Dominique Jackson and Tomás Matos in “Queens of the Dead”
“Queens of the Dead” (2025)
Directed by Tina Romero
Culture Representation: Taking place in New York City, the horror comedy film “Queens of the Dead” features a racially diverse cast of characters (white, African American, Latin and Asian) representing the working-class and middle-class.
Culture Clash: People fight to survive a zombie invasion during a warehouse nightclub hosting a show for drag queens.
Culture Audience: “Queens of the Dead” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of horror comedies and queer-oriented horror movies.
Dominique Jackson, Nina West, Tomás Matos, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Katy O’Brian and Jaquel Spivey in “Queens of the Dead” (Photo courtesy of Independent Film Company and Shudder)
“Queens of the Dead” serves up a campy mix of zombie horror and LGBTQ culture. In this sometimes-uneven comedy, a zombie invasion causes terror and sassy reads for people at a drag queen show in a warehouse. Tomás Matos gives a scene-stealing performance.
Directed by Tina Romero (who co-wrote the “Queens of the Dead” screenplay with Erin Judge), “Queens of the Dead” is Romero’s feature-film directorial debut. Romero happens to be the daughter of George A. Romero, who created the “Dead” zombie franchise that began with the 1968 classic “Night of the Living Dead” and includes 1978’s “Dawn of the Dead.” “Queens of the Dead” had its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, where the movie won the Audience Award for Narrative Features.
“Queens of the Dead” takes place over the course of a 24-hour period in New York City, where the movie was filmed on location. The opening scene shows an unnamed drag queen who’s listed in end credits as ZombiQueen (played by Julie J) going into an empty church and putting some money in a donation box. ZombiQueen glances at a statue of the Virgin Mary and says, “Sorry, girl. I know what it’s like to work for tips.”
ZombiQueen gets a text from a potential hookup date and goes in the church’s back office. Unbeknownst to ZombiQueen it will be her last day alive. A silver-bodied zombie attacks and bites ZombiQueen, who shows up later again in the story. It won’t be the last zombie attack.
Meanwhile, at a warehouse in New York City’s Brooklyn borough, preparations are under way for a drag queen show at a warehouse that has been converted into a nightclub. The show’s promoter is Dre (played by Katy O’Brian), who is also the venue manager. Dre is under a lot of stress because the star performer Yasmine (played by Dominique Jackson) has canceled her appearance to do a better-paying performance at a place called Glitter Bitch.
Dre’s wife Lizzy (played by Riki Lindhome) is a hospital nurse and has a co-worker nurse named Sam (played by Jaquel Spivey), who used to be a Beyoncé-inspired drag queen performer named Samoncé. Sam quit doing drag as Samoncé because his drag queen career was going nowhere. One of Lizzy’s patients is a transgender woman named Jane (played by Eve Lindley), who is in the hospital because she’s recovering from an OxyContin overdose.
Dre’s perky intern Kelsey (played by Jack Haven, the actor formerly known as Brigette Lundy-Paine) is helping as a stage manager and overall coordinator. Also working that night at the event is Lizzy’s very heterosexual brother Barry (played by Quincy Dunn-Baker), who is a security staffer/bouncer. Cheyenne Jackson has a supporting role as wryly observant bartender Jimmy, who is much older than most of the nightclub’s employees and patrons.
Because of Yasmine’s cancellation, Dre is thinking about having the nightclub’s androgynous dancers fill in on short notice. The egotistical leader of these dancers is Ginsey (played by Nina West), who wants her moment to shine. Nico (played by Matos) is a talkative go-go dancer who calls himself a Bushwick baby queen. Nico’s drag queen name is Scrumptious. Nico’s close friend is needy Jax (played by Samora la Perdida), who also works as a dancer.
Dre tells Lizzy about her predicament of not having a headlining performer for the show. Sam is recruited to bring his Samoncé persona out of retirement and replace Yasmine. Sam is reluctant to do so, but he likes Lizzy and wants to help Lizzy and Sam with this problem of getting a last-minute replacement. Meanwhile, Lizzy has a secret: She’s pregnant, which is something that she and Dre have wanted to happen for quite some time.
The zombie invasion doesn’t happen all at once but increases as more people get infected and become zombies. It reaches a point where the people inside the warehouse have to barricade themselves inside for safety. Lizzy, Jane and Yasmine end up being among those trapped in the warehouse. Margaret Cho has a hilarious cameo as Kelsey’s fiancée Pops, also known as Poppy, who has a hero complex. Pops makes an unforgettable entrance and exit.
The zombie kills aren’t particularly inventive but they’re not boring either. What sets “Queens of the Dead” apart from most other zombie flicks is how the characters react to the zombies. In true diva fashion, someone in “Queens of the Dead” is likely to make cutting remarks about a zombie’s decrepit appearance and shout out some makeover advice in the midst of a zombie attack.
Nico out-divas everyone with non-stop quips and head tosses that let the zombies know that the zombies aren’t the only ones who came to slay. Spivey (the Tony-nominated leading actor for “A Strange Loop” and a standout in 2024’s “Mean Girls” movie musical remake) also gives a memorable performance as lively Sam, who is not going to let a pesky zombie invasion prevent his comeback as Samoncé.
The visual effects and zombie makeup in “Queens of the Dead” are adequate for this low-budget film. The movie has jump scares and gore that are intended to make viewers laugh more than to make viewers truly frightened. Because most of “Queens of the Dead” takes place only in a few locations, the world is fairly insular in this zombie invasion. “Queens of the Dead” has jokes that occasionally fall flat, but overall it’s an entertaining romp of queer-friendly horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
UPDATE: Independent Film Company and Shudder will release “Queens of the Dead” in U.S. cinemas in 2025, on a date to be announced.
Culture Representation: Taking place in New York state, the dramatic film “Materialists” features a predominantly white cast of characters (with a few Latin people and one black person) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: A workaholic matchmaker has to decide between two suitors for herself: an attentive millionaire and her financially broke ex-boyfriend.
Culture Audience: “Materialists” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the movie’s headliners, filmmaker Celine Song and predictable romantic movies.
Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal in “Materialists” (Photo by Atsushi Nishijima/A24)
Good performances save “Materialists” from being a trite and unrealistic version of dating in New York City. People who are black, Asian, plus-sized or ugly are rarely seen in “Materialists.” The movie delivers if you want to see a romantic fantasy. “Materialists” is the type of movie that will appeal to fans of the HBO comedy series “Sex and the City” and New York City-based romantic movies from filmmakers Nancy Meyers, Nora Ephron and Woody Allen—no matter how flawed these on-screen stories are in misrepresenting and/or excluding much of the city’s diversity. “Materialists” takes place in the 2020s, but the movie copies from the template of popular romance-oriented movies and TV shows that were made from the 1980s to 2000s.
Written and directed by Celine Song, “Materialists” is a somewhat disappointing follow-up to her excellent 2023 feature-film directorial debut “Past Lives,” a semi-autobiographical drama for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. “Past Lives” was also Oscar-nominated for Best Picture. Just like in “Past Lives,” there’s a love triangle in “Materialists” that plays out in New York City. And just like in both movies, the female protagonist has to choose between passion and practicality, as represented by the two men who are rivals for her love. Don’t assume that the outcomes of both movies are similar.
“Materialists” begins in an unspecified time period, by showing an out-of-place scene of a caveman courting a cavewoman, by bringing her flowers and by giving her ring made out of a flower. A flower ring is shown much later in “Materialists,” in what’s supposed to be a nod to the movie’s opening scene. It’s the movie’s way of saying that love and courtship go back to the origin of the human species, but this beginning scene with the cavepeople just makes this message look forced and awkward.
In “Materialists” (which takes place in the mid-2020s), protagonist Lucy Mason (played by Dakota Johnson) is an ambitious workaholic matchmaker who works at Adore Matchmaking, a dating agency for affluent people. Lucy, who is in her mid-30s, is a never-married bachelorette with no children. She’s been so busy with her job, Lucy says she doesn’t have time for a love life. In the beginning of the movie, she describes herself as “voluntary celibate.”
In other words, Lucy is good at finding love for other people, but not so good at finding love for herself. She’s also good at giving emotional support to her clients, but she treats her matchmaking like a stockbroker treats the stock market. She even describes the dating scene as a “marketplace” and people as “investments.”
Not much else is revealed about Lucy except in her own words: She grew up poor, she had a “shitty family” with divorced parents, and if she gets married, the number-one requirement is that her husband has to be filthy rich. She smokes cigarettes as if she thinks she’s in a Lauren Bacall movie. It should come as no surprise that Lucy used to be an aspiring actress, but she quit pursuing acting because she couldn’t find enough work as an actress to have the income that she wants.
This matchmaking job is the first job Lucy has had where she feels she can support herself in a middle-class lifestyle, although Lucy’s $80,000 annual salary is too low for someone who’s supposedly the star employee at this New York City matchmaking agency for affluent people. Lucy is completely estranged from her family—it’s hinted that this estrangement was her choice—but the movie gives no details about what caused Lucy to want to cut herself off from her family.
As Lucy says in the movie, being poor or financially unstable for most of her life has fueled her goal to eventually marry a rich man. When she talks about any future husband she might have, she only talks about materialistic or surface-level things that she wants him to have. Of course, in a movie like “Materialists,” you know from the way that Lucy blathers on about wealth and net worth for any potential suitors for her and her clients, you can tell deep down, Lucy just wants a good old-fashioned (stereotypical) romance for herself.
“Materialists” is partially inspired by Song’s real-life past experience as a matchmaker at a dating agency for affluent people. But if you believe everything that’s in “Materialists,” you’d have to believe that these types of dating agencies in New York City mostly have young, physically attractive women as matchmakers, the women are all slender, and they all act like sorority sisters who giggle and go from room to room in a pack. You’d also have to believe that almost all women want or should want to get married as a life goal.
