Come Back to Me is an intimate documentary chronicling the remarkable journey of The Rose — from their humble beginnings as a South Korean indie band to their rise as a global sensation. Irresistibly magnetic, the film captures the band’s enchanting music and the deep bond between its members. Directed by Eugene Yi. Produced by Diane Quon, Sanjay Sharma, James Shin, Joe Plummer. After the Movie: A special appearance by The Rose.
The Sixth Borough, (United States) – World Premiere. This vibrant documentary explores Long Island’s indelible impact on hip-hop’s evolution, told through the voices of pioneering artists who shaped the genre. The suburban landscape inspired a distinctive sound that expanded hip-hop beyond NYC, while also challenging the false promises of suburban utopia. Directed by Jason Pollard. Produced by Jennifer Ollman, Katie Taber. After the Movie: A special performance by De La Soul and Rakim.
Something Beautiful, (United States) – World Premiere. Fueled by fantasy, Something Beautiful is a one-of-a-kind pop opera featuring thirteen original new songs from the Something Beautiful album. Directed and written by Miley Cyrus, Jacob Bixenman, Brendan Walter. Produced by Miley Cyrus, Panos Cosmatos, Nick Spicer, Nate Bolotin, Aram Tertzakian. With Miley Cyrus. After the Movie: An exclusive conversation with Miley Cyrus.
State of Firsts, (United States) – World Premiere. With incredible access, State of Firsts follows Sarah McBride’s history-making campaign as the first transgender person ever to be elected to Congress during this time of heated political opposition to the trans community. Directed by Chase Joynt. Produced by Jenna Kelly, Justin Lacob. After the Movie: A conversation with Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del), director Chase Joynt, and producer Jenna Kelly.
Still Free TC, (United States) – World Premiere. Ty Dolla $ign is one of the world’s biggest musical artists, but as he begins work on his newest album, his brother Gabriel is serving a 67-year prison sentence for murder. Still Free TC follows the brothers over two years to explore how they ended up on such different paths, and watches as those paths converge again in a fight for clemency and self-discovery. Produced by Krista Worby. After the Movie: A conversation with Ty Dolla $ign.
We Are Pat, (United States) – World Premiere. Filmmaker Ro Haber examines ”It’s Pat” through the lens of 2025, trans visibility and their own conflicted recollection of the controversial SNL character played by Julia Sweeney. Directed by Rowan Haber. Produced by Caryn Capotosto, Rowan Haber. Before the Movie: A comedy performance featuring We Are Pat participants Roz Hernandez, Nori Reed, James Tom, and more.
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos, (United States, UK, Nigeria) – World Premiere. From Lagos to London, this powerful documentary follows Wizkid’s rise as a global icon reshaping how Africa is seen — and heard — around the world. Blending intimate moments, explosive performances, and cultural commentary, the film captures how Wizkid is using his platform to change perceptions, reclaim African identity, and inspire a new generation. Directed by Karam Gill. Produced by Karam Gill, Daniel Malikyar. An HBO Documentary Films Release. After the Movie: A conversation with Wizkid and director Karam Gill.
SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE
Spotlight brings the red carpet experience to all with exclusive premieres from celebrated filmmakers and star-studded casts, offering an unforgettable experience for film lovers and industry insiders alike.
Kyra Sedgwick, Judd Hirsch, Brittany O’Grady and Kevin Bacon in “The Best You Can”
After This Death, (United States) – North American Premiere. After falling into a lustful affair with a mysterious frontman, a woman must reckon with her own deep-seated desires and sense of purpose after he vanishes without a trace, leaving her caught between toxic fans and ideals of what could be. Directed and written by Lucio Castro. Produced by David Hinojosa, Anita Gou, Patrick Donovan, Luca Intili, Caroline Clark. With Mia Maestro, Lee Pace, Rupert Friend, Gwendoline Christie.
The Best You Can, (United States) – World Premiere. Cynthia Rand is a buttoned-up New Yorker married to a brilliant professor 25 years her senior. She begins feeling the effects of her husband’s advancing age on their relationship, just as her world is turned upside down by the arrival of sharp but chronically underachieving security guard Stan Olszewski in this smart rom-com that reunites Bacon and Sedgwick on screen for the first time in 20 years. Directed, written and produced by Michael J. Weithorn. Produced by Victoria Hill, Andrew Mann, Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon. With Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon, Judd Hirsch, Brittany O’Grady.
Deep Cover, (UK) – International Premiere. A down-on-their-luck trio of wannabe improv comedians are recruited to go undercover and bust petty criminals, but when one decides to go off book, they will have to “yes and…” their way out of an escalating London gang war in this fast-paced action comedy. Directed by Tom Kingsley. Written by Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen. Produced by Colin Trevorrow, Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald. With Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, Paddy Considine. An Amazon MGM Studios Release.
East of Wall, (United States) – New York Premiere. After the death of her husband, Tabatha — a young, tattooed, rebellious horse trainer — wrestles with financial insecurity and unresolved grief while providing refuge for a group of wayward teenagers on her broken-down ranch in the Badlands. Directed, written and produced by Kate Beecroft. Produced by Lila Yacoub, Melanie Ramsayer, Shannon Moss. With Tabatha Zimiga, Porshia Zimiga, Scoot McNairy, Jennifer Ehle. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.
Everything’s Going to Be Great, (United States) – World Premiere. When they are unexpectedly forced to move in with an estranged relative, the Smart Family must navigate oversized dreams, identity struggles and regional theater in this warmly observant family comedy. Directed by Jon S. Baird. Written by Steven Rogers. Produced by Alex Lalonde, Bryan Unkeless, Steven Rogers. With Allison Janney, Bryan Cranston, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Jack Champion. A Lionsgate Release.
How to Train Your Dragon, (United States, UK) – New York Premiere. As an ancient threat endangers Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the unlikely friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together. Directed and written by Dean DeBlois. Produced by Dean DeBlois, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel. With Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Julian Dennison. A Universal Pictures Release.
In Cold Light, (Canada) – World Premiere. Fresh out of prison, Ava’s attempt to reclaim her drug operation collapses when she witnesses a brutal crime, forcing her to flee for her life and track down who wants her dead in Maxime Giroux’s taut thriller. Directed by Maxime Giroux. Written by Patrick Whistler. Produced by Yanick Létourneau, Mike MacMillan. With Maika Monroe, Troy Kotsur, Allan Hawco, and Helen Hunt.
Inside, (Australia) – North American Premiere. A complex paternal triangle evolves when a teenager is transferred from juvenile to adult prison and comes under the wing of two very different fellow inmates: a soon-to-be-paroled convict and Australia’s most despised criminal. Directed and written by Charles Williams. Produced by Marian Macgowan, Kate Glover. With Guy Pearce, Cosmo Jarvis, Vincent Miller, Toby Wallace.
K-Pops!, (United States) – U.S. Premiere. Anderson .Paak directs and stars in this joyful musical comedy as BJ, a down-on-his-luck journeyman musician who takes a gig in Seoul with the house band of a K-pop competition show only to discover one of the show’s aspiring superstars is his long-lost son. Directed, written and produced by Anderson .Paak. Written by Khaila Amazan. Produced by Greg Silverman, Jon Berg, Jaeson Ma, Jonnie Park. With Anderson .Paak, Soul Rasheed, Jee Young Han, Jonnie “Dumbfoundead” Park, Yvette Nicole Brown.
Oh, Hi!, (United States) – New York Premiere. Iris has met her perfect guy, Isaac, and is enjoying their first romantic getaway together — what could go wrong? This clever and charmingly odd dark comedy takes on the highs and lows of modern dating and the ways it makes us all a little crazy. Directed, Written and Produced by Sophie Brooks. Produced by David Brooks, Dan Clifton, Julie Waters, Molly Gordon. With Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, John Reynolds. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.
Paradise Records, (United States) – World Premiere. Cooper is trying to keep the doors of Paradise Records open with its motley crew of entertaining employees, even as the world works against him. The hilarious debut film from multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated musician Logic and executive producer Kevin Smith. Directed and written by Logic. Produced by Logic, Jordan Monsanto, Liz Destro. With Logic, Tramayne “Tman” Hudson, Reed Northrup, Mary Elizabeth Kelly.
Re-Creation, (Ireland, Luxembourg) – World Premiere. Inspired by the real unsolved murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier, directors Jim Sheridan and David Merriman imagine a jury’s deliberations if the main suspect had been tried in Ireland, where Toscan du Plantier was killed. Directed and written by Jim Sheridan, David Merriman. Produced by Fabrizio Maltese, Tina O’Reilly. With Vicky Krieps, Jim Sheridan, Aidan Gillen, Colm Meaney.
Relay, (United States) – U.S. Premiere. Elusive professional fixer Ash has his skills put to the test while protecting whistleblower Sarah Grant from increasingly ruthless corporate mercenaries in this breathless, New York-set thriller. Directed by David Mackenzie. Written by Justin Piasecki. Produced by Basil Iwanyk, Gillian Berrie, David Mackenzie, Teddy Schwarzman. With Riz Ahmed, Lily James, Sam Worthington, Willa Fitzgerald. A Bleecker Street Release.
Sham, (Japan) – World Premiere. When a young student shows signs of trauma, his parents act swiftly against his middle school teacher. But all may not be as it seems, leading the scales of justice to tip in fascinating, heartbreaking ways. Directed by Takashi Miike. Written by Hayashi Mori. Produced by Ken’ichi Wasano, Keiichi Hashimoto, Misako Saka, Shigeji Maeda. With Go Ayano, Ko Shibasaki.
She Dances, (United States) – World Premiere. Harried dad Jason and teenage daughter Claire confront their fractured relationship against the unlikely backdrop of the Young Miss Southeast Regional Dance Finals in this charming, heartfelt father-daughter comedy. Directed, written and produced by Rick Gomez. Written and produced by Steve Zahn. Produced by Jenny Gomez, Mandi Reno, Jenifer Westphal, Coby Toland. With Steve Zahn, Ethan Hawke, Mackenzie Ziegler, Audrey Zahn.
Sovereign, (United States) – World Premiere. Struggling single father Jerry indoctrinates his son Joe into the sovereign citizen movement, teaching him that laws are mere illusions and freedom is something you take. But, as Jerry’s ideology consumes them, they are set on a collision course with a police chief who has spent his life upholding the rules that Jerry has spent his tearing down. Directed and written by Christian Swegal. Produced by Nick Moceri. With Nick Offerman, Jacob Tremblay, Dennis Quaid, Martha Plimpton. A Briarcliff Entertainment Release.
Tow, (United States) – World Premiere. Based on a true story, this poignant and inspiring underdog story follows Amanda, an unhoused woman living in her car who fights a predatory towing company when they refuse to return her stolen vehicle. Directed and produced by Stephanie Laing. Written by Jonathan Keasey, Brant Boivin. Produced by Brent Stiefel, Samantha Nisenboim, Rose Byrne. With Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Dominic Sessa, Ariana DeBose, Demi Lovato, Simon Rex.
A Tree Fell in the Woods, (United States) – World Premiere. What happens when a tree falls in the woods and someone does hear it? Two couples are forced to deal with such a question — and their lives in general — when a New Year’s Eve trip to the woods unearths simmering feelings and the secrets they carry threaten to break their seemingly perfect relationships. Directed and written by Nora Kirkpatrick. Produced by Lynette Howell Taylor, Samantha Housman. With Alexandra Daddario, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Ashley Park.
Westhampton, (United States) – World Premiere. Years after leaving Westhampton, Long Island to chase his dream as a filmmaker, a damaged director returns to the hometown that inspired his breakout film — where he’s forced to confront buried secrets, broken relationships, and the past he tried to rewrite. Directed and written by Christian Nilsson. Produced by Saraleah Cogan, Rob Hinderliter, Alex Robbins, Terence Krey. With Finn Wittrock, RJ Mitte, Jake Weary, Amy Forsyth.
SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY
From acclaimed directors to headline-making subjects, Spotlight Documentary brings the heavyweights of nonfiction to center stage with must-see premieres.
Andy Kaufman in “Andy Kaufman Is Me”
Andy Kaufman Is Me, (United States) – World Premiere. A rare window into the enigmatic mind of comedy legend Andy Kaufman through his never-before-heard audio diary recordings. As marionette puppets bring his unfinished book to life, family and friends unveil the real person behind the provocative public persona in this captivating documentary. Directed by Clay Tweel. Produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Ross M. Dinerstein, Shannon E. Riggs.
Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything, (United States) – World Premiere. Few American journalists have had a career as trailblazing and transformative as Barbara Walters, whose astonishing life and work are recounted in her own words in this raw, intimate, decades-spanning doc. Directed and produced by Jackie Jesko. Produced by Marcella Steingart, Sara Bernstein, Meredith Kaulfers. An ABC News Studios Release.
Blue Scuti: Game Crasher, (United States, France) – World Premiere. Thirteen-year-old Willis Gibson’s life changes overnight when he becomes the first person in human history to beat “Tetris.” This coming-of-age story explores grief, the power of community and the rise of an unexpected internet legend. Directed by Chris Moukarbel. Produced by Chris Moukarbel, Jamie McBriety.
Bodyguard of Lies, (United States, Afghanistan) – World Premiere. Tribeca alum Dan Krauss (The Kill Team, TF ‘13, TF ‘19) exposes the tangled web of deception spun by the U.S. government during its 20-year war in Afghanistan, revealing the campaign of lies and misinformation fed to the American public. Through shocking testimonies from government insiders, confidential documents, and private audio recordings of those at the highest levels of the military and elected leadership, this gripping documentary urges a reckoning with the wider implications of government deception on a global scale. Directed and produced by Dan Krauss. Produced by Brad Hebert, Susan Zirinsky, Alex Gibney, Darryl Frank. A Paramount+ Release.
Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?, (United States) – World Premiere. Catapulted into overnight fame by their massively successful debut album, San Francisco indie rock band Counting Crows and their introspective frontman Adam Duritz were suddenly the biggest rockstars in the world, defiantly facing whatever came next. Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately? captures this pivotal crossroads through revealing interviews and evocative 1990’s archival to craft a rare story of artistic integrity in the spotlight. Directed by Amy Scott. Produced by Brian Morrow, Jonathan Lynch. An HBO Documentary Films Release.
Culture Club, (United States, UK) – World Premiere. The style, the glam, the music, the hats! Culture Club burst onto the UK new romantic scene in 1981 and became one of the most defining and influential bands of their generation. Alison Ellwood’s impossibly fun documentary celebrates the band’s story in their own words, while also revealing the surprisingly tender love story at its center. Directed by Alison Ellwood. Produced by Trevor Birney, Andrew Tully.
Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print, (United States) – World Premiere. Three filmmakers dive deep into the storied and complex legacy of Ms. magazine through the lens of some of its most iconic covers, featuring never-before-seen archival footage and engaging interviews with the powerful women who shaped the magazine at its inception over fifty years ago. Directed by Salima Koroma, Alice Gu, Cecilia Aldarondo. Produced by William Ventura. An HBO Documentary Films Release.
Empire Skate, (United States) – World Premiere. Empire Skate chronicles the colorful rise and enduring influence of New York skateboarding culture in the 1990s, through the global phenomenon of Supreme and intimate portraits of the skaters who breathed life into that world. Directed and produced by Josh Swade. Produced by Jennifer Albanese, Kate Ferraguto, Carolyn Hepburn, Christopher McGlynn. An ESPN 30 for 30 Release.
Holding Liat, (United States) – North American Premiere. On October 7th, during a raid by Hamas on her kibbutz, Israeli-American Liat Atzili was kidnapped, prompting an urgent and heart-wrenching fight for her release by her family. Through a deeply intimate lens, parents Yehuda and Chaya cope with fear and uncertainty as they are thrust into a global conflict unfolding in real time. Directed by Brandon Kramer. Produced by Lance Kramer, Yoni Brook, Ari Handel, Darren Aronofsky.
The Inquisitor, (United States) – World Premiere. In 1972, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan became the first Southern Black woman to join Congress, one of many firsts in her career as a trailblazing political leader. Looking at her life both in and out of the limelight, this insightful documentary explores how her voice still resonates today. Directed by Angela Lynn Tucker. Produced by Angela Lynn Tucker, Moira Griffin, Trevite Willis. A PBS release.
It’s Dorothy!, (United States) – World Premiere. Since her first adventure in L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy Gale has been on countless more journeys, reintroduced and reimagined in exciting ways, and become a cultural touchpoint for many. In her 125th year, her legacy is explored in this joyous and engaging documentary. Directed by Jeffrey McHale. Produced by Ariana Garfinkel, Zel McCarthy, Suzanne Zionts.
I Was Born This Way, (United States) – World Premiere. In 1977, Archbishop Carl Bean made history by recording his disco hit “I Was Born this Way,” celebrated as the world’s first gay anthem, and setting the stage for a revolution in queer music. All-star interviews with Lady Gaga, Questlove, Billy Porter, and Dionne Warwick, paint a portrait of a larger-than-life figure who left an indelible mark on the genre and paved the way for future generations of LGBTQ+ artists to find their voice in mainstream music. Directed by Daniel Junge, Sam Pollard. Produced by Wellington Love, Jed Alan, Daniel Junge.
Jimmy & The Demons, (United States) – World Premiere. In this charming and profound portrait of artistic devotion, celebrated sculptor James Grashow embarks, at age 79, on a four year odyssey to complete his magnum opus: a gigantic, intricate wooden sculpture dubbed “The Cathedral.” Directed by Cindy Meehl. Produced by Elizabeth Westrate.
Just Kids, (United States) – World Premiere. Three families with transgender children face an impossible choice in states banning gender-affirming care: stay home and risk their children’s well-being or uproot entirely. Directed and produced by Gianna Toboni. Produced by Jacqueline Toboni, Samantha Wender.
Kerouac’s Road: The Beat of a Nation, (UK, United States) – World Premiere. Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” finds new relevance as modern travelers and cultural figures like Josh Brolin, W. Kamau Bell and Natalie Merchant reveal how his quest for authentic experience resonates powerfully in our screen-saturated era — offering a lyrical meditation on what it means to truly experience the journey. Directed by Ebs Burnough. Produced by Eliza Hindmarch, John Battsek, Ebs Burnough.
The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel, (United States, UK) – World Premiere. In this intimate, striking documentary, once-star British footballer Tony Powell begins to reconcile the life he’s made for himself — as the lonesome manager of a now-shuttering Hollywood motel — with the one he forsake decades ago. Directed by Ramiel Petros, Nicholas Freeman. Produced by Pete Shilaimon, Mickey Liddell, Robbie Rogers, Andrew Corkin.
Long Live the State, (United States) – World Premiere. In 2024, the eleven (!) members of the iconic mid-90’s cult comedy troupe The State reunited for a live tour. With their irreverent and absurdist live sketches as the backdrop, and framed with a greatest-hits playlist of classic material, the group’s unreasonably talented stars sit down to share the behind-the-scenes story of The State’s meteoric rise and lasting influence- in typically hilarious fashion. Directed by Matthew Perniciaro. Produced by Matthew Perniciaro, Adam F. Goldberg, Kelsey Oluk.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, (United States) – New York Premiere. Academy Award® winner Marlee Matlin recounts the winding road of her life and career as the most influential Deaf actor of her generation in the sublime Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. Directed by Shoshannah Stern. Produced by Robyn Kopp, Justine Nagan, Bonni Cohen, Shoshannah Stern.
Mugaritz: No Bread, No Dessert., (Spain) – International Premiere. Paco Plaza’s immersive documentary opens the doors to Mugaritz, the exclusive avant garde fine dining restaurant in San Sebastian, during its off-season. Plaza’s lens observes the radical culinary staff as they design innovative, sensory dishes and embrace the unpredictable nature of gastronomic brainstorming. Directed by Paco Plaza. Produced by Pablo Isla, Carla Pérez de Albeniz.
My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay, (United States) – World Premiere. My Mom Jayne explores the untold story of one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons — Jayne Mansfield — through the eyes of the daughter she left behind. In her first, deeply personal film, Mariska Hargitay embarks on a poignant search for the real woman behind the platinum bombshell persona. Set against the backdrop of golden-age Hollywood, and woven with intimate family exchanges and a search for truth, Hargitay endeavors to reclaim her mother’s story — and her own. Directed by Mariska Hargitay. Produced by Mariska Hargitay, Trish Adlesic. An HBO Documentary Films Release.
Room to Move, (United States) – World Premiere. In this intimate documentary, acclaimed dancer and choreographer Jenn Freeman, recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, embarks on the creation of her first evening-length dance piece as a transformative journey of self-discovery through movement. Directed by Alexander Hammer. Produced by Jonathan Lia, Alexander Hammer, Ian Stuart.
The Shadow Scholars, (UK) – North American Premiere. Oxford professor Patricia Kingori uncovers Kenya’s hidden essay mills where highly educated yet underemployed writers produce academic papers for wealthy Western students. Directed by Eloïse King. Produced by Eloïse King, Anna Smith Tenser, Bona Orakwue, Tabs Breese.