Lucy is depicted as the agency’s most successful matchmaker, who is both admired and envied by her colleagues. She keeps herself at just enough of an emotional distance not to have any close friends in her co-worker group. Lucy’s boss Violet (played by Marin Ireland) only cares about Lucy in terms of Lucy’s ability to make money for the company.
You’d also have to believe that clients of elite matchmaker agencies in New York City are all in their 20s, 30s or 40s, and they set shallow and often-unrealistic goals for what they want in a potential lover or spouse. Several montages in “Materialists” show very irritating conversations where clients list their demands and requirements, as if they’re ordering items off of a menu or looking to fill a job position. A big part of Lucy’s job is to not give harsh criticism to her clients but also manage her clients’ expectations.
What all the male clients have in common is that they only want women who are thin, pretty and in their 20s. What the female clients have in common is they want men who are tall, good-looking and rich. (The only exception is a black lesbian/queer woman, who’s in the movie for less than a minute in a very token role.) As it stands, “Materialists” makes almost all of the workers and clients in the New York City matchmaking business look like vain caricatures who are too self-absorbed to notice their hollow personalities.
“Materialists” isn’t a comedy, so none of these extreme stereotypes can really be counted as satire. Some of it is uncomfortable to watch, like you’re watching filmmakers say they despise what “Sex and the City” represents and they want to make something more “elevated,” but they secretly want to live like the characters in “Sex and the City.” There is so much “Sex and the City” influence in “Materialists,” the writers of “Sex and the City” deserve a thank you credit in “Materialists.”
Lucy often has to listen with sympathetic patience when her clients are whiny, rude or neurotic. She gives advice, but it’s always advice with an agenda: Lucy doesn’t want the client to do anything that will make Lucy look like a bad matchmaker. Because so much of Lucy’s life revolves around her job, her self-esteem is very tied up in her reputation as a matchmaker.
There’s a wedding scene where the bride is a matchmaker client named Charlotte (played by Louisa Jacobson), who has a crying meltdown in a private room because she’s having doubts about getting married just minutes before the ceremony is about to start. Lucy says all the right things to make Charlotte secure enough with the decision to have the wedding as planned. Coincidence or not, the “Sex and the City” bachelorette character who was the most desperate and most insecure about getting married is also named Charlotte.
At the wedding reception, Lucy meets the groom’s bachelor brother Harry Castillo (played by Pedro Pascal), a multimillionaire financier who’s about 15 years older than Lucy. Harry introduces himself to Lucy and “checks all the boxes” of what Lucy and many of her female clients want in a potential husband: He’s good-looking, tall, rich, polite, intelligent, attentive and very romantic. Harry also comes from a close-knit and loving family. Harry works for his mother’s financial company, although that situation might be a turnoff to some potential romantic partners who think that this mother/son business relationship is too close for comfort.
Predictably, Harry is immediately smitten with Lucy and starts flirting with her when they’re at the same table. And just look who happens to be their table server at the wedding: Lucy’s ex-boyfriend John (played by Chris Evans), who works for the catering company that was hired for the wedding. John is also single, available, and has no children. Being a catering employee is just a way for John to pay his bills. What John really wants to do with his life is be a professional actor. He hasn’t had much luck and is still struggling to find steady work as an actor.
In the meantime, 37-year-old John is financially broke, he lives in a cramped apartment with two roommates whom he doesn’t like very much, and he’s still not over his breakup from Lucy, who dumped him several years ago because she got tired of John not being able to afford to give her what she wants. When John and Lucy see each other at this wedding, there’s still tension between them. It’s the type of tension that signals unresolved feelings for each other. You know where all of this is going, of course.
“Materialists” has scenes that sometimes overflow with pretentious dialogue, but other scenes have genuine zest, are touching, or ring true. The movie looks glamorous, but the romantic scenes needed more sizzle. In “Materialists,” people talk about love more than they show love. A minimal amount of information is given about Lucy’s personal background, but even less is told about John, who doesn’t have any close friends or family members in his life for emotional support. It’s briefly mentioned that John—just like Lucy—comes from a working-class family with divorced parents.
An “unlucky in love” client of Lucy’s named Sophie (played by Zoë Winters) has a subplot in “Materialists” that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, but this subplot is sometimes clumsily handled in the movie, even though Winters gives a standout performance. It’s mentioned more than once that Lucy considers Sophie to be a special client because Lucy feels more emotionally invested in Sophie than Lucy feels for most of Lucy’s other clients. But the movie keeps it vague on what this emotional attachment really means for Lucy, who has no friends outside of her job.
Johnson portrays Lucy as someone who is a mess of contradictions: Lucy is soft-spoken, but her attitude is often hard and cynical. She’s sometimes arrogant but sometimes self-loathing. Lucy frequently tells people that she’s an uncompromising gold digger but her romantic interest in John says otherwise. And it’s pretty sad that Lucy thinks she’s too old for Harry because she thinks all rich heterosexual bachelors over the age of 40 only want girlfriends in their 20s. An experienced matchmaker in real life would know that stereotype isn’t always true.
Whether or not you’re fully rooting for Lucy when watching “Materialists” will depend on how much you like Johnson’s performance. Lucy is supposed to be a jaded social climber, but Johnson plays Lucy as a little too calm and mellow for someone with Lucy’s burning ambitions. One of the movie’s biggest shortcomings is that not enough is told or shown about Lucy’s other past relationships to give a better picture of who she really is as a romantic partner and what patterns or habits she seems to have when it comes to choosing a romantic partner.
“Materialists” has a few flashbacks to what Lucy and John were like when they were a couple. They frequently argued over money. If you have enough life experience or know anything about couples’ psychology, these flashbacks won’t make you feel good about the chances of Lucy and John staying together if they reunite and start dating each other again.
John still has the same financial issues and still feels “stuck” in his life, which is why Lucy broke up with him in the first place. John says to Lucy that he sees himself having kids who look like Lucy, but “Materialists” never reveals if Lucy wants to have kids. It’s an example of a few disconnects that don’t make “Materialists” entirely convincing that Lucy and John could be “soul mates” who are right for each other.
Evans has played this type of sarcastic underachiever many times before in other movies about romance where the female main character is supposed to fall for his character’s rouge-ish charm. And there’s nothing wrong with Evans’ performance, but he’s not doing anything that’s truly unique or special in this movie. Pascal doesn’t have much to work with for the Harry character, who’s supposed to be the “perfect catch” for many bachelorettes. Harry’s only noticeable flaw is that Harry tells little lies about himself to impress Lucy.
“Materialists” is a mixed bag of a film. It’s escapist and fluffy entertainment pretending to be an insightful and clever look at 2020s romance. The truth is that “Materialists” isn’t complex or innovative because it follows the same formulas of other love triangle movies that are told from the perspective of a female protagonist. You know exactly what the end result will be, but the journey getting there in “Materialists” is uneven because it’s sometimes enjoyable and sometimes annoying.
Team members from “Maybe Happy Ending” at the 78th annual Tony Awards at Radio Cty Musical Hall in New York City on June 8, 2025. (Photo by Michele Crowe/CBS )
With six prizes, including Best Musical, Maybe Happy Ending” was the top winner at the 78th annual Tony Awards, which were presented on June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Cynthia Erivo hosted the show, which was televised in the U.S. on CBS and livestreamed on Paramount+ With Showtime.
“Maybe Happy Ending,” “Death Becomes Her” and “Buena Vista Social Club” each had the most nominations (10 nods) going into the ceremony. The other Tony Awards won by “Maybe Happy Ending” were Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (for Daren Criss); Best Direction of a Musical; Best Book of a Musical; Best Scenic Design of a Musical; and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre. “Purpose” won the Tony Award for Best Play and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play (for Kara Young).
“Buena Vista Social Club” won four Tonys: Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play (for Natalie Venetia Belcon); Best Sound Design of a Musical; Best Choreography; and Best Orchestrations. “Sunset Boulevard” received three Tonys: Best Revival of a Musical; Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (for Nicole Scherzinger); and Best Lighting Design of a Musical. “Death Becomes Her” won Best Costume Design of a Musical.
“The Picture of Dorian Gray” received two Tony Awards: Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play (for Sarah Snook) and Best Costume Design of a Play. “Oh, Mary!” also won two Tony Awards: Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play (for Cole Escola, who is non-binary) and Best Direction of a Play. The 2024-2025 Broadway revival of “Gypsy” was nominated for five Tonys but ultimately did not win any.
One of the show’s highlights was a reunion of the original principal cast members of the Tony-winning smash musical “Hamilton,” who performed a medley of “Hamilton” songs. Participants in the reunion were Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo Renée Elise Goldsberry, Daveed Diggs, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Anthony Ramos, Jonathan Groff and Ariana DeBose.
Other performers at the show included Megan Hilty from “Death Becomes Her”; Jonathan Groff from “Just in Time”; Scherzinger from “Sunset Boulevard”; Criss and Helen J. Shen from “Maybe Happy Ending”; Audra McDonald from “Gypsy”; and the ensembles of “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Pirates! The Penzance Musical,” “Floyd Collins,” “Dead Outlaw,” “Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical” and “Born to Lead.” Erivo sang three times during the show: the opening number “Sometimes All You Need Is a Song”; a duet of “Tomorrow” with Sara Bareilles for the In Memoriam segment; and the closing number “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.”