She Runs the World, (United States) – World Premiere. Allyson Felix is the most decorated track and field athlete of all time. At the peak of her career, she faced a life-threatening pregnancy and saw her sponsorships slashed by 70% by companies with no maternal protections. But Felix, ever the champion, turned her battles into a movement. Directed by Perri Peltz, Matthew O’Neill. Produced by Lisa Binns.
Surviving Ohio State, (United States) – World Premiere. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Eva Orner delves into the sexual abuse scandal surrounding athletics doctor Richard Strauss, whose two-decade tenure at The Ohio State University saw the abuse of hundreds of students, and the ongoing quest for justice and accountability by his survivors. Directed and produced by Eva Orner. Produced by David Glasser, George Clooney, Grant Heslov. An HBO Documentary Films Release.
Take the Money and Run, (Denmark) – International Premiere. A documentary tracing the life of Danish artist Jens Haaning in the aftermath of his controversial artwork, “Take the Money and Run.” The film, with humour and authenticity, delves into the fallout from his audacious act — delivering two blank canvases while withholding the 532,000 Danish kroner paid to him by the commissioning museum. Directed by Ole Juncker. Produced by Mette Heide.
Titan: The OceanGate Disaster, (United States) – World Premiere. Titan: The OceanGate Disaster plunges into the chilling 2023 submersible tragedy, peeling back the layers of ambition, arrogance, and a lack of oversight that led to catastrophe. With gripping firsthand accounts and incisive expert commentary, the film investigates the ignored warnings, reckless decision-making, and the cult of personality behind OceanGate — revealing a cautionary tale of what happens when hubris dives too deep. Directed by Mark Monroe. Produced by Lily Garrison, Mark Monroe, Jon Bardin. A Netflix Release.
U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION
Discover the next wave of cinematic talent as breakout filmmakers from across the country debut their world premieres in Tribeca’s U.S. Narrative Competition. With surprising stories and daring craft, these films offer a thrilling glimpse into the future of independent cinema.
Alisha Wainwright in “Bird in Hand”
Bird in Hand, (United States) – World Premiere. Bird returns home to visit her mom in search of the perfect wedding venue after a surprise engagement to her longtime boyfriend, but much to everyone’s surprise, she is actually on the hunt for something else. A chance meeting with her biological father. Directed and written by Melody C. Roscher. Produced by Craig Shilowich, Alex Schepsman, Danielle Massie, Saba Zerehi. With Alisha Wainwright, Christine Lahti, James Le Gros, Annabelle Dexter-Jones.
Charliebird, (United States) – World Premiere. Al is a devoted music therapist at a children’s hospital in Texas. Charlie is the rebellious teen patient assigned to work with her. When Charlie reveals a secret passion project, and professional lines begin to blur, the two forge an unexpected bond that will teach them both how to live. Directed by Libby Ewing. Written by Samantha Smart. Produced by Elliot Gipson, Samantha Smart, Libby Ewing. With Samantha Smart, Gabriela Ochoa Perez, Gabe Fazio, Maria Peyramaure.
Esta Isla, (Puerto Rico) – World Premiere. This mature and visually-striking drama follows young lovers Bebo and Lola — both from opposite social circles in Puerto Rico — as they flee to a remote part of the island in the wake of a heinous murder. Directed by Lorraine Jones Molina, Cristian Carretero. Written by Lorraine Jones Molina, Cristian Carretero, Kisha Tikina Burgos. Produced by Lorraine Jones Molina, Rafael Carretero, Cristian Carretero. With Zion Ortiz, Fabiola Brown.
Horsegirls, (United States) – World Premiere. As her mother battles an uncertain diagnosis, neurodivergent 22-year-old Margarita discovers a source of strength in an unexpected place: the sport of hobbyhorsing. Directed and written by Lauren Meyering. Produced by Michael Sherman, Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Mackenzie Breeden. With Gretchen Mol, Jerod Haynes, Lillian Carrier, Tony Hale.
Leads, (United States) – World Premiere. Mags, once a promising up-and-coming actress, strives for contentment as the most sought-after acting teacher at her small college. But her life is unexpectedly upended by the arrival of a new student in her class: her charming but volatile younger brother Merritt. Directed and written by Bryan Poyser. Produced by Taylor Wright, Heather Kafka, Justin Arnold. With Heather Kafka, Justin Arnold, Macon Blair, Sara Paxton.
Lemonade Blessing, (United States) – World Premiere. Freshly tossed into a private Catholic high school by his devout mother, John falls head over heels for a devious classmate ready to push his faith (and morals) to the brink with a series of increasingly uncomfortable actions, all in the name of love. Directed and written by Chris Merola. Produced by Chris Merola, Raza Rizvi, Aruba Sülzana, Samuel Ashurov. With Jake Ryan, Jeanine Serralles, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Miles J. Harvey.
On a String, (United States) – World Premiere. Fresh out of Julliard, a young violinist returns home to live with her parents in the heart of New York City. Now it’s time to play gigs in the homes of strangers and make art with friends — nothing can go wrong, right? Directed, written and produced by Isabel Hagen. Produced by Olivia Vessel, Torrance Shepherd, Alex Vara, Annie McGrath. With Isabel Hagen, Dylan Baker, Ling Ling Huang, Eric Bogosian.
Ride or Die, (United States) – World Premiere. A casual reunion with her high school crush has unforeseen consequences when two young women embark on a high-stakes road trip with an uncertain destination. Directed by Josalynn Smith. Written by Josalynn Smith, Alicia Louzoun-Heisler. Produced by Josalynn Smith, Matthew Keene Smith, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner. With Briana Middleton, Stella Everett.
Rosemead, (United States) – World Premiere. Based on a true story, Rosemead follows Irene, a Chinese immigrant mother driven to desperate measures by her unstable son’s escalating mental health crisis and growing obsession with mass shootings. Directed by Eric Lin. Written by Marilyn Fu. Produced by Mynette Louie, Andrew D. Corkin, Lucy Liu. With Lucy Liu, Lawrence Shou, Orion Lee, Jennifer Lim.
The Scout, (United States) – World Premiere. Sofia is a location scout for a TV show in New York City. Over the course of one day, she is invited into homes, businesses, and lives across the city, witnessing the private spaces and dramas of countless strangers, until her work takes a sudden, personal turn. Directed and written by Paula González-Nasser. Produced by Ryan Martin Brown, Mathew Romanski, Paula González-Nasser. With Mimi Davila, Sarah Herrman, Otmara Marrero, Matt Barats.
So Far All Good, (United States) – World Premiere. Following a stint in prison, a young man returns to friends and family waiting for him across New York. Except his girl has moved on, money ain’t what it used to be and this isn’t the same bustling city he left behind. It’s all good. Directed by $ECK. Written by $ECK, Rasan Kuvly. Produced by $ECK, Rasan Kuvly, Daniel Grossman, Gustavo Rosa. With Rasan Kuvly, Colter Ford, Natividad Alemany, Ashley Nord.
The Travel Companion, (United States) – World Premiere. Struggling documentarian Simon relies on his friend Bruce’s airline job to get free flights as his travel companion. But when Bruce starts dating Beatrice, Simon obsessively clings to his precious perk. Directed by Travis Wood, Alex Mallis. Written by Alex Mallis, Travis Wood, Weston Auburn. Produced by Weston Auburn, Travis Wood, Alex Mallis. With Tristan Turner, Anthony Oberbeck, Naomi Asa.
INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE COMPETITION
The New-York based Festival breaks its geographical boundaries with the International Narrative Competition, welcoming global filmmakers redefining contemporary world cinema.
“Cuerpo Celeste”
Cuerpo Celeste, (Chile, Italy) – World Premiere. Celeste is a carefree 15-year-old coming of age after the fall of Pinochet when her life changes drastically and unexpectedly. Now, the desert and oceanside she once embraced feels alien. In an uncertain nation going through a transition of its own, Celeste is thrust into an adult world where she must grow up faster than she could have ever imagined. Directed and written by Nayra Ilic. Produced by Fernando Bascuñán, Úrsula Budnik. With Helen Mrugalski, Daniela Ramírez, Néstor Cantillana, Mariana Loyola.
Dragonfly, (UK) – World Premiere. When Colleen volunteers to care for her elderly neighbor Elsie, the two quickly bond. But beneath the pleasantries, motives start to be questioned leading to a devastating series of events. Directed and written by Paul Andrew Williams. Produced by Marie-Elena Dyche, Dominic Tighe. With Andrea Riseborough, Brenda Blethyn, Jason Watkins.
Happy Birthday, (Egypt) – World Premiere. Eight-year-old maid Toha goes to great lengths to ensure that her best friend Nelly, the daughter of her wealthy employer, has a successful birthday party in this poignant debut feature exploring classism in modern-day Cairo. Directed by Sarah Goher. Written by Sarah Goher, Mohamed Diab. Produced by Ahmed El Desouky, Ahmed Abbas, Ahmed Badawy. With Nelly Karim, Hanan Motawie, Hanan Youssef, Doha Ramadan.
Little Trouble Girls, (Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Serbia) – North American Premiere. Shy 16-year-old Lucija joins her Catholic school choir and befriends bold Ana-Marija. During a weekend rehearsal at a convent under renovation, Lucija experiences a sexual awakening that tests her new friendship as the girls hatch a mischievous plan involving an attractive construction worker. Directed by Urška Djukić. Written by Urška Djukić, Maria Bohr. Produced by Jožko Rutar, Miha Černec. With Jara Sofija Ostan, Mina Švajger, Saša Tabaković, Nataša Burger. A Kino Lorber Release.
My Father’s Son, (China, France) – World Premiere. A father’s complicated legacy lives on in his son’s memories — and an AI boxing model — in Qiu Sheng’s unique and engrossing blend of sci-fi, family drama, and sports movie. Directed and written by Qiu Sheng. Produced by Zhang Yuxuan, Jia Ruocheng, Charles Gillibert. With Song Yang, Sun Ning, Tong Chenjie, Alice Ko.
People and Meat, (South Korea) – World Premiere. Three broke and lonely senior citizens reinvent themselves as the infamous “dine and dash trio” in a gambit to eat free across Seoul in this charming action-crime-comedy caper. Directed by Yang Jong-hyun. Written by Lim Namoo. Produced by Jang So-jung. With Park Keun Hyong, Jang Yong, Ye Su Jeong.
Pinch, (India) – World Premiere. When Maitri, an aspiring travel blogger, is groped by her landlord while traveling to a festival, she impulsively takes retributive steps. The ramifications rock her tight-knit community in this darkly comic exploration of guilt, trauma and the strength it takes to stand up to power. Directed, written and produced by Uttera Singh. Produced by Suneeta Singh, Muktesh Singh, Faissal Sam Shaib, Anirudh Singh. With Uttera Singh, Geeta Agrawal, Sunita Rajwar, Sapna Sand.
Reflection in a Dead Diamond, (Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, France) – North American Premiere. A retired spy reminisces on his career in this surreal throwback to the stylish spy romps of the 1960s, filled with sexy action and outlandish gadgets. Directed and written by Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani. Produced by Pierre Foulon. With Fabio Testi, Yannick Renier, Koen De Bouw, Maria de Medeiros. A Shudder Release.
A Second Life, (France) – World Premiere. A hearing-impaired American and a free-spirited tourist form an unlikely friendship amid the buzz of Paris during the Olympic games in this charming tale of human connection. Directed by Laurent Slama. Written by Laurent Slama, Thomas Keumurian. Produced by Maxime Montagne, Laurent Slama. With Agathe Rousselle, Alex Lawther, Suzy Bemba, Jonas Bachan.
The Square, (South Korea) – Feature Narrative, North American Premiere. In this stunningly animated romantic drama, a young Swedish diplomat and North Korean traffic officer fall in illicit love, but as his posting to the Embassy in Pyongyang draws to a close, they must make an impossible decision. Directed and written by Kim Bo-sol. Produced by Kim Bo-sol, Park So-hye. With Jeon Woon-jong, Lee Chan-yong, Lee Ga-young, Lee You-jun.
Twelve Moons, (Mexico) – World Premiere. Sofia is 40, childless, with a neglectful marriage, and spiraling into chaos as her life unravels. With striking imagery and a raw central performance, the film is a haunting character study trapped in a social nightmare. Directed, written and produced by Victoria Franco. Produced by Michel Franco, Eréndira Núñez Larios, Yardena Maimon. With Ana de la Reguera, Enrique Arreola.
The Wolf, the Fox and the Leopard, (Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Croatia, Taiwan) – World Premiere. A feral girl who has spent her life living among wolves is taken on an odyssey through contemporary human life while the threat of climate apocalypse looms. Directed and written by David Verbeek. Produced by Erik Glijnis, Leontine Petit, Judy Tossell. With Jessica Reynolds, Nicholas Pinnock, Marie Jung, Naomi Kawase.
DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
From unexplored worlds to intimate portraits, discover the nonfiction premieres that are set to define the documentary landscape in the year ahead.
Backside, (United States) – World Premiere. Over the span of one racing season, the strikingly intimate Backside foregrounds the lives and actions of immigrant workers who look after and rehabilitate prized racehorses at Churchill Downs barns in Louisville Kentucky — the site of the famous Kentucky Derby. Directed by Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana. Produced by Gabriella García-Pardo, Patricia Alvarez Astacio.
The End of Quiet, (Denmark) – World Premiere. A meditative documentary that offers a glimpse into one of the few inhabited places on Earth where Wi-Fi and phone signals are not allowed to reach. Directed by Kasper Bisgaard, Mikael Lypinski. Produced by Sara Stockmann.
An Eye for an Eye, (United States, Iran, Denmark) – World Premiere. Convicted of murdering her husband, Tahereh served her sentence and now faces a ticking clock to negotiate with her in-laws who, under Sharia law, have the legal right to either execute her or forgive her- for a price. Directed by Tanaz Eshaghian, Farzad Jafari. Produced by Christoph Jörg, Katayoun Arsanjani, Joey Marra, Gelareh Kiazand.
For Venida, for Kalief, (United States) – Feature Documentary, World Premiere. Kalief Browder’s story unfolds in full when his life, and that of his mother, Venida Brodnax Browder, are tragically derailed by years of malintent from the justice system. Venida’s poems serve as a guiding thread through this emotional journey, blending archival footage and contemporary political movements to honor the Browder family’s powerful legacy, both within their community and beyond. Directed by Sisa Bueno. Produced by Sisa Bueno, David Felix Sutcliffe, Jasmine Mans.
The Last Dive, (United States) – World Premiere. Terry Kennedy has lived several lifetimes- as a Navy Seal, a Hell’s Angel, and, most memorably, as the unlikely friend to a giant manta ray named Willy. Now in his 80s, Terry mounts one last diving expedition to a remote island in search of his long-lost friend. Directed by Cody Sheehy. Produced by Mark Monroe, Randy Gebhardt, Christopher Gebhardt.
Maintenance Artist, (United States) – World Premiere. What happens when art meets trash? Maintenance Artist profiles pioneering public artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles — the first artist-in-residence at NYC’s Department of Sanitation. Directed by Toby Perl Freilich. Produced by Toby Perl Freilich, Judith Mizrachy.
Natchez, (United States) – World Premiere. Filmmaker Suzannah Herbert takes a sharp look at the American South’s unreconciled history through a Mississippi town that mixes antebellum tourism with a community deeply divided over its past. With an unflinching lens, the film captures the debates, memories, and tensions that are building toward a reckoning. Directed by Suzannah Herbert. Produced by Suzannah Herbert, Pablo Proenza.
Runa Simi, (Peru) – World Premiere. The stirring and sensitive Runa Simi follows an indigenous Peruvian man and his young son in their ambitious quest to fully dub Disney’s animated “The Lion King” in their native Quechua — and, in the process, protect and rescue this disappearing Peruvian language. Directed by Augusto Zegarra. Produced by Claudia Chávez Lévano, Paloma Iturriaga.
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible, (United States) – World Premiere. A biographical, musical, illuminating journey into the work and vision of Sun Ra, exploring his jazz roots, endless innovations, and ceaseless artistic and social quests. Directed and produced by Christine Turner.
Underland, (United States, UK) – World Premiere. Follow explorers into places rarely glimpsed by human eyes: caves, flooded drains and underground laboratories, revealing hidden worlds beneath our feet. Narrated by Sandra Hüller and featuring stunning visuals, this sensorial journey offers a humbling perspective on our place within — not merely atop — this planet. Directed by Robert Petit. Produced by Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, Lauren Greenwood, Jessica Harrop.
VIEWPOINTS
Viewpoints is Tribeca’s home for audacious stories and fearless filmmaking — a showcase for directors who break rules, bend genres, and carve new cinematic paths.
Bruna Cusí and María Valverde in “All We Cannot See”
All We Cannot See, (United States, Spain) – Feature Narrative, World Premiere. Sometimes a chance meeting in a bathroom is all it takes. Two women are forever changed when they decide to take a road trip together from Portugal to Spain, where what begins as an otherworldly escapade quickly reveals secrets and truths that will shake them to the core. Directed by Alberto Arvelo. Written by Wendy Guerra, Alberto Arvelo. Produced by Gabriela Camejo. With María Valverde, Bruna Cusí.
A Bright Future, (Uruguay, Argentina, Germany) – Feature Narrative, World Premiere. Clever, curious and young, lucky Elisa has been selected for work placement in the North. While everything she’s heard about the North seems idyllic, the trouble is that the few people who do go there don’t ever come back. Directed and written by Lucía Garibaldi. Written by Federico Alvarado. Produced by Isabel García, Pancho Magnou Arnabal. With Martina Paseggi, Soledad Pelayo, Sofia Gala, Alfonso Tort.
Fior di Latte, (United States, Italy) – Feature Narrative, World Premiere. In this offbeat and surreal comedy, frustrated playwright Mark becomes addicted to huffing perfume to conjure memories from a previous Italian summer vacation. As he grows increasingly obsessed with chasing the high of the past, his present life unravels. Directed and written by Charlotte Ercoli. Produced by Sofie Hubbard Warshafsky, Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis, Terry Dougas, Stephanie Meurer. With Tim Heidecker, Marta Pozzan, Kevin Kline, Julia Fox.
Honeyjoon, (United States, Portugal) – Feature Narrative, World Premiere. Honeyjoon is a sexy comedy-drama — about a mother-daughter trip. Persian-Kurdish Lela and her American daughter June take a trip to the romantic Azores after a recent loss, both with polar opposite views about why they’re there, how to grieve, and the size of June’s tiny bikini. Amidst honeymooners, the Woman, Life, Freedom movement and their hot, philosophical tour guide, João, the pair find each other… coming back to life. Directed, written and produced by Lilian T. Mehrel. Produced by Andreia Nunes. With Ayden Mayeri, Amira Casar, José Condessa.
How Dark My Love, (United States) – Feature Documentary, World Premiere. Controversial painter Joe Coleman, known for his intricate portraits of serial killers and outlaws, undertakes his most challenging subject yet — a seven foot portrait of his wife, Whitney. Directed by Scott Gracheff. Produced by Jim Muscarella, Josh Diamond, Jason Diamond, Scott Gracheff.
Kites, (Brazil) – Feature Narrative, World Premiere. In a magical realist world where you can have a conversation with your guardian angel, Duvo, a 25-year-old gangster, searches for peace and redemption from a life marked by crime in this beautifully lyrical look at life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Directed, written and produced by Walter Thompson-Hernández. With Daniel Fernando do Prado Dorea Lima, Phillipe Augusto da Silva Souza, Larissa Borges, Thiago Oliveira.
Our Hero, Balthazar, (United States) – Feature Narrative, World Premiere. In this bold dark satire, wealthy NYC teenager Balthy makes dramatic gun control videos to impress his activist crush. When an online troll targets his content, Balthy becomes convinced he’s communicating with a potential school shooter and embarks on an ill-advised journey to Texas to confront him. Directed, written and produced by Oscar Boyson. Written and produced by Ricky Camilleri. Produced by David Duque-Estrada, Jon Wroblewski, Miles Skinner, Alex Hughes. With Jaeden Martell, Asa Butterfield, Jennifer Ehle, Noah Centineo.
Videoheaven, (United States) – Feature Documentary, North American Premiere. In the early 1980s, the widespread adoption of the VHS format led to a fundamental shift in moviegoers’ relationship with film that continues to reverberate today. Director/cinephile Alex Ross Perry (assisted by a lively, wry voiceover from Maya Hawke) mines footage from a wide array of sources to explore the video store as a vitally important site of film culture. Directed by Alex Ross Perry. Produced by Andrew Adair, Jake Perlin, Daniel Herbert.
What Marielle Knows, (Germany) – Feature Narrative, International Premiere. When 11-year-old Marielle suddenly gains telepathic abilities, her parents Julia and Tobias find their private lives completely exposed. Forever altering the dynamics in their home, the family must either come to terms with their new reality or find a way to change her back. Directed and written by Frédéric Hambalek. Produced by Philipp Worm, Tobias Walker. With Julia Jentsch, Felix Kramer, Laeni Geiseler, Mehmet Ateşçi.