Presenters at the show were Erivo, DeBose, Aaron Tveit, Adam Lambert, Alex Winter, Allison Janney, Auliʻi Cravalho, Ben Stiller, Bryan Cranston, Carrie Preston, Cecily Strong, Charli D’Amelio, Danielle Brooks, Jean Smart, Jesse Eisenberg, Katie Holmes, Keanu Reeves, Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Lea Michele, Lea Salonga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michelle Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Rachel Bay Jones, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Samuel L. Jackson, Sara Bareilles and Sarah Paulson. Brian Stokes Mitchell was the show announcer.
The Tony Awards eligibility dates for the 2024–2025 Broadway season were April 29, 2024 to April 27, 2025. According to a Tony Awards press release: “The nominees were selected by an independent committee of 54 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. The 2025 Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.”
The Tony Awards telecast is produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, and White Cherry Entertainment. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are executive producers and showrunners for White Cherry Entertainment. Weiss will served as director of the ceremony’s telecast
Special Tony Awards (non-competitive prizes) were presented to:
The musicians who make up the band of “Buena Vista Social Club” – Marco Paguia (Music Director, Conductor/Piano); David Oquendo (Associate Music Director, Guitar); Renesito Avich (Tres); Gustavo Schartz (Bass); Javier Días, Román Diaz, Mauricio Herrera (Percussion); Jesus Ricardo (Trumpet); Eddie Venegas (Trombone); Hery Paz (Woodwinds); Leonardo Reyna (Piano);
The Illusions & Technical Effects of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” (Jamie Harrison, Chris Fisher, Gary Beestone & Edward Pierce).
The 2025 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre went to Great Performances, Michael Price, New 42, and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award was given to Celia Keenan-Bolger. The Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre went to Harvey Fierstein.
The following is the complete list of nominees and winners for the 2025 Tony Awards:
*=winner
Best Book of a Musical
Buena Vista Social Club, Marco Ramirez
Dead Outlaw, Itamar Moses
Death Becomes Her, Marco Pennette
Maybe Happy Ending, Will Aronson and Hue Park*
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Dead Outlaw, Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Death Becomes Her, Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey*
Maybe Happy Ending, Music: Will Aronson; Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!*
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face
Harry Lennix, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray*
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending*
Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw
Tom Francis, Sunset Blvd.
Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.*
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Glenn Davis, Purpose
Gabriel Ebert, John Proctor is the Villain
Francis Jue, Yellow Face*
Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross
Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Tala Ashe, English
Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day
Marjan Neshat, English
Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain
Kara Young, Purpose*
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas, SMASH
Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw
Danny Burstein, Gypsy
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical*
Taylor Trensch, Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club*
Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw
Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time
Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical
Joy Woods, Gypsy
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Marsha Ginsberg, English
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Marg Horwell and David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Miriam Buether and 59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow*
Scott Pask, Good Night, and Good Luck
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Rachel Hauck, Swept Away
Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, Maybe Happy Ending*
Arnulfo Maldonado, Buena Vista Social Club
Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her
Derek McLane, Just in Time
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brenda Abbandandolo, Good Night, and Good Luck
Marg Horwell, The Picture of Dorian Gray*
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Holly Pierson, Oh, Mary!
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club
Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical
Clint Ramos, Maybe Happy Ending
Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her*
Catherine Zuber, Just in Time
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California
Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow*
Heather Gilbert and David Bengali, Good Night, and Good Luck
Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski, John Proctor is the Villain
Nick Schlieper, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Jack Knowles, Sunset Blvd.*
Tyler Micoleau, Buena Vista Social Club
Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun, Floyd Collins
Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her
Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow*
Palmer Hefferan, John Proctor is the Villain
Daniel Kluger, Good Night, and Good Luck
Nick Powell, The Hills of California
Clemence Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans, Buena Vista Social Club*
Adam Fisher, Sunset Blvd.
Peter Hylenski, Just in Time
Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending
Dan Moses Schreier, Floyd Collins
Best Direction of a Play
Knud Adams, English
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary!*
Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain
Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Direction of a Musical
Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club
Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending*
David Cromer, Dead Outlaw
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Blvd.
Best Choreography
Joshua Bergasse, SMASH
Camille A. Brown, Gypsy
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical
Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club*
Best Orchestrations
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time
Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending
Bruce Coughlin, Floyd Collins
Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club*
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sunset Blvd.
Best Play
English Author: Sanaz Toossi Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter, Atlantic Theater Company
The Hills of California Author: Jez Butterworth Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, No Guarantees Productions, Neal Street Productions, Brian Spector, Sand & Snow Entertainment, Stephanie P. McClelland, Barry Diller, Reade St. Productions, Van Dean, Andrew Paradis/We R Broadway Artists Alliance, Patty Baker, Wendy Bingham Cox, Bob Boyett, Butcher Brothers, Caitlin Clements, Kallish Weinstein Creative, Michael Scott, Steven Toll & Randy Jones Toll, City Cowboy Productions/Jamie deRoy, JKVL Productions/Padgett Ross Productions, Koenigsberg Riley/Tulchin Bartner Productions, Todd B. Rubin/Carlos Medina, Silly Bears Productions/Omara Productions, Michael Wolk/Cali e Amici, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings
John Proctor is the Villain
Author: Kimberly Belflower
Producers: Sue Wagner, John Johnson, John Mara, Jr., Runyonland, Eric Falkenstein, Jillian Robbins, Jen Hoguet, Rialto Productions, Corets Gough Kench Cohen, The Shubert Organization, James L. Nederlander, John Gore Organization, Patty Baker, Cue to Cue Productions, Echo Lake Entertainment, Harris Rubin Productions, Klausner & Zell, Jennifer Kroman, Mickey Liddell & Pete Shilaimon, Mahnster Productions, Nathan Winoto, The Cohn Sisters & Stifelman-Burkhardt, Astro Lab Productions, Creative Partners Productions, Sarah Daniels & Christopher Barrett, Frimmer & Benmosche, Joan Rechnitz, Melissa Chamberlain & Michael McCartney, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, McCaffrey & Demar, Alan & Peggy Mendelson, Newport & Smerigan, Jamie deRoy, Jaime Gleicher, Wes Grantom, Meena Harris & Jessica Foung, Los Angeles Media Fund, Corey Steinfast, SunnySpot & Valentine, Turchin Clements, Jane Bergère & Douglas Denoff, Amy Wen & Meister Leonard, 7th Inning Stretch & Stella La Rue, Indie Slingshot, Annaleise Loxton
Oh, Mary! Author: Cole Escola Producers: Kevin McCollum & Lucas McMahon, Mike Lavoie & Carlee Briglia, Bob Boyett, The Council, Jean Doumanian Productions, Nicole Eisenberg, Jay Marcus & George Strus, Irony Point, Richard Batchelder/Bradley Reynolds, Tyler Mount/Tommy Doyle, Nelson & Tao, Palomares & Rosenberg, ShowTown Productions
Purpose*
Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins*
Producers: David Stone, Debra Martin Chase, Marc Platt, LaChanze, Rashad V. Chambers, Aaron Glick, Universal Theatrical Group, Eastern Standard Time, Trate Productions, Nancy Nagel Gibbs, James L. Nederlander, John Gore, ATG Entertainment, The Shubert Organization, Steppenwolf Theatre Company*
Best Musical
Buena Vista Social Club Producers: Orin Wolf, John Styles, Jr., Barbara Broccoli, Atlantic Theater Company, Viajes Miranda, LaChanze, David Yazbek, John Leguizamo, David F. Schwartz, Zak Kilberg, J. Todd Harris, Cabo Productions, Roy Furman, Hannah Rosenthal, Jamie deRoy/Marvin Rosen, Grove • REG & Frank Marshall, F.K.R.J. Productions, Patrick Milling-Smith/Brian Carmody, DJ Stage Productions, Palitz Wiesenfeld Productions, Richard & Roberta Shaker, Front Row Productions, Cathy Dantchik, Brooke & Brian Devine, Gilad Rogowsky, MacPac Entertainment, No Guarantees Productions, Rhythm & Rain Productions, Hadley Schnuck, James Francis Trezza, Yonge Street Theatricals, Patrick Daly, Olympus Theatricals/Firemused Productions, Ioana Alfonso/Eric Stine, William Berlind/W.M. Klausner, Creative Endeavor Office/Untitled Theatricals, Ruth Hendel/The Kaplans, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra/Philip Van Dijk, Debbie Ohanian/Stone Arch Theatricals, Composite Capital Partners, Larry Levien, Matt Murphy, Marc Platt, Sandy Robertson, Iris Smith, Thomas Steven Perakos/Douglas A. Fellman, Brad Blume/The Klaes’, Ankit Agrawal/Constance Cincotta, Independent Presenters Network, Nick & Nicky Gold, HoriPro Inc., Playful Productions UK, The Shubert Organization, Frederick Zollo, John Gore Organization, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Marco Ramirez, Allan Williams