Widow Champion, (Kenya) – Feature Documentary, World Premiere. In rural Kenya, where tribalism and patriarchal values rule, a subjugated group of women who have lost their husbands and therefore the rights to their inherited land turn to a last resort: the Widow Champion, Rodah Nafula Wekesa. Directed by Zippy Kimundu. Produced by Heather Courtney, Zippy Kimundu.
ESCAPE FROM TRIBECA
The most exciting cult movies from our galaxy: present, past, and future. Far-out premieres and nerve-shredding classics along with giveaways, prizes and fan-focused fun. Escape the ordinary and embrace the psychotronic!
Maria Angelico, Travis Jeffery, Linda Cropper and Michael Hurst in “Birthright”
Birthright, (Australia) – World Premiere. It’s every adult’s worst nightmare: moving back in with their parents. Having done just that, a down-and-out husband and his pregnant wife quickly realize that his folks don’t want them around, triggering a raucous power struggle that goes off the rails. Directed and written by Zoe Pepper. Produced by Cody Greenwood. With Travis Jeffery, Maria Angelico, Michael Hurst, Linda Cropper.
Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan, (United States) – World Premiere. Before unsung gay NYC exploitation maverick Andy Milligan died of AIDS, he cranked out grindhouse-ready shock and so-bad-it’s-good schlock movies throughout the late 1960s and ’70s. Yet, as captured in this fascinating documentary, his life and on-set persona were messy, complicated, and unforgettable. Directed by Josh Johnson, Grayson Tyler Johnson. Produced by Carl Daft, David Gregory, Josh Johnson. A Severin Films Release.
That’s TribecXploitation! The Andy Milligan Time Machine, Take a trip with Tribeca and Severin Films back to the heyday of Times Square grindhouse double bills, complete with vintage film trailers, to experience two long-lost Andy Milligan shockers: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me! (1968), an unhinged domestic drama from Hell, and The Degenerates (1967), a post-apocalyptic blast of sordid debauchery.
Dog of God, (Latvia, United States) – World Premiere. Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst. Directed by Lauris Abele, Raitis Abele. Written by Lauris Abele, Raitis Abele, Ivo Briedis, Harijs Grundmanis. Produced by Raitis Abele, Kristele Pudane. With Jurgis Spulenieks, Agate Krista, Einars Repse, Regnars Vaivars.
Man Finds Tape, (United States) – World Premiere. Pulled in by a series of strange and unexplainable video clips, a brother and sister team up to investigate the events captured in the footage, only to discover a shocking secret that’s overtaking their small-town Texas community. Directed and written by Peter Hall, Paul Gandersman. Produced by David Lawson Jr., Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, Ashley Landavazo. With Kelsey Pribilski, William Magnuson, John Gholson, Brian Villalobos.
One Spoon of Chocolate, (United States) – World Premiere. Fresh out of jail, a military veteran relocates to a small Ohio town where many of the residents have a horrifying social agenda, leading the hardened vet to enact his own brand of brutal justice. Directed and written by RZA. Produced by Paul Hall, RZA. With Shameik Moore, RJ Cyler, Paris Jackson, Blair Underwood.
Predator: Killer of Killers, (United States) – New York Premiere. An original animated action-adventure film set in the Predator universe. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and Co-Directed by Josh Wassung. Screenplay by Micho Robert Rutare and story by Trachtenberg and Rutare, based on characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas. Produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt. A Hulu Release.
Queens of the Dead, (United States) – World Premiere. On what should be a fun night at a Brooklyn warehouse party, an outbreak of flesh-eating zombies forces a ragtag group of drag queens, partygoers and party-throwers to band together and somehow survive the night. Directed by Tina Romero. Written by Tina Romero, Erin Judge. Produced by Matt Miller, Natalie Metzger. With Katy O’Brian, Jaquel Spivey, Tomás Matos, Nina West, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Margaret Cho.
The Trainer, (United States) – North American Premiere. Maverick director Tony Kaye delivers a raucous, adrenaline-fueled comedy following Jack Flex, a delusional muscle-bound “creative genius” who maniacally pursues his dreams by selling a dangerous fitness gadget on TV. Given one week to prove his made-up credentials as a Hollywood trainer with celebrity endorsements, Jack spirals through a series of increasingly absurd situations across Los Angeles in this frenetic visual spectacle of ambition and delusion. Directed by Tony Kaye. Written by Vito Schnabel, Jeff Solomon. Produced by Vito Schnabel, Jeremy Steckler, Tony Kaye. With Vito Schnabel, Julia Fox, Paris Hilton, Lenny Kravitz.
MEMBER EXCLUSIVES
A curated selection of unique premiere events available only to our Tribeca Member community. Find out more at tribecafilm.com/membership
“Animals in War”
Animals in War, (Ukraine) – Feature Narrative, World Premiere. Animals in War is a poignant anthology film inspired by true stories of animals impacted by the war in Ukraine. A collaboration between Ukrainian and international artists — including actor and activist Sean Penn — the film is a haunting yet captivating call for global awareness and empathy. Directed by Sviatoslav Kostiuk. Produced by Oleksii Makukhin.
Bunny, (United States) – Feature Narrative, New York Premiere. Bunny is a hustler out on a job when things go sideways – and deadly. As cops poke around, an Airbnb guest longs for love, the downstairs neighbors party, and an estranged father makes an untimely return, Bunny’s plans spiral into absurdity in this frenzied New York comedy. Directed by Ben Jacobson. Written by Ben Jacobson, Mo Stark, Stefan Marolachakis. Produced by Sarah Sarandos. With Mo Stark, Ben Jacobson, Tony Drazan, Liza Colby.
Gonzo Girl, (United States) – Feature Narrative, U.S. Premiere. Set in 1992 in Aspen, Colorado, and inspired by a true story, Gonzo Girl follows Alley Russo, an aspiring writer who takes on an assistant job to the iconoclast and founder of gonzo journalism, Walker Reade. Thrown headfirst into his psychedelic, drug-fueled world, she falls deeper into the fading star’s chaotic world and tries to help him finish his long-awaited novel – by any means necessary. Directed by Patricia Arquette. Written by Rebecca Thomas, Jessica Caldwell. Produced by Tom Heller, Frank Hall Green, Patricia Arquette, Cameron O’Reilly. With Willem Dafoe, Camila Morrone, Patricia Arquette, Elizabeth Lail.
The 2025 Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, announced its lineup of television and original independent episodic series. The Festival, which takes place June 4 – 15 in New York City, showcases highly-anticipated world premieres of new and returning programs, along with exclusive panels featuring select cast members, from major networks and streamers including Apple TV+, HBO, Prime Video, Paramount+, and more.
“Television is one of the most powerful storytelling mediums of our time, and Tribeca is proud to be a home for the visionaries who are redefining it,” said Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming Cara Cusumano. “Tribeca TV is a cornerstone of our festival—an essential platform where innovation, artistry, and audience converge. As the lines between film and television continue to blur, our commitment to championing exceptional stories in all forms remains steadfast.”
World premieres include Apple TV+’s Smoke, a suspenseful drama starring Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett, which follows a small-town fire chief as he uncovers dark secrets, blending mystery, family, and crime; Prime Video’s We Were Liars, a fiery psychological thriller series based on the #1 New York Times bestselling novel by E. Lockhart; SundanceTV’s new docuseries The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster, executive produced by Theo Love, which uncovers a chilling conspiracy beneath the whimsical world of the Furry community; and BritBox’s high-society saga Outrageous, executive produced by Matthew Mosley and created by Sarah Williams, which follows the scandalous lives of the Mitford sisters as they navigate political extremism, familial discord, and heartbreak.
The Festival’s TV program also celebrates the return of three fan-favorite series, including the world premiere of season three of HBO’s Emmy-nominated period drama The Gilded Age, starring Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector and Cynthia Nixon, which marks the show’s first-ever premiere event for the series. Also featured is the season three premiere of Paramount+’s genre-bending hit Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, starring Ethan Peck, Anson Mount, and Rebecca Romijn and the gripping season finale of MGM+’S historical drama, Godfather of Harlem featuring Oscar® winner Forest Whitaker.
“TV-lovers’ choices often seem overwhelmingly vast these days. We are excited to help our audience hone in on a selection of new series and returning favorites that they can experience at Tribeca in a truly exclusive way. From the luminous cast of The Gilded Age to the denizens of starship Enterprise (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), the TV section offers an exclusive, post-screening discussion before the rest of the world gets a chance to partake,” said Tribeca Festival Senior Programmer Liza Domnitz. “Our NOW program speaks to the rapidly expanding universe of independently made episodic series and the buy-in from the creative community.”
This year’s NOW section, dedicated to new independently created pilots and series, features stories from emerging and up-and-coming filmmakers about self-discovery, social insecurities and comedic tales of relationship woes. The program includes the light-hearted, NYC comedy Seasoned, starring Mandy Patinkin; the coming of age drama series Hal & Harper, starring Lili Reinhart, Betty Gilpin and Mark Ruffalo; Earth to Percy starring Jeremy Beiler, Amy Schumer, Josh Charles, Wyatt Cenac and Maya Rudolph; and the dark, brash comedy Bulldozer featuring Oscar® winner Mary Steenburgen, Kate Burton and Oscar winner Nat Faxon. Featured docuseries within NOW include Mrs. America from storyteller Penny Lane and The Price of Milk from Nicholas Bruckman and Yoni Brook.
Learn more about the Tribeca Festival programming team at TribecaFilm.com.
The full festival lineup will be announced soon. For more updates on programming follow @Tribeca and #Tribeca2025 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. A Tribeca Membership or 2025 Tribeca Festival passes and ticket packages can be purchased at tribecafilm.com.
About the Tribeca Festival The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 24th year from June 4–15, 2025 in New York City.
In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.
About the 2025 Tribeca Festival Partners The 2025 Tribeca Festival is presented by OKX and with the support of our partners: AT&T, Audible, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Canva, CHANEL, City National Bank, Don Julio Tequila, Fiji Water, Indeed, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NBC4 and Telemundo 47, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, National CineMedia, New York Magazine, Spring Studios New York, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, Vulture, and Whalar.