Dead Outlaw Producers: Lia Vollack Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions, Roy Furman, Ken & Janet Schur, Cue to Cue Productions, James Bolosh/Hillary Wyatt, Carl Moellenberg/Ricardo Hornos, Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg/H2H Concord Theatricals, Masquerade Partners, Douglas Denoff, John Gore Organization, GFour Productions, Brian Hedden, KFRJ Productions, Lang Entertainment Group, James L. Nederlander, Marvin Rosen, Stanely S. Shuman, James L. Walker, Jr., Winkler & Smalberg, 42nd.club/Aligned Theatricals, Craig Balsam/Richard Batchelder, Jane Bergère/Willette and Manny Klausner, The Broadway Investor’s Club/Eastern Standard Time, Barbara Chiodo/Adam Cohen, Merrie L. Davis/Tony Spinosa, Noah Eisenberg/Sue Drew, Robin Gorman Newman/Laurence Padgett Productions, LLPR Productions/Patinogal, Mary Maggio/Janet Rosen, Thomas Swayne, Lawryn LaCroix, Audible
Death Becomes Her Producers: Universal Theatrical Group, James L. Nederlander, Steven Spielberg & Kate Capshaw, Jason Blum & James Wan, Debra Martin Chase, John Gore Organization, Marc Platt, Lowe Cunningham, Marcia Goldberg
Maybe Happy Ending* Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Hunter Arnold, Darren Criss, Dr. Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, NHN Link Corporation, Greg & Lisa Love, Kayla Greenspan, Jayne Baron Sherman, Louise Gund, Spencer Ross, Yonge Street Theatricals, Ruth Hendel, Kaplan-Gopal-MMC, Adam Zotovich, At Rise Creative, Broadway Strategic Return Fund, Curt Cronin, Fahs Productions, Greg Field, Paul Gavriani/Michael Patrick, Rebecca Gold, Grace Street Creative Group, John Gore Organization, Willette & Manny Klausner, Kent Knudsen, James L. Nederlander, Salmira Productions, The Shubert Organization, Jacob Stuckelman & John Albert Harris, Wooran Foundation, You Should Smile More Productions, Mark and David Golub Productions, Diego Kolankowsky, Takonkiet Viravan, Brad Blume, Will Aronson & Hue Park, Hugo Six, Clarissa Cueva, Ali Daylami, Maia Kayla Glasman, Patrick W. Jones, Brandon J. Schwartz, Allan Williams
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Producers: Avalon, SpitLip, Jon Thoday, Richard Allen-Turner, Bryan McCaffrey, Walport Productions, LeftNoRing Productions, Barbara Chiodo, Feuille Dooley North Productions, The Shubert Organization, Ken Davenport, Steve & Paula Reynolds, Concord Theatricals, Byron Grote & Susan Miller, John Gore Organization, M. Kilburg Reedy, Sony Music Entertainment, You Should Smile More Productions, Tom Smedes & Peter Stern, Judith Ann Abrams Productions/The Broadway Investor’s Club, Lang Entertainment Group, Alli Folk/Evelyn Hoffman & Gregory Stern, Nick Flatto/Evan & Claudia Caplan Reynolds, Larry Hirschhorn & Ricardo Hornos/Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg, Independent Presenters Network/Lloyd Tichio Productions, Kendall Kellaway III/Megan Minutillo, Blume Johnson Rubin & Silver, Russell Citron, The Council, Jamie deRoy & Brian Rooney/Corey Brunish & Matthew P. Hui, Dodge Hall Productions, 42nd.club, IJB Productions, Mickey Liddell & Pete Shilaimon, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Simon, Mark Weinstein, Adam Cohen/Nick Padgett, Vibecke Dahle Dellapolla/Lynnette Barkley, Willette & Manny Klausner/Elizabeth Faulkner Salem, Michael Page/Burnt Umber Productions, Wallace-Phoebe/Laurie Oki & Alexander Oki, Margot Astrachan/TT Partners, Andrew Fell
Best Revival of a Play
Eureka Day*
Author: Jonathan Spector*
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings*
Romeo + Juliet
Producers: Seaview, Harbor Entertainment, Kevin Ryan, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Roth-Manella Productions, Kate Cannova, J + J Productions, Julie Boardman, Alexander-Taylor Deignan, Atekwana Hutton, Bensmihen Mann Productions, Patrick Catullo, Chutzpah Productions, Corets Gough Willman Productions, Dave Johnson Productions, DJD Productions, Hornos Moellenberg, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Mark Gordon Pictures, Oren Michels, No Guarantees Productions, Nothing Ventured Productions, Strus Lynch, Sunset Cruz Productions, Dennis Trunfio, Stephen C. Byrd, Fourth Wall Theatricals, Level Forward, Soto Productions, WMKlausner
Thornton Wilder’s Our Town Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Samsational Entertainment, Louise Gund, Eric Falkenstein, Suzanne Grant, Patty Baker, Daryl Roth/Tom Tuft, Ronald Frankel, Rebecca Gold, Gabrielle Palitz, Brunish-Rooney-Hui/Laura Little, Thom and Karen Lauzon, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Score 3 Partners, Secret Hideout, David S. Stone, Craig Balsam, John Gore Organization, Caiola Productions, Concord Theatricals, Melissa & Bradford Coolidge, Irene Gandy, Kenny Leon, Willette & Manny Klausner, Andrew Marderian-Davis, Ellen Susman, Leslie Rainbolt, Randy Jones Toll & Steven Toll, James S. Levine, Hank & Kara Steinberg, Alexander “Sandy” Marshall, Ken & Rande Greiner/David Schwartz & Trudy Zohn, Patrick W. Jones, Maia Kayla Glasman, Brandon J. Schwartz, The Shubert Organization
Yellow Face Author: David Henry Hwang Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter
Best Revival of a Musical
Floyd Collins Book/Additional Lyrics: Tina Landau Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Adam Siegel, Naomi Grabel, Ira Weitzman, Creative Partners Productions, Mark Cortale & Charles D. Urstadt
Gypsy Producers: Tom Kirdahy, Mara Isaacs, Kevin Ryan, Diane Scott Carter, Wendy Federman & Heni Koenigsberg, Roy Furman, Viajes Miranda, Kerry Washington, Peter May, Thomas M. Neff, Cynthia J. Tong, Adam Hyndman, A Perfect Team Productions, Cue to Cue Productions, Da Silva Stone, DMQR Productions, Grant Spark Productions, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, KarmaHendelMcCabe, James L. Nederlander, Janet and Marvin Rosen, Archer Entertainment, Dale Franzen, 42nd.club, Rob Acton, All That JJAS, Mike Audet, Patty Baker, Cohen Soto, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Crumhale Taylor Productions, Ken Davenport, DJD Productions, Flipswitch Entertainment, Frankly Spoken Productions, Roy Gabay, Happy Recap Productions, Sandra and Howard Hoffen, John Gore Organization, Johnson Maggio Productions, Willette and Manny Klausner, Kors Le Pere Theatricals, LaCroix Eisenberg, David Lai, Little Lamb Productions, Bill and Sally Martin, Mohari Media, No Guarantees Productions, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra and Stephen Della Pietra, Regian Davison, Lamar Richardson, Patti and Michael Roberts, RTK Rose, Score 3 Partners, Silva Theatrical Group, Some People, Stone Arch Theatricals, Storyboard Entertainment LE, Mary and Jay Sullivan, The Adams Hendel Group, The Array VI, The Broadway Investor’s Club, Theatre Producers of Color, Tom Tuft, TreAmici Gooding, Waiting in the Wings Productions, Whitney Williams, Sara Beth Zivitz, Jamila Ponton Bragg, The Industry Standard Group
Pirates! The Penzance Musical Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter, James L. Nederlander, Fran and Paul Turner, ATG Productions/Gavin Kalin Productions
Sunset Blvd.* Producers: The Jamie Lloyd Company, ATG Productions, Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, Christopher Ketner, Aleri Entertainment, Sonia Friedman, Roth-Manella Productions, Winkler Smalberg, Caitlin Clements, 42nd.club, Abrams Johnson, Aron on Broadway, The Array V, At Rise Creative, Bad Robot Live, Craig Balsam, Greg Berlanti, Boardman Cannova Productions, Bob Boyett, Burnt Umber Productions, Patrick Catullo, Crane McGill Trunfio, Core Four Productions, Nicole Eisenberg, The Factor Gavin Partnership, Federman Jenen Koenigsberg, Forshaw Turchin, John Gore, Jake Hine, LAMF Secret Hideout, Jack Lane, Lang Entertainment Group, Lelli Armstrong, Alex Levy, Luftig Reade St. Kawana, Mary Maggio, Jay Marcus, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, No Guarantees Productions, P3 Productions, Thomas Steven Perakos, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra, Shari Redstone, Regian Davison Buckman, Sand & Snow Entertainment, SBK Productions, The Shubert Organization, Smedes Stern
Ming Na Wen, Wyatt Oleff, Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Jackie Chan and Sadie Stanley in “Karate Kid: Legends” (Photo by Jonathan Wenk/Columbia Pictures)
Culture Representation: Taking place in New York City (and briefly in China and California), the action film “Karate Kid: Legends” features an Asian and white cast of characters representing the working-class and middle-class.
Culture Clash: A teenage boy who has recently moved from Beijing to New York City gets involved in various fight trainings (karate, kung fu and boxing) and he enters a local karate contest, where he faces off against his love interest’s ex-boyfriend.
Culture Audience: “Karate Kid: Legends” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the movie’s headliners, the “Karate Kid” franchise and action movies that are throwbacks to 1980s teen-oriented films.
Ben Wang in “Karate Kid: Legends” (Photo by Jonathan Wenk/Columbia Pictures)
“Karate Kid: Legends” crams in stories about kung fu, boxing and karate, to mixed results. It’s sometimes unfocused but gets by on the cast’s appealing performances. It’s not like “Cobra Kai.” It’s a tribute to 1980s-styled filmmaking.
Directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Ron Lieber, “Karate Kid: Legends” isn’t really a sequel as much as it’s a continuation of the “Karate Kid” franchise. Viewers don’t have to see any of the previous “Karate Kids” movies (which began with 1984’s “The Karate Kid”) or the TV series “Cobra Kai” (a “Karate Kid” spinoff show) to understand what’s going on in “Karate Kid: Legends.”
“Karate Kid: Legends” follows a familiar formula of teenage “underdog” sports movies, where the protagonist is usually an “outsider” who has to overcome self-doubt, pessimistic skeptics and/or physical challenges, all leading to an inevitable showdown with an opponent, who is usually a bully. What might surprise a lot of viewers of “Karate Kid: Legends” is how karate doesn’t get the majority of the fight screen time in the movie. Karate gets about 40% of the fight screen time, and it’s mostly toward the end of the film.
“Karate Kid: Legends” begins in Beijing, China, where Li Fong (played by Ben Wang) lives with his single mother, who is a medical doctor. Her first name is not mentioned in the movie. Li’s father is not seen or mentioned in the film. Li (who is about 16 or 17 years old) is a good guy who is struggling with remorse and guilt over something tragic that happened in his past. This tragedy is eventually revealed in flashbacks.
Dr. Fong (played by Ming Na Wen) is very much against Li’s passion for kung fu and has forbidden him to participate in any form of fighting. Li has gone against those wishes and has been secretly training with Han Shifu (played by Jackie Chan), also known as Mr. Han, at Han Academy. Li’s mother inevitably finds out but she doesn’t punish Li because she breaks some news to him that he finds even more upsetting: She has accepted a hospital job in New York City, so she and Li have to move there.
In New York City, Li doesn’t have too many problems adjusting to the different culture because when he was younger, he went to an American school in Hong Kong. However, at school, he’s somewhat of a quiet loner. Li’s first friend in his new school is nerdy Alan Fetterman (played by Wyatt Oleff), who becomes his calculus tutor.
One the first evening that Li and his mother have settled into their new apartment, Li goes to a local pizza place called Victory Pizza and asks if they have stuffed-crust pizza. Victor Lipani (played by Joshua Jackson), the owner and manager of Victory Pizza, scoffs at this request. He tells Li that they don’t have stuffed-crust pizza and says Li should go across the river to New Jersey to find that type of pizza.
Victor’s teenage daughter Mia Lipani (played by Sadie Stanley), who’s about the same age as Li, works at Victory Pizza and tries to make up for her father’s rudeness by politely taking Li’s request for another type of pizza. Within seconds, you know that Mia will become Li’s love interest by the way that he looks at her. Mia seems immediately attracted to Li too, but she plays hard to get. Mia lives with Victor, who is raising her as a single father. It’s implied but never stated out loud that Mia’s mother is deceased.
Mia and Li develop a friendly and flirtatious rapport. Li offers to teach Mia some Mandarin so she can converse better with the local Chinese merchants who sell her things that she needs for the pizza place. In exchange, Mia agrees to show Li around New York City. Li and Mia start hanging out together as platonic friends.
However, Li is bothered that Mia doesn’t seem to be completely over her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Conor (played by Aramis Knight), who is a local karate champion. Conor is an arrogant bully who’s a fairly two-dimensional villain in the story. It’s implied that Conor was abusive to Mia, but she doesn’t come right out and admit it. She will only tell Li that Conor is a mistake that she knows is bad for her, but she keeps making the mistake because there’s comfort in familarity.
Nothing else is revealed about Conor and his life except that he’s a violent jerk, he hangs out with other hoodlums, and Conor wants to get back together with Mia. Conor has a limited number of facial expressions in this movie: stoic, smirking and snarling. Predictably, when Conor sees that Mia is spending time with Li, Conor gets very jealous. You can almost do a countdown to the inevitable scene where Conor picks a fight with Li and sucker punches him.
Conor hangs out at a gym run by a shady business owner named O’Shea (played by Tim Rozon), who is also Conor’s karate trainer. Mia tells Li to stay away from the gym because O’Shea is a bad guy. Mia also says that her father owes a lot of money to O’Shea, who has a group of thugs that you know will be doing some of his dirty work.
When some of these thugs beat up Victor one night on a street, Li happens to be there, and he defeats the thugs because of his kung fu skills. This altercation motivates Victor, who is a former boxer, to brush up on his fighting skills. Victor is impressed with Li’s kung fu skills and asks Li to help him with agility and speed training for boxing. Victor then decides to enter a local boxing match to possibly win money to pay off his debt to O’Shea.
Even though Li is forbidden by his mother to be involved in any fighting, Li reluctantly agrees to help Victor. Li is also intrigued when he hears about a New York City karate contest called the 5 Boroughs Tournament, where the grand prize is $50,000. You know where all of this is going, of course. At some point in the movie, Mr. Han shows up in New York City, and he gets Daniel LaRusso (from “The Karate Kid,” “The Karate Kid 2” and “Cobra Kai”) to come from California to New York City to train Li in karate.
“Karate Kid: Legends” is utterly predictable. However, Wang gives a winning performance as Li, who treats people with respect and struggles with his imperfections and insecurities. Li is obedient up until a point when he decides what he wants to do with his life, regardless of what a parent or other authority figure expects him to do. In that regard, “Karate Kid: Legends” successfully taps into the teenage spirit of the “Karate Kid” movies. “Karate Kid: Legends” uses a lot of 1980s-styled captions and graphics throughout the film.
The “Karate Kid: Legends” cast members, who are convincing but not outstanding in their roles, have very good chemistry together. Macchio and Chan don’t do anything new with their respective characters, who have been in other “Karate Kid” movies. The scenes of Daniel and Mr. Han are amusing because these two training masters sometimes clash over how to train Li. (At the end of “Karate Kid: Legends,” there’s also a quick comedic cameo from another well-known “Karate Kid”/”Cobra Kai” cast member.)
The character of Dr. Fong is very underdeveloped. It’s implied that she’s very busy with her job, which is why she’s barely around to supervise what Li does in his free time. The most divisive part of “Karate Kids: Legends” will probably have to do with the boxing storyline, which didn’t really need to be in the movie, although Jackson gives a perfectly adequate performance as Victor, who is a devoted and caring father to Mia.
There’s also a small tribute to original “Karate Kid” trainer Mr. Miyagi (played by Pat Morita, who died in 2005), when it’s mentioned that Mr. Han and Mr. Miyagi knew each other. The action sequences in “Karate Kids: Legends” are thrilling, but not very suspenseful because this is the type of movie where you know how the movie will end before it even starts. “Karate Kid: Legends” won’t be considered a classic, but it serves its purpose to be likable and satisfactory entertainment.
Columbia Pictures will release “Karate Kid: Legends” in U.S. cinemas on May 30, 2025.
Culture Representation: Taking place in Hawai’i and in outer space, the live-action/animated film “Lilo & Stitch” (a remake of the 2002 animated film) features a predominantly Pacific Islander cast of characters (with some white people and African Americans) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: A mischievious outer-space alien crash lands on Earth, where he is adopted by a 6-year-old girl and her guardian 18-year-old sister, while outer-space officials hunt for the alien to bring it back to captivity.
Culture Audience: “Lilo & Stitch” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the 2002 “Lilo & Stitch” movie, the movie’s headliners, and family-friendly entertainment that delivers a good mix of comedy and drama.
Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifianakis in “Lilo & Stitch” (Photo Zach Dougan/Disney Enterprises)
The good news is that “Lilo & Stitch” is a worthy remake of the 2002 animated film, with an ending that’s arguably better. The bad news is that the hunt for fugitive alien Stitch is worse than the original movie. That’s because the 2025 version of “Lilo & Stitch” clumsily adds a body-transformation aspect to the story’s two space-alien hunters that makes them impersonate buffoonish humans who just aren’t very funny. Fortunately, these two bozos are not the movie’s main characters. The main characters in 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch” are endearing, doing justice their counterparts in 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” while bringing their own admirable qualities to these characters.
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the 2025 version of “Lilo & Stitch” was written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. Camp received an Oscar nomination (Best Animated Feature Film) for directing and producing 2021’s “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” a quirky live-action/animation hybrid that he also co-wrote. Because the 2025 version of “Lilo & Stitch” is a remake of a Disney classic, there isn’t much room to be offbeat, but 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch” mostly strikes the right balance of energetic comedy and heartfelt drama. The movie also has perfect casting of the two sisters who are the main human characters of the story.
The 2025 version of “Lilo & Stitch” begins in the same way as the 2002 “Lilo & Stitch” movie: In outer space, on the fictional Planet Turo, a rogue scientist named Jumba (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) has gotten into trouble for inventing a creature through illegal experimentation. The male creature, which looks like a blue koala with antennae, is called Experiment 626, and will later be named Stitch when the creature lands on Earth and impersonates a dog. Chris Sanders, who co-directed and co-wrote 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” returns as the voice of Stitch/Experiment 626, a character that Sanders is credited with creating.
Jumba is facing punishment before a committee led by the Grand Councilwoman (voiced by Hannah Waddingham), the leader of the Galactic Federation. The Grand Councilwoman decides that Experiment 626 (who is hyper, mischievous and very intelligent) must be exiled on a desert asteroid. However, Experiment 626 causes havoc on the spaceship carrying him. The ship crashes instead on Earth, on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i. (The 2025 version of “Lilo & Stitch” was actually film on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu.)
A horrified Grand Councilwoman orders Jumba to retrieve Experiment 626 from Earth and send him to the original asteroid destination. Jumba admittedly doesn’t know much about Earth. But an eager law enforcement official named Agent Pleakley (voiced by Billy Magnussen), a self-proclaimed Earth expert, offers to accompany Jumba on this mission. Pleakley (who has a cheerful and goofy personality) explains that he’s been doing extensive research of Earth, which he and his colleagues have been using as a planet to repopulate mosquitos.
Grand Councilwoman allows Pleakley to go on this mission. Jumba, who is gruff and impatient, isn’t pleased about this situation because he’s somewhat of a loner who likes to be the “alpha male” of everything. Predictably, Jumba thinks Pleakely is annoying, and thier conflicts sometimes hinder their mission. It’s a familiar story formula of two beings with opposite personalities who are forced to work together for a common goal.