2025 TRIBECA FESTIVAL TV SELECTION
“The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster” (Photo courtesy of Sundance TV)
The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster (SundanceTV) New Series World Premiere. The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster, The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster, a four-part documentary, unpacks a horrifying conspiracy of animal abuse lurking beneath the Furry Fandom’s playful exterior. Navigating the line between amateur sleuthing and official police investigation, a pack of dedicated vigilantes from the Furry community fights for the victims and defends their community from the evil within. The series is directed and executive produced by Theo Love (The Legend of Cocaine Island) and produced by Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions. After the Screening: A conversation with series director Theo Love and producer Julia Lindau, moderated by Alex Gibney
The Gilded Age (HBO) – Season Three World Premiere. Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened. The Russells stand poised to take their place at society’s head. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights; George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry. Agnes refuses to accept Ada’s new position as lady of the house. Peggy meets a doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career. After the Screening: A conversation with Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Christine Baranski, Louisa Jacobson and Denée Benton and series creator Julian Fellowes.
Godfather of Harlem (MGM+) – Season Four Finale. In Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn). After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers. After the Screening: A conversation with Forest Whitaker, Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy and series Showrunner and Executive Producer Chris Brancato.
Outrageous (BritBox) – New Series World Premiere. Outrageous is the story of six aristocratic sisters who refused to play by the rules, their often-scandalous lives making headlines around the world. Set against the gathering storm clouds of the 1930s, masked by the decadence, frivolity and lavishness of British high society, Outrageous will bring the full, uncensored story of the Mitford sisters to the screen for the first time – a story of family bonds and betrayals, public scandal, political extremism, love, heartache and even imprisonment. After the Screening: A conversation with Joanna Vanderham, Shannon Watson, Zoe Brough and series Creator Sarah Williams and Executive Producer Matthew Mosley.
Smoke (Apple TV+) – New Series World Premiere. Inspired by true events, Smoke follows a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists. Starring Taron Egerton as arson investigator ‘Dave Gudsen’ and Jurnee Smollett as police detective ‘Michelle Calderone,’ the cast of Smoke also features Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Anna Chlumsky, Adina Porter, Academy Award nominee Greg Kinnear, and John Leguizamo. After the Screening: A conversation with Taron Egerton, Jurnee Smollett and Creator, Executive Producer and Writer Dennis Lehane.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) – Season Three World Premiere. In season three of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, we reconnect with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, still under the command of Captain Pike (Anson Mount), as they face the conclusion of season two’s harrowing encounter with the Gorn. But new life and civilizations await, including a villain that will test our characters’ grit and resolve. An exciting twist on classic Star Trek, season three takes characters both new and beloved, to new heights and dives into thrilling adventures of faith, duty, romance, comedy and mystery with varying genres never before seen on any other Star Trek. After the Screening: A conversation with Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Celia Rose Gooding, Babs Olusanmokun, Carol Kane, and Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, and Henry Alonso Myers.
Tribeca Talks: In Conversation with Lena Dunham. Multi-hyphenate Lena Dunham returns to her Tribeca stomping grounds to discuss her highly anticipated return to TV, Too Much. Via exclusive clips and commentary, Dunham will delve into the Netflix series (premiering this summer) she co-created with her husband Luis Felber and how it mirrors her own departure from NYC to start a new life in London. Starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe with guest stars including Rita Wilson, Andrew Scott, Andrew Rannells, Janicza Bravo, Rhea Perlman, and Emily Ratajkowski.
We Were Liars (Prime Video) – New Series World Premiere. Based on the best-selling novel by E. Lockhart, We Were Liars, the series follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed the Liars, during their summer escapades on her grandfather’s New England private island. The Sinclairs are American royalty — known for their good looks, old money, and enviable bond — but after a mysterious accident changes Cadence’s life forever, everyone, including her beloved Liars, seems to have something to hide. After the Screening: A conversation with select cast.
2025 TRIBECA FESTIVAL NOW SELECTION
NOW Special Screenings
Lili Reinhart, Mark Ruffalo and Cooper Raiff in “Hal & Harper” (Photo courtesy of Apple TV+)
Hal & Harper, (United States) New York Premiere – Episodes 1-3. Hal and Harper, two codependent siblings living in L.A., are doing their best to navigate long term relationships, friendships, and situationships. When their Dad makes a big announcement, the two are forced to consider the current state of their lives, as well as their complicated childhood. While exploring the trauma of their past, and the dramatic changes of their present, Hal & Harper & Dad chart the evolution of their family, while discovering the ways their intense bond has shaped the ways they interact with those they love, for better or worse. Starring Cooper Raiff, Lili Reinhart, Mark Ruffalo, Betty Gilpin, Havana Rose Liu, and Addison Timlin. Created by Cooper Raiff. After the Screening: A conversation with Cooper Raiff, Lili Reinhart, Mark Ruffalo, Betty Gilpin, Addison Timlin, and Executive Producers Daniel Lewis and Clementine Quittner.
Mrs. America (United States) World Premiere – Episodes 1 & 2. The stakes are high, and the heels are higher, as married women across the nation compete for the coveted Mrs. America crown in this funny and inspiring documentary series. Created by Penny Lane.
The Price of Milk (United States) World Premiere – Episodes 1-3. The untold battle behind the ‘90s ‘Got Milk’ campaign leads an investigative romp from the dairy farm to the White House, diving into Americans’ love/hate relationship with milk. Directed by Yoni Brook and Nicholas Bruckman.
NOW Showcase
Bulldozer (United States) New York Premiere. After discovering her boyfriend’s infidelity, Jo spirals and ends up involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility. Upon her release, Jo attempts to rebuild her life, find love, and figure out what’s wrong with her (be it physical or mental). Starring Joanna Leeds, Nat Faxon, Mary Steenburgen, Kate Burton, Harvey Guillén, Chris “CP” Powell, Allen Leech, Tim Bagley, Nick Armstrong, Andrew Friedman, and Leonard Robinson. Created by Joanna Leeds.
Earth to Percy (United States) World Premiere. Floating 250 miles above the earth, NASA Astronaut Percy Dennis discovers the rest of the crew has made plans to hang out in Maui after their mission, but he’s not invited. Shocked to learn his friendships are not what he thought they were, he refuses to let it go even as his world unravels. Starring Jeremy Beiler, Amy Schumer, Josh Charles, Wyatt Cenac and Maya Rudolph. Created by Jeremy Beiler.
Mother, May I Have A Kidney? (United States) World Premiere – Episodes 1 & 2. When Doug learns he’s in need of a kidney transplant and the perfect match is his estranged mother, he’s forced to embark on a journey towards reconciliation with his family. Starring Doug Plaut, Tina Benko, Charlotte Ray Rosenberg, Darius de Haas, Troy Iwata, and Myra Lucretia Taylor. Created by Veronica Reyes-How.
Seasoned (United States) World Premiere. Based on the real lives of Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, Seasoned follows the delightfully tumultuous relationship and life of this successful, gregarious, deeply committed, slightly insane married couple.. As they navigate a society that feels as if it’s crumbling around them, will they remain standing? Starring Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody. Created by Gideon Grody-Patinkin and Ewen Wright.
Culture Representation: Taking place in Seattle, the comedy/drama film “The Wedding Banquet” (a reimagining of the 1993 film of the same name) features a predominantly Asian group of people (with a few African Americans, white people and one Native American) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: A lesbian couple and a gay male couple, who are all best friends living together, come up with a tricky solution to an immigration problem and a family planning problem.
Culture Audience: “The Wedding Banquet” will appeal primarily to people who are interested in well-acted movies about LGBTQ people.
Han Gi-chan, Youn Yuh-jung and Kelly Marie Tran in “The Wedding Banquet” (Photo by Luka Cyprian/Bleecker Street)
“The Wedding Banquet” is a charming and breezy comedy/drama that overcomes some clichés and a predictable ending by having witty banter and a talented cast. It adeptly covers family planning and immigration issues from a LGBTQ perspective. This is not a particular groundbreaking movie, but it does have some uniqueness on various levels.
Directed by Andrew Ahn (who co-wrote “The Wedding Banquet” screenplay with James Schamus), “The Wedding Banquet” had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Ahn and Schamus are two of the movie’s producers. “The Wedding Banquet” takes place in Seattle but was actually filmed in Vancouver. “The Wedding Banquet” is a reimagining of the 1993 film of the same name, which directed by Ang Lee, who co-wrote the movie with Schamus and Neil Peng. Lee and Schamus were two of the producers of 1993’s “The Wedding Banquet.”
The 2025 version of “The Wedding Banquet” centers on four best friends who live in the same house: Lee (played by Lily Gladstone) and Angela (played by Kelly Marie Tran) are an “out and proud” lesbian couple. Chris (played by Bowen Yang) and Min (played by Han Gi-chan) are a semi-closeted gay couple. Chris is openly gay, but Min still has not come out a gay to his family members, who all live in Min’s native South Korea.
Lee (whose birth name is Angelina) is originally from Wichita, Kansas, and she inherited the house from her deceased father. Chris and Min live in the house’s garage, which has been converted to a bedroom. Angela and Chris have no siblings and have been best friends since they were teenagers.
Chris is also close to his younger cousin Kendall (played by Bobo Le), who is the type of person who can cheer him up when he gets stressed-out or mopey. Min is an artist in grad school, and his student visa is about to expire. Min wants to marry Chris, who has turned down Min’s marriage proposal because Chris is commitment-phobic and because cynical Chris wonders if romantic Min wants to get married for the wrong reasons.
Lee (who is a social worker at a LGBTQ center) and Angela (who is a research scientist) have been trying to have a child together. Lee (who is laid-back and nurturing) wants to be the one to get pregnant and give birth because she is admittedly more maternal than high-strung and neurotic Angela, who never wants to be pregnant and give birth. In the beginning of the movie, Lee has been going through in vitro fertilization with sperm donations. But so far, she hasn’t gotten pregnant, and the couple has run out of money to continue the IVF treatments.
In addition to being a student artist, Min works for his wealthy family’s multinational corporation and is under pressure to do a major deal for the company. And if the deal falls through, his demanding and conservative grandfather expects Min to move back to South Korea. Min is disappointed that Chris rejected Min’s marriage proposal, but he hopes Chris will change his mind if Min can stay longer in the United States for reasons other than a student visa. It’s never stated if Chris has a job, but Chris seems to be insecure about the fact that Min has a lot more money than Chris does.
Min comes up with a solution for both couples: He offers to pay for Lee’s continued IVF treatments if Angela agrees to marry Min, so Min can be a legal U.S. resident and stay in the United States without needing a student visa. Min wants to keep his sexuality a secret from his family because he is certain that his grandfather will disown him if his grandfather discovered the truth.