In the original “Lilo & Stitch,” Jumba and Pleakley kept their original alien bodies but were under strict orders not to reveal themselves to humans. Jumba and Pleakley had the ability to make themselves invisible. In the 2025 version of “Lilo & Stitch,” Jumba and Pleakley can still make themselves invisible, but this time, they decided to disguise themselves as humans, to make it easier to interact with people.
How do Jumba and Pleakley disguise themselves as humans? Jumba and Pleakley are at a Hawaiian airport and take photos of two male companion travelers (played by Galifianakis and Magnussen), who are outside of a terminal on their way to getting checked in for their flight. Jumba and Pleakley then use those photos to transform themselves into looking like these two human travelers. There’s some not-that-funny sitcom-ish slapstick where Jumba and Pleakley both have problems adjusting to walking and dressing like humans.
Meanwhile, the two main human characters of the story are introduced: Lilo (played by Maia Kealoha) is an energetic and curious 6-year-old girl, who lives with her bright but overwhelmed 18-year-old sister Nani (played by Sydney Elizebeth Agudong) in a modest Kaua’i house. Nani is Lilo’s guardian because their parents died in a car accident a few months ago. Nani has been juggling child-raising responsibilities with her job as a server at a resort restaurant called Jimmy’s Luau, which has live entertainment.
A new aspect to the story is Nani had plans to study marine biology at her first-choice college: the University of California at San Diego, where she had a full academic scholarship. But because Nani has to take care of Lilo, Nani has put her college plans on indefinite hold. Nani has to deal with a lot because Lilo has a tendency to get into trouble. Viewers have to assume that this story takes place during the summer because Lilo is never seen in school.
In both “Lilo & Stitch” movies, Lilo is treated like a weird outcast by her peers. Just like in both movies, an early scene shows Lilo is late for a hula dancing performance at the resort because she was busy feeding a sandwich to some fish in the sea. Lilo also says she can communicate with the fish. She gets teased about it by some “mean girls” in the group.
In both “Lilo & Stitch” movies, Lilo gets kicked out of the dance group because of a conflict with a “mean girl” in the group who insulted Lilo. In the 2002 “Lilo & Stitch.” Lilo punches the girl and gets in a brawl with her. The 2025 “Lilo & Stitch” tones down Lilo’s violence and just has Lilo pushing the mean girl off of the dance stage.
Nani is understanding but exasperated by Lilo’s rebellious antics. Lilo asks Nani, “Am I a bad person?” Nani replies, “No, but sometimes you do bad things.” Just like in both movies, the concept of ‘ohana (family) is repeated as “no one gets left behind.”
And just like in both movies, Lilo is lonely and wants a best friend. She loves animals and is a big fan of Elvis Presley’s music, which is played throughout the movie. The Presley songs include “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” Suspicious Minds,” “Stuck on You,” “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise” and a Bruno Mars cover version of “Burning Love.” Hawaiian music is also part of the movie’s soundtrack, including songs written for the movie (such as “He Lei Pāpahi No Lilo a me Stitch” and “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride”) and Hawaiian music classics, such as “Aloha ‘Oe” and “Henehene Kou ‘Aka.”
In both “Lilo & Stitch” movies, Nani’s guardianship of Lilo is under scrutiny by a social worker, who does home visits and is concerned about the sisters’ living situation and Nani’s ability to properly take care of Lilo. In the 2002 “Lilo & Stitch” movie, Tia Carrere was the voice of Nani. In the 2025 “Lilo & Stitch” movie, Carrere has the role of social worker Mrs. Kekoa, who is assigned to monitor Nani’s guardianship of Lilo.
Mrs. Kekoa’s first visit to the home is a disaster. The place is a mess. There’s not enough food in the refrigerator. And she finds out that Nani sometime leaves Lilo by herself, which is something that Nani lies about by denying it. Mrs. Kekoa tries to give Nani some leeway by telling Nani that Nani has three tasks to complete before Mrs. Kekoa’s next visit: (1) stock the fridge; (2) clean up the house; (3) and get health insurance for Nani and Lilo.
Later, Mrs. Kekoa is aided by a CIA operative named Cobra Bubbles (played by Courtney V. Vance), who is also looking for Experiment 626, but Cobra fools Mrs. Kekoa by going posing as the director of the social services agency. In the 2002 “Lilo & Stitch” movie, the Cobra Bubbles character (voiced by Ving Rhames) was much more menacing and imposing than the Cobra Bubbles in 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch.” Cobra was the only social services worker in 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” and his CIA identity was revealed much later in the movie.
It just so happens that on the night that Experiment 626 crash-landed on Earth, it looked like a falling star that Lilo and Nani could see from Lilo’s bedroom window. Just like in both movies, Lilo pushes Nani out of the room so that Lilo can be alone to wish on the falling star. Nani eavesdrops and sees that Lilo’s wish is to find a best friend who loves her unconditionally and will never abandon her.
It doesn’t take long for Experiment 626 to cause chaos on Earth. He crashes and runs all over a wedding reception, where people scream, fall down and hurt themselves when they see this creature. Experiment 626 is then taken by animal care control workers to a local animal rescue shelter called Na Me Ola, where he is put in the section for dogs.
Lilo’s introduction to Experiment 626 is slightly different in both movies, but the end results are the same. In 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” it’s Nani’s idea to bring Lilo to the shelter so that Lilo can find an animal friend. In 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch,” an elderly neighbor friend named Tūtū (played by Amy Hill) suggests that Lilo go to the animal shelter and accompanies Lilo to this visit. In 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” Hill had a different elderly woman role: Mrs. Hasagawa, the owner of a fruit stand.
Tūtū lives with her grandson David (played by Kaipo Dudoit), a surfer who has a crush on Nani, who is also an avid surfer. David asks Nani to go on surfing dates, but she politely turns down his invitations. It’s in contrast to 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” where Nani’s romance with David was already established. Jason Scott Lee was the voice of David in 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch.” In 2025s “Lilo & Stitch,” Lee portrays the manager of Jimmy’s Luau.
The workers at the animal shelter don’t know what type of animal Experiment 626 is, so they plan to have the creature stay at the shelter until some local scientists can take this creature for evaluation. Experiment 626 sees dogs and photos of dogs at the shelter, and he is intelligent enough to transform himself to look as much like and act as much like a dog as possible. That includes make his antennae and extra feet hide inside his body. In 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch” the other dogs are so frightened of Experiment 626, they hide on top of their cages. But in 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch,” the dogs in the shelter aren’t bothered by Experiment 626.
When Lilo meets Experiment 626, she’s immediately interested in him because he looks so different from other animals in the shelter. Even when she’s told that this animal is not up for adoption, Lilo insists that this is the pet that she wants. Just like in both movies, Experiment 626 sees a poster of a girl hugging a dog, so he hugs Lilo to ensure that she will want to adopt him. The tactic works.
Of course, once Experiment 626 is in Lilo’s home, it acts like an unruly dog. One day, while he’s in Nani’s truck with Nani and Lilo, Experiment 626 rips the upholstery on a car seat. Nani is annoyed and says that she’ll now have to get the seat stitched up. And that’s how Lilo gets the idea to name this pet Stitch.
The rest of “Lilo & Stitch” is delightful to watch when Lilo, Nani and Stitch are in the scenes. Kealoha and Agudong (who are both native Hawaiians) are completely believable as sisters. Agudong gives a likable and relatable performance, even though she looks like she’s in her mid-20s instead of the 18-year-old character she’s supposed to be.
And although Stitch is the cute creature of the movie, precocious Kealoha as Lilo is an equal star of the show. Kealoha has great comedic timing and performs convincingly in the dramatic scenes. “Lilo & Stitch” is Kealoha’s first movie. And it’s a very impressive debut for her. The rest of the human characters in the movie are serviceable or fairly bland.
Where 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch” falters is in showing Jumba and Pleakley’s pursuit of Stitch/Experiment 626. In the 2002 “Lilo & Stitch” movie, there was more suspense for this hunt because Jumba and Pleakley actually seemed to be dangerous. In the 2025 “Lilo & Stitch” movie, Jumba and Pleakley are just bickering clowns in cartoonish human form, wearing garish tourist clothing. Pleakley’s wardrobe choices are especially cringeworthy because he dresses like a 5-year-old boy and often acts like one.
The 2025 “Lilo & Stitch” movie also doesn’t seem to know how to deal with Jumba and Pleakley, whose hunt is so inept, it feels like the stakes are diminished because of how Jumba and Pleakley are presented as screw-ups in this version of “Lilo & Stitch.” The Cobra character is brought in the middle of the film and is more fatherly than scary. In other words, the villains in this movie needed act more like villains.
Despite these flaws, 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch” retains the warmth and playfulness of the 2002 movie. The live-action visuals are an obvious improvement from the 2-D animation of the 2002 version of “Lilo & Stitch.” Best of all, 2025’s “Lilo & Stitch” gives a more realistic view of the world from the perspectives of Lilo and Nani, particularly in how Nani’s guardianship of Lilo is handled. The movie gives an important lesson that life doesn’t always work out as originally planned but it can work out for what’s best at that particular time.
Walt Disney Pictures will release “Lilo & Stitch” in U.S. cinemas on May 23, 2025.
Culture Representation: Taking place in New York City and in New Jersey, the comedy/drama film “Things Like This” features a predominantly white cast of characters (with a few Latin people and African Americans) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: A struggling novelist and a frustrated talent agency assistant begin dating each other and have varying degrees of comfort and discomfort over their self-esteem and the level of commitment that they want for their relationship.
Culture Audience: “Things Like This” will appeal primarily to people who are interested in low-key romantic comedies/dramas from a gay male perspective.