Angela’s meddling single mother May Chen (played by Joan Chen), who’s a proud member of Parents, Families & Friends of LGBTQ+ People (PFLAG), knows about this fake marriage plan. Min’s traditional grandmother Ja-Young (played by Youn Yuh-jung) does not know this secret when she travels from South Korea to Seattle to attend the elaborate wedding that Ja-Young wants to plan for Min and Angela. May and Ja-Young clash over how much of the wedding should have Chinese traditions or Korean traditions. Hijinks, some slapstick comedy and a few plot twists ensue.
Whereas Min tries to hide the truth about his love life from Ja-Young, Angela has the opposite problem with May, who wants to know everything about Angela’s love life. Angela and May have to confront unresolved issues because when Angela first told May that Angela is a lesbian, May cut off contact with Angela for several years. May eventually accepted Angela’s sexual identity. And now, May has become an activist ally to the LGBTQ community, but Angela thinks May has become too intrusive in Angela’s personal life.
“The Wedding Banquet” has some emotionally touching moments about living an authentic life when there is pressure not be true to oneself, out of fear of rejection or fear of losing something important. Angela and Chris, who have trouble communicating their feelings to their loved ones, learn some lessons along the way. “The Wedding Banquet” ends in a way that some people might consider too contrived, but the movie has its heart in the right place and can keep viewers interested based on the engaging performances.
Bleecker Street will release “The Wedding Banquet” in U.S. cinemas on April 18, 2025.
Stanley Tucci in “Tucci in Italy” ({Photo by Matt Holyoak/National Geographic)
The following is a press release from National Geographic:
This May, National Geographic invites audiences to take a mouthwatering adventure with acclaimed Academy Award® Nominee, Emmy®- and Golden Globe®-winning actor Stanley Tucci as he travels across Italy in TUCCI IN ITALY.
From Tucci’s SALT Productions, alongside BBC Studios’ Specialist Factual Productions, the five-part series follows Tucci on a visually stunning and deeply personal exploration of the country’s breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and the complex connections with its food that have shaped each region’s distinct culture and, of course, their iconic pasta. TUCCI IN ITALY premieres May 18, 2025 at 8/7c on National Geographic and all episodes stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
More than just a travelogue, the series is a rich, narrative-driven exploration that delves deep into the heart of Italy’s culinary traditions. In TUCCI IN ITALY, Tucci meets with locals, chefs, fellow foodies, fishermen, artisans and even cowboys to unearth hidden gems and untold stories, resulting in a curated journey across the full series. With National Geographic’s signature immersive storytelling, the series offers a fresh perspective on both well-loved and undiscovered corners of Italy, blending stunning cinematography with Stanley’s signature wit and charm.
Tucci said, “Italy is a feast for the senses, and TUCCI IN ITALY is an invitation to the table. It’s about more than just the food; it’s about the people, the history, and the passion that makes Italy so special. I hope you’ll join me on this new adventure. I believe that eating well is inspiring, and I hope to inspire viewers to embrace the beauty and richness of Italian culture.”
Across five unforgettable episodes, Tucci indulges in a lavish Sienese feast in Tuscany, uncovers futuristic farm-to-table delicacies in Lombardy, and rediscovers the rustic soul of Lazio through its timeless culinary rituals. And for the first time, he visits the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige, where he samples pine needle pesto in the Alpine wonderland and experiences Abruzzo’s wild seafood traditions atop a trabocco, a centuries-old wooden fishing platform. Along the way, Tucci immerses himself in the stories, passion, and traditions that have shaped Italy’s most iconic dishes. This is Italy, as you’ve never seen it before—an intoxicating blend of flavors, history and heartfelt storytelling.
Episodes include the following:
“TUSCANY” Premieres May 18 at 8/7c on National Geographic; Streams May 19 on Disney+ and Hulu Stanley revels in the artistry of the food in this picturesque region. The spirit of culinary creativity is alive in the birthplace of the Renaissance. In Florence, where he spent a memorable year of his youth, he samples a famous, and unexpected, breakfast dish. He heads out on the ranch with traditional Tuscan cowboys and experiences a grand outdoor feast in Siena at the world-famous Palio.
“LOMBARDY” Premieres May 18 at 9/8c on National Geographic; Streams May 19 on Disney+ and Hulu Stanley exposes the pioneering spirit of Italy’s industrial heartland, where the cuisine and ingredients are defiantly forward-thinking. He samples a futuristic menu made possible by a space-age farm, taste-tests new dishes at the country’s famed service stations and discovers one of the world’s most expensive ingredients being grown in the shadow of a steel factory.
“TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE” Premieres May 25 at 8/7c on National Geographic; Streams May 19 on Disney+ and Hulu Stanley delves into the complex identity of Italy’s northernmost region, where many speak German as well as Italian. He samples an unexpectedly delicious hay soup, skis down a mountain to experience Dirndl Day, eats slope-side polenta, and fly-fishes in a glacial river. Along the way, he uncovers a history of border conflict, which has left its mark on the people and their food.
“ABRUZZO” Premieres June 1 at 8/7c on National Geographic; Streams May 19 on Disney+ and Hulu Stanley discovers unexpected delights in this wildest of regions, one he’s never visited before. He explores how the rugged terrain impacts its food and culture. High up in sheep country, he cooks mutton on a traditional barbecue, savors a Sunday lunch with an unexpected French influence, and reveals the surprising—and deliciously sweet—origins of confetti.
“LAZIO” Premieres June 8 at 8/7c on National Geographic; Streams May 19 on Disney+ and Hulu Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazio’s less visited countryside to understand the relationship between the ancient metropolis and rural heartland. He samples a Roman pizza, porchetta from Ariccia, a rustic fish soup, and a springtime lamb—dishes that share a culinary soul with beautiful ingredients allowed to speak for themselves.
Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazios less visited countryside, to understand the relationship between ancient metropolis and rural heartland. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazios less visited countryside, to understand the relationship between ancient metropolis and rural heartland. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazios less visited countryside, to understand the relationship between ancient metropolis and rural heartland. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazios less visited countryside, to understand the relationship between ancient metropolis and rural heartland. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazios less visited countryside, to understand the relationship between ancient metropolis and rural heartland. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Ramadan El Sabawy hands Stanley Tucci a plate with his son’s crispy, mouthwatering Margherita Pizza.(credit: National Geographic)
Chef Iside De Cesare’s Beef tartare with hazelnut mayo and extra virgin olive oil. (credit: National Geographic)
Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazios less visited countryside, to understand the relationship between ancient metropolis and rural heartland. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley discovers unexpected delights in this wildest of regions, Abruzzo, one hes never visited before. He stops at an iconic BBQ joint called Ristoro Mucciante and eats with Rodolfo Mucciante, left, and food and motor journalist Cristina Bachetti, right. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Brothers Niccolò, left, and Manuel Trecastelli wait eagerly for Stanley Tucci’s reaction to their sandwich.(credit: National Geographic)
Stanley discovers unexpected delights in this wildest of regions, Abruzzo, one hes never visited before. He stops at an iconic BBQ joint called Ristoro Mucciante and cooks with one of the owners, Rodolfo Mucciante. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley discovers unexpected delights in this wildest of regions, Abruzzo, one hes never visited before. He reveals how the rugged terrain impacts its food and culture. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley discovers unexpected delights in this wildest of regions, Abruzzo, one hes never visited before. He stops at an iconic BBQ joint called Ristoro Mucciante and meets food and motor journalist Cristina Bachetti, left and cooks with one of the owners, Rodolfo Mucciante. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley discovers unexpected delights in this wildest of regions, Abruzzo, one hes never visited before. He enjoys a mutton stew with chef Davide Nanni. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Torcinello, a traditional sausage, served with scampi, sea asparagus, and sweet pepper sauce. (credit: National Geographic)
Timballo being cut, revealing the intricate layers of crespelle and meatballs inside. (credit: National Geographic)
The Pelino shop interior, featuring two shop assistants in full attire, with confetti boxes in the background. (credit: National Geographic)
Four horn players in typical South Tyrolean attire play their horns, outside restaurant Gostner Schwaige, on the snow. (credit: National Geographic)
Franz Mulser serves his signature hay soup in a loaf of homemade bread, inside the hut of his restaurant Gostner Schwaige. (credit: National Geographic)
An injera platter being placed on the table by host Stanley Tucci where another participant of Cooking Without Borders is seated. (credit: National Geographic)
Uli Ties adds toasted poppies to her dish of canci checi, a Ladin staple consisting of fried ravioli, in the outdoor space of her restaurant Plazores. (credit: National Geographic)
Stanley delves into the complex identity of Italys northernmost region, where many speak German as well as Italian. He fly fishes in a glacial river with locals. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley delves into the complex identity of Italys northernmost region, where many speak German as well as Italian. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley delves into the complex identity of Italys northernmost region, where many speak German as well as Italian. He fly fishes in a glacial river with locals. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley delves into the complex identity of Italys northernmost region, where many speak German as well as Italian. He fly fishes in a glacial river with locals. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
At the restaurant Trippa, they have limited seating to give their workers a good work/life balance. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Stanley exposes the pioneering spirit of Italys industrial heartland. Where the cuisine and ingredients are defiantly forward thinking.(credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
Chef Diego Rossi (L) sprays tuna mousse on veal slices, preparing his renowned dish ‘vitello tonnato’. (credit: National Geographic)
Gurpreeet Singh fitting milking attire onto one of his cows at his dairy farm near Cremona. (credit: National Geographic)
A beautifully plated selection of Colonnata’s famous lard and salami, ready to be enjoyed by host Stanley Tucci. (credit: National Geographic)
Da Vittorio’s takos with amberjack, flowers, leaves, and a touch of fresh herbs. (credit: National Geographic)
Contributors Stefano Pavin, Luca Bettiol, Luca De Santis, and Sara Nuti ride their horses across the Alberese farm in Tuscany, whips in hand. (credit: National Geographic)
A waiter serves hot food from a tray to a participant at a bustling Palio dinner, held on the lively streets of Siena on the eve of the famed race. (credit: National Geographic)
Chef and owner Matilde Pettini opened Dalla Lola in 2021 and discusses their dishes with Stanley. Matildes idea is to revive long forgotten peasant recipes, that to her, represent true Florentine cuisine. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
A spaghetti dish, nicely plated, by chef Marteen Dekort at restaurant Dalla Lola in Florence. (credit: National Geographic)
Stanley enjoys lampredotto, which is something only Florentines seem to cook, with food writer Emiko Davies. (credit: National Geographic/Matt Holyoak)
TUCCI IN ITALY is produced by SALT Productions and BBC Studios. For SALT Productions, Stanley Tucci and Lottie Birmingham are executive producers. For BBC Studios, Amanda Lyon is executive producer, Ben Jessop is co-executive producer, and Alan Holland is head of Specialist Factual Productions. For National Geographic, Charlie Parsons is senior vice president of Global Development, and Tom McDonald is executive vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content.