Joey Pollari and Jackie Cruz in “Things Like This” (Photo courtesy of MPX Releasing)
“Things Like This” mixes cuteness and awkwardness in this romantic comedy/drama that uses stereotypical formulas but has realistic characters. The movie needed more finesse in acting and dialogue, but it’s generally charming. “Things Like This” benefits from having a talented cast members who are watchable, even when some of the dialogue is a little cringeworthy.
Written and directed by Max Talisman, “Things Like This” is his feature-film directorial debut. The movie was filmed on location in New York City and in New Jersey, where the story takes place. There have been too many romantic movies to count where two people are dating each other, one of them is reluctant to make a commitment and/or express true feelings, they have a major falling out, and then something happens that probably brings the couple back together.
“Things Like This” uses all of those clichés but what makes the movie rise above mediocrity is that Talisman has created unique characters who are memorable and come across as believable people, even when their dialogue and situations veer into a sitcom tone. The couple (two openly gay men) at the center of the story in “Things Like This” also have the unusual situation of having the same first name, which is somewhat of an effective running joke in the movie.
“Things Like This” begins by showing aspiring novelist Zack Anthony (played by Talisman) waking up in bed in his New York City apartment on the morning after a one-night-stand with Ben (played by James Leon), who makes it clear that he really doesn’t want to see Zack again. Zack asks in a somewhat needy tone, “Are you leaving? I was going to make us cookies.”
Ben says he’s on a diet. And then, Ben blurts out: “I don’t hate sex. I just hate having sex with you. You’re like Winnie the Pooh: adorable with a tummy and no pants on.” And that’s the last that Zack sees of Ben, who makes a quick exit from the apartment.
Zack is in his mid-to-late 20s. He feels “stuck” in life because he’s unemployed, his aspiring career as a novelist has stalled, and he often acts like a man-child. Zack is also self-conscious about his body size. He’s feels unworthy and cynical about finding true love. And even though Zack says he likes being gay because the gay men he meets are less likely to want to be in a committed relationship, you can tell that Zack is a romantic who wants to be in a committed relationship but hasn’t met the right person yet.
After this one-night-stand rejection, Zack gets some “tough love” talk from his best friend Kenny (played by Charlie Tahan), who has known Zack since their childhoods. Kenny has been paying Zack’s rent for a year, which is about the same period of time that Zack has said he expected it would take to get a book publishing deal. Kenny has gotten frustrated by what he thinks is Zack not putting enough effort into going after the things that Zack wants and deserves.
As they sit on a park bench together, Kenny bluntly comments about Zack’s “slacker” lifestyle: “You’ve turned into a complete degenerate. You dress like you’re in middle school.” Kenny also scolds Zack because nothing is happening in Zack’s aspirations to get Zack a publishing deal for Zack’s first novel: “Undeath in the Family,” a horror fantasy story about a family of father and a son who come from a long line of vampire hunters.
Meanwhile, another mid-to-late-20s gay man named Zack in New York City is also experiencing frustrations with his life for different reasons. Zack Mandel (played by Joey Pollari) has a job and a live-in boyfriend, but he feels unsatisfied with both of them. Of course, Zack Mandel’s life will change when he meets Zack Anthony.
For the past two years, Zack Mandel has been working as an administrative assistant to a demanding and rude agent named Margie Kitlin (played by Cara Buono), the owner of Kitlin & Co. talent agency for entertainers. Margie underappreciates Zack and never signs the people he recommends. Zack Mandel’s best friend/”work wife” is sassy Ava (played by scene stealer Jackie Cruz), an administrative assistant who is constantly giving pep talks to Zack, who is jaded and has a tendency to be pessimistic.
Zack Mandel’s boyfriend Eric (played by Taylor Trensch) is the type to make things for Zack to bring to work in a lunch sack, but in the beginning of the movie, Zack Mandel throws away what Eric gave him before Zack goes into the office. It’s later shown that Eric is very much in love with Zack, but the feeling isn’t mutual. Not much information is given on if Zack was ever in love with Eric, but it’s obvious that Zack now feels bored and stuck in this relationship.
Zack Anthony and Zack Mandel have their “meet cute” moment at an industry party that is a showcase for an aspiring singer named Lily Avalon (played by Mili Diaz), who is dating Kenny. Zack Anthony, Kenny, and their mutual friends Chloe (played by Margaret Berkowitz) Peter (played by Danny Chavarriaga), who are a dating couple, are at the party. Chloe is Zack Anthony’s other best friend, whom he confides to the most about his love life. Zack Mandel is at the party because he thinks Lily could be someone he could recommend to Margie to possibly sign as a client at the talent agency
Zack Mandel meets Zack Anthony at the bar when he sees that Zack Anthony is having a little argument with the bartender because Zack Anthony doesn’t have the money to pay for the drink that Zack Anthony ordered. Zack Mandel offers to pay for the drink. And when they introduce themselves to each other, the two Zacks have a laugh over having the same first name.
Even though romantic sparks are flying between Zack Mandel and Zack Anthony, Zack Mandel is up front in saying that he has a boyfriend. That doesn’t stop Zack Anthony from flirting and inviting Zack Mandel to a bar called Dingbat’s to buy him a drink as a thank you. Before they go on this date, Zack Mandel cruelly breaks up with Eric after saying no to Eric’s marriage proposal. Zack Mandel immediately moves out of the apartment he shares with Eric and stays in a hotel until Zack can find a new place to live.
One of the things that’s realistic about “Things Like This” is that the two people in this couple are very flawed in their own ways. Zack Anthony tends to be emotionally immature. Zack Mandel tends to be self-absorbed. Their first date has some uncomfortable moments, which is authentic to many first dates where people are trying to get to know one another.
Zack Anthony and Zack Mandel have similarities and differences in their personalities and personal backgrounds. Zack Anthony is more expressive and immediate with his emotions. Zack Mandel is more cautious and aloof with his emotions. In their love lives and in their careers, Zack Anthony is more of a risk taker. Zack Mandel would rather play it safe, even if he gets stuck in a situation that makes him unhappy. Both Zacks have creative sides and like a lot of the same music.
During their first date, the two Zacks also ask each other about their families. Zack Anthony, who is originally from a Philadelphia suburb, says that his parents divorced when he was young, and he has a younger half-brother (who are not seen in the movie), but Zack Anthony’s grandmother Portia Anthony (played by Barbara Barrie) makes a short appearance. Zack Mandel, who is originally from New Jersey, has some unresolved issues and a tense relationship with his affluent widower father Paul Mandel (played by Eric Roberts), a workaholic businessman who has never really accepted Zack’s sexual identity. Zack Mandel has a younger sister named Hannah Mandel (played by Romy Reiner), who’s in her last year of high school.
Without going into too many details in this review, the movie eventually reveals that the two Zacks find out that they have a shared history from when they both middle schoolers who went to the same Jewish summer camp. Pollari, Talisman and the rest of the cast members are believable in their roles, which makes it easier to take when some of the movie’s dialogue and situations get maudlin or corny. “Things Like This” has everything that you might expect in a romantic comedy/drama about two flawed cynics who fall in love with each other, with enough witty banter and engaging characters to keep things interesting.
MPX Releasing released “Things Like This” in select U.S. cinemas on May 16, 2025. The movie will be released on digital and VOD on June 10, 2025.
The 56th annual Costume Institute Gala, also known as the Met Gala, took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 5, 2025. The event’s theme in 2025 was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The Met Gala is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. This year, the Met Gala was co-chaired by actor Colman Domingo, race car driver Lewis Hamilton, rapper A$AP Rocky, music artist/fashion creative Pharrell Williams and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Anna Wintour. LeBron James served as the honorary chair. Here are photo and video highlights from the event.
[Editor’s Note: With 10 nominations each, “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Death Becomes Her” and “Maybe Happy Ending” have the most nominations for the 2025 Tony Awards.]
The following is a press release from the Tony Awards:
Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing’s 78th Annual Antoinette Perry Tony Awards® were announced by Tony Award winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce. The nominees were selected by an independent committee of 54 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. The 2025 Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. (The list of nominations follows.)
The 78th Annual Tony Awards will return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City next month. Hosted by Tony, Emmy, and GRAMMY Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards will broadcast LIVE to both coasts on Sunday, June 8, 2025 (8:00 – 11:00 PM ET/5:00 – 8:00 PM PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.*
CBS and Pluto TV will present The Tony Awards: Act One, a pre-show of live, exclusive content leading into the 78th Annual Tony Awards. Additional details will be available at a future date.
Legitimate theatrical productions opening in any of the 41 eligible Broadway theatres during the current season may be considered for Tony nominations. The 2024/2025 eligibility season began April 26, 2024 and ended April 27, 2025. The Tony Awards will be voted in 26 competitive categories by 840 designated Tony voters within the theatre community.
Special Tony Awards will be presented to:
The musicians who make up the band of Buena Vista Social Club – Marco Paguia (Music Director, Conductor/Piano); David Oquendo (Associate Music Director, Guitar); Renesito Avich (Tres); Gustavo Schartz (Bass); Javier Días, Román Diaz, Mauricio Herrera (Percussion); Jesus Ricardo (Trumpet); Eddie Venegas (Trombone); Hery Paz (Woodwinds); Leonardo Reyna (Piano);
The Illusions & Technical Effects of Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Jamie Harrison, Chris Fisher, Gary Beestone & Edward Pierce).