About National Geographic Content Representing the largest brand on social media with over 780 million followers and 1.1 billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content’s award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling. National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches over 532 million people worldwide in 172 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo, Oscar-nominated films Sugarcane, Fire of Love and Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Emmy® Award-winning franchise 9/11: One Day in America and JFK: One Day in America, Emmy® Award-winning series Animals Up Close, series Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, Life Below Zero, and Secrets of the Whales, in addition to multiple National Magazine Awards, Pulitzer Prize Finalists and Webby wins. Visit nationalgeographic.com and natgeotv.com or explore Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit.
About SALT Productions SALT Productions was established in 2023 by Stanley Tucci and Lottie Birmingham. With a decade of close collaboration under their belts, the two launched Salt Productions as a means to combine their shared aesthetic and work ethos in order to create and produce a wide array of projects, spanning non-fiction, commercial, and fictional genres for both film and television. The company prides itself on delivering compelling, high-quality content that resonates with diverse audiences, while maintaining a keen focus on storytelling and originality. For more information, visit www.salt-productions.co.uk.
About BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions is a bespoke unit making premium output in the history, arts, music and culture space. Its work is underpinned by journalistic rigour and expert knowledge, bringing together diverse voices to ignite conversation and challenge preconceptions. Recent titles include the Grierson Award winning Inside Our Autistic Minds, the RTS winning Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World with Public Enemy’s Chuck D, the true crime / natural history hybrid The Great Rhino Robbery and cold war thriller Secrets and Spies: A Nuclear Game.
Culture Representation: Taking place primarily in 1932, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the horror film “Sinners” features an African American and white group of people (with a few Asians and Native Americans) representing the working-class and the middle-class.
Culture Clash: Identical twin brothers open up a juke joint, and enlist their blues-musician cousin to perform on opening night, but the night descends into chaos when vampires attack.
Culture Audience: “Sinners” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the movie’s headliners and adult-oriented horror movies.
Peter Dreimanis, Jack O’Connell, Hailee Steinfeld and Lola Kirke in “Sinners” (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
“Sinners” is more than a vampire movie. It’s a sexy, stylish, gritty and gory journey that expertly layers horror with the supernatural power of music and haunting legacies about violent racism. It’s a memorable film that uses familiar legends about vampires and puts them into an original story about emotionally damaged people haunted by their pasts.
Written and directed by Ryan Coogler (who is also one of the movie’s producers), “Sinners” has some twists and turns that offer welcome surprises. The movie takes its time in revealing several things about the main characters in the film. There’s a lot of dire tragedy in the movie but there’s also joyful celebration and some comic relief. “Sinners” capably balances all of these tones.
“Sinners” (which takes place mostly in 1932, in Clarksdale, Mississippi) begins with voiceover narration from a woman who is later introduced as Annie (played by Wunmi Mosaku), “a Hoodoo conjurer, spiritual leader and healer in the community,” as she is described in the movie’s production notes. Anne talks about musicians with special powers (who are called griots in African culture) and who play music that “brings healing to their communities, but it can also bring evil.”
The first scene in the movie is startling: A 19-year-old man named Samuel “Sammie” Moore (played by Miles Caton) bursts into a small makeshift church during a church service that has about 30 people in attendance. Sammie (whose nickname is Preacher Boy) is holding the neck of a damaged guitar. He has noticeable injuries, including bloody marks on his face that looks like he’s been clawed.
Sammie’s stern father Jedidiah (played by Saul Williams) is the preacher of the church. When he sees Sammie, he knows that Sammie has come from performing blues music at a nightclub, which is something that Jedidiah disapproves of and has strictly forbidden. Sammie plays music, which Jedidiah believes is the devil’s music.
Sammie is in obvious distress but Jedidiah only seems willing to help Sammie if Sammie follows this order from Jedidiah: “I want you to live those sinning ways. Drop the guitar!” Sammy holds a firm grip on the guitar. Jedidiah repeats the order again and again. What will Sammie do?
The movie then abruptly cuts to one day earlier. Sammie works as a sharecropper for his day job. He is well-liked and respected among his sharecropper peers. But in his heart, what he really wants to be is a professional blues music artist. It’s why he eagerly takes an opportunity to perform at a Clarksdale juke joint’s opening night. It will turn out to be a very fateful decision.
Sammie is a talented singer, songwriter and musician who takes performing gigs wherever he can, much to his father’s disapproval. As far as Jedidiah s concerned, the places where Sammie performs are cesspools of sin. Jedidiah warns Sammie: “If you keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s going to follow you home.”
Meanwhile, two identical twin brothers named Smoke (played by Michael B. Jordan) and Stack (also played by Jordan), who are both are World War I veterans, have returned to their hometown of Clarksdale after seven years away. During those seven years, Smoke and Stack (who are nicknamed the Smoke Stack twins) were involved in shady business deals (including bootlegging of liquor during this Prohibition era) and gang activities in Chicago.
Smoke and Stack have come back to Clarksdale with enough cash and liquor to fulfill their dream to open up a juke joint: a nightclub in a barn or warehouse that caters mostly to African Americans and where blues music is performed. Smoke (who likes to wear a blue newsboy cap) is the more ruthless and hardened twin. Stack (who likes to wear a maroon fedora) is the more diplomatic and smooth-talking twin.
Smoke and Stack meet with a local property owner named Hogwood (played by David Maldonado) to buy a house that comes with a mill and equipment. Hogwood is skeptical about selling the property because he doesn’t think Smoke and Stack have the money for it. But when they show Maldonado the wads of cash they have to pay it, he quickly changes his mind. Hogwood is also an obvious liar when he makes a point of telling Smoke and Stack that the Ku Klux Klan doesn’t exist in the area.
Smoke and Stack are the older cousins of Sammie, whom they easily convince to be the performer for the opening night of the juke joint. The juke joint will debut that night. Smoke and Stack also enlist two longtime friends on short notice to work at the juke joint that night: Delta Slim (played by Delroy Lindo) will be Sammie’s piano player. Cornbread (played by Omar Miller) is a sharecropper who will be the juke joint’s doorman.
Smoke and Stack stop by a local grocery store to place big order of food, drinks and some other supplies for the juke joint’s opening night. And just like that, the grocery store owners—a Chinese American married couple named Grace Chow (played by Li Jun Li) and Bo Chow (played by Yao)—are also hired to be the caterers for the juke joint’s opening night. Smoke and Stack have enough cash to quickly hire everyone to work that night.
Sammie has a crush on a local woman named Pearline (played by Jayme Lawson), who is in an unhappy marriage with an older man. Pearline has an image of being too classy and refined to ever be in a juke joint. Sammie invites her to the juke joint’s opening night anyway so she can watch him perform.
Smoke and Stack have issues in their own lives that affect much of what happens in the movie. Smoke was married to Annie, but he abandoned her when he went to Chicago. He hasn’t seen or spoken to her in communicated with her in that seven-year period.
Naturally, she’s upset when she sees him, but Smoke seduces her into forgiving him. He convinces Annie to be a cashier for the juke joint. Smoke and Annie also share a tragedy: They had a baby son who died before he went away to Chicago. Annie and Smoke don’t like to talk about their child’s death.
Stack’s love interest is a feisty Mary (played by Hailee Steinfeld), who is furious with Stack because he ignored her and moved to Chicago shortly after they had a one-night stand. Mary is married to a wealthy white man but she prefers to hang out with black people. For some people, Mary might be considered a person of color because she mentions at one point that her mother’s father was half-black, half-white. But for most people, Mary is white because she looks that way.
All of these characters will encounter a trio of people who will cause mayhem at the juke joint. It starts when an Irish immigrant named Remmick (played by Jack O’Connell) frantically knocks on the door of a married farm couple named Bert (played by Peter Dreimanis) and Joan (played by Lola Kirke) to ask them to hide him at their home. Remmick explains that law enforcement is after him because he was wrongfully accused of theft.
As shown in the movie, Bert is a member of the Ku Klux Klan, which is why Remmick makes a point of telling Bert that Remmick is being hunted by law enforcement officials who are Native American. When these officials show up at the farm, Joan answers the door and denies seeing Remmick. As already revealed in a “Sinners” trailer, Remmick is really a vampire. And you can easily guess what he does to Bert and Joan.
Remmick is on the hunt for musicians with special talent that he’s heard about, which is why Remmick goes looking for Sammie. Remmick takes Joan and Bert with him when they go to the juke joint and try to gain access by posing as a musical trio. On a deeper level, Remmick, Joan and Bert represent vampires in the music industry who deceive artists by promising them fame and fortune only to exploit and cheat the artists. This has been especially true for black artists because “Sinners” always has race and racism as part of the story’s fabric.
“Sinners” has a stunning musical sequence at the juke joint that weaves together music performed by black artists in the 1930s with subsequent decades. It’s a very artistic homage to blues, funk and hip-hop (including having characters made to look similar to Bootsy Collins and LL Cool J) that is one of the highlights of the film.
Traditional vampire lore is a big part of “Sinners.” Several parts of the movie hinge on these well-known vampire “rules”: Vampires cannot enter a building without being invited by the owner or caretaker of the building. A vampire can be injured by holy water. A vampire can be killed by a stake to the heart or by being exposed to daylight sun.
Jordan does a noteworthy job in his dual performance as Stack and Smoke, although “Sinners” is the type of ensemble film where there are no bad performances. Mosaku also stands out as the strong but emotionally wounded Annie, who is in many ways the soul of the story. Lindo and Miller show excellent comedic timing for their “Sinners” characters, who have the funniest moments in the film. O’Connell makes Remmick a memorable villain. Li is a scene stealer as Grace, who proves to be a powerhouse fighter when the going gets tough.
Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson (who has worked on all of Coogler’s movies so far) crafted a gripping and suspenseful score for “Sinners,” a movie that sometimes wanders but is consistently compelling. Also worth noting is Oscar-winning production designer Hannah Beachler’s excellent production design for “Sinners.” As for surprises, the movie has a mid-credits scene and an end-credits scene that are treats for people who love and appreciate blues music. (The mid-credits scene is essential to watch.) “Sinners” is destined to be a horror classic and is sue to inspire repeat viewings.
Warner Bros. Pictures will release “Sinners” in U.S. cinemas on April 18, 2025.