As previously announced, the 2025 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to Great Performances, Michael Price, New 42, and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award will be presented to Celia Keenan-Bolger. Harvey Fierstein will receive the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
The 2024-2025 Tony Award Nominating Committee consists of: Bob Balaban, Danielle Barlow, Rick Boynton, Brian Harlan Brooks, Dr. Jamie Cacciola-Price, Kevin Cahoon, Adam Chanler-Berat, Victoria Clark, Jordan E. Cooper, Dan Foster, Donald P. Gagnon, Ph.D., Deeksha Gaur, Linda Goodrich, Miranda Haymon, James Ijames, Michael R. Jackson, Christine Toy Johnson, Rosalie Joseph, Rod Kaats, Michael Korie, Kathy Landau, Andrea Lauer, Zhailon Levingston, Jose Llana, Peter Marks, Jess McLeod, Lisa McNulty, Ira Mont, Jacqueline Diane Moscou, Helen Park, Jessica Paz, Georgina Pazcoguin, Ralph B. Peña, Karen Perry, Nancy Piccione, Jill Rafson, Bill Rauch, T. Oliver Reid, Liam Robinson, Carole Rothman, Susan Sampliner, Dick Scanlan, Florie Seery, Rachel Sheinkin, Devario Simmons, Walt Spangler, Mark Stanley, Susan Soon He Stanton, Sam Strasfeld, Jason Tam, Reginald Van Lee, Alexandria Wailes, Ben Wexler, and David C. Woolard.
A limited number of tickets to the show are now on sale to the general public. Ticket prices begin at $595 for seats in the second and third mezzanines and are available for purchase at TonyAwards.com and Ticketmaster.com. There is a six ticket limit and all ticket sales are final (Ticketmaster services charges will apply).
The Tony Awards are produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, and White Cherry Entertainment. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are executive producers and showrunners for White Cherry Entertainment. Weiss will serve as director.
About the Tony Awards
The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Kristin Caskey is Chair and Jason Laks is President. At the American Theatre Wing, Emilio Sosa is Chair and Heather A. Hitchens is President & CEO.
Sponsors for the American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards include: City National Bank – the official bank of The Tony Awards; American Express – the official payments partner of The Tony Awards; Carnegie Mellon University – the first-ever, exclusive higher education partner; Baccarat – the official partner of the Tony Awards; Cunard – the official cruise partner of The Tony Awards; Dewar’s – the official scotch whisky of The Tony Awards; Rockefeller Center – the official home of the Tony Awards red carpet and events; Sofitel New York – the official hotel of The Tony Awards; Playbill; Rainbow Room – the official partner of the Tony Nominee Luncheon.
Follow @TheTonyAwards on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.
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Nominations for the 2024-2025 Season American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®
Presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing
Best Book of a Musical
Buena Vista Social Club, Marco Ramirez
Dead Outlaw, Itamar Moses
Death Becomes Her, Marco Pennette
Maybe Happy Ending, Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Dead Outlaw, Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Death Becomes Her, Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey
Maybe Happy Ending, Music: Will Aronson; Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face
Harry Lennix, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw
Tom Francis, Sunset Blvd.
Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Glenn Davis, Purpose
Gabriel Ebert, John Proctor is the Villain
Francis Jue, Yellow Face
Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross
Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Tala Ashe, English
Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day
Marjan Neshat, English
Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain
Kara Young, Purpose
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas, SMASH
Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw
Danny Burstein, Gypsy
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Taylor Trensch, Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club
Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw
Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time
Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical
Joy Woods, Gypsy
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Marsha Ginsberg, English
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Marg Horwell and David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Miriam Buether and 59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Scott Pask, Good Night, and Good Luck
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Rachel Hauck, Swept Away
Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, Maybe Happy Ending
Arnulfo Maldonado, Buena Vista Social Club
Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her
Derek McLane, Just in Time
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brenda Abbandandolo, Good Night, and Good Luck
Marg Horwell, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Holly Pierson, Oh, Mary!
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club
Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical
Clint Ramos, Maybe Happy Ending
Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her
Catherine Zuber, Just in Time
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California
Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Heather Gilbert and David Bengali, Good Night, and Good Luck
Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski, John Proctor is the Villain
Nick Schlieper, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Jack Knowles, Sunset Blvd.
Tyler Micoleau, Buena Vista Social Club
Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun, Floyd Collins
Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her
Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Palmer Hefferan, John Proctor is the Villain
Daniel Kluger, Good Night, and Good Luck
Nick Powell, The Hills of California
Clemence Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans, Buena Vista Social Club
Adam Fisher, Sunset Blvd.
Peter Hylenski, Just in Time
Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending
Dan Moses Schreier, Floyd Collins
Best Direction of a Play
Knud Adams, English
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary!
Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain
Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Direction of a Musical
Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club
Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cromer, Dead Outlaw
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Blvd.
Best Choreography
Joshua Bergasse, SMASH
Camille A. Brown, Gypsy
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical
Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club
Best Orchestrations
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time
Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending
Bruce Coughlin, Floyd Collins
Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sunset Blvd.
Best Play
English Author: Sanaz Toossi Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter, Atlantic Theater Company
The Hills of California Author: Jez Butterworth Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, No Guarantees Productions, Neal Street Productions, Brian Spector, Sand & Snow Entertainment, Stephanie P. McClelland, Barry Diller, Reade St. Productions, Van Dean, Andrew Paradis/We R Broadway Artists Alliance, Patty Baker, Wendy Bingham Cox, Bob Boyett, Butcher Brothers, Caitlin Clements, Kallish Weinstein Creative, Michael Scott, Steven Toll & Randy Jones Toll, City Cowboy Productions/Jamie deRoy, JKVL Productions/Padgett Ross Productions, Koenigsberg Riley/Tulchin Bartner Productions, Todd B. Rubin/Carlos Medina, Silly Bears Productions/Omara Productions, Michael Wolk/Cali e Amici, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings
John Proctor is the Villain
Author: Kimberly Belflower
Producers: Sue Wagner, John Johnson, John Mara, Jr., Runyonland, Eric Falkenstein, Jillian Robbins, Jen Hoguet, Rialto Productions, Corets Gough Kench Cohen, The Shubert Organization, James L. Nederlander, John Gore Organization, Patty Baker, Cue to Cue Productions, Echo Lake Entertainment, Harris Rubin Productions, Klausner & Zell, Jennifer Kroman, Mickey Liddell & Pete Shilaimon, Mahnster Productions, Nathan Winoto, The Cohn Sisters & Stifelman-Burkhardt, Astro Lab Productions, Creative Partners Productions, Sarah Daniels & Christopher Barrett, Frimmer & Benmosche, Joan Rechnitz, Melissa Chamberlain & Michael McCartney, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, McCaffrey & Demar, Alan & Peggy Mendelson, Newport & Smerigan, Jamie deRoy, Jaime Gleicher, Wes Grantom, Meena Harris & Jessica Foung, Los Angeles Media Fund, Corey Steinfast, SunnySpot & Valentine, Turchin Clements, Jane Bergère & Douglas Denoff, Amy Wen & Meister Leonard, 7th Inning Stretch & Stella La Rue, Indie Slingshot, Annaleise Loxton
Oh, Mary! Author: Cole Escola Producers: Kevin McCollum & Lucas McMahon, Mike Lavoie & Carlee Briglia, Bob Boyett, The Council, Jean Doumanian Productions, Nicole Eisenberg, Jay Marcus & George Strus, Irony Point, Richard Batchelder/Bradley Reynolds, Tyler Mount/Tommy Doyle, Nelson & Tao, Palomares & Rosenberg, ShowTown Productions
Purpose
Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Producers: David Stone, Debra Martin Chase, Marc Platt, LaChanze, Rashad V. Chambers, Aaron Glick, Universal Theatrical Group, Eastern Standard Time, Trate Productions, Nancy Nagel Gibbs, James L. Nederlander, John Gore, ATG Entertainment, The Shubert Organization, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Best Musical
Buena Vista Social Club Producers: Orin Wolf, John Styles, Jr., Barbara Broccoli, Atlantic Theater Company, Viajes Miranda, LaChanze, David Yazbek, John Leguizamo, David F. Schwartz, Zak Kilberg, J. Todd Harris, Cabo Productions, Roy Furman, Hannah Rosenthal, Jamie deRoy/Marvin Rosen, Grove • REG & Frank Marshall, F.K.R.J. Productions, Patrick Milling-Smith/Brian Carmody, DJ Stage Productions, Palitz Wiesenfeld Productions, Richard & Roberta Shaker, Front Row Productions, Cathy Dantchik, Brooke & Brian Devine, Gilad Rogowsky, MacPac Entertainment, No Guarantees Productions, Rhythm & Rain Productions, Hadley Schnuck, James Francis Trezza, Yonge Street Theatricals, Patrick Daly, Olympus Theatricals/Firemused Productions, Ioana Alfonso/Eric Stine, William Berlind/W.M. Klausner, Creative Endeavor Office/Untitled Theatricals, Ruth Hendel/The Kaplans, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra/Philip Van Dijk, Debbie Ohanian/Stone Arch Theatricals, Composite Capital Partners, Larry Levien, Matt Murphy, Marc Platt, Sandy Robertson, Iris Smith, Thomas Steven Perakos/Douglas A. Fellman, Brad Blume/The Klaes’, Ankit Agrawal/Constance Cincotta, Independent Presenters Network, Nick & Nicky Gold, HoriPro Inc., Playful Productions UK, The Shubert Organization, Frederick Zollo, John Gore Organization, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Marco Ramirez, Allan Williams
Dead Outlaw Producers: Lia Vollack Productions, Sonia Friedman Productions, Roy Furman, Ken & Janet Schur, Cue to Cue Productions, James Bolosh/Hillary Wyatt, Carl Moellenberg/Ricardo Hornos, Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg/H2H Concord Theatricals, Masquerade Partners, Douglas Denoff, John Gore Organization, GFour Productions, Brian Hedden, KFRJ Productions, Lang Entertainment Group, James L. Nederlander, Marvin Rosen, Stanely S. Shuman, James L. Walker, Jr., Winkler & Smalberg, 42nd.club/Aligned Theatricals, Craig Balsam/Richard Batchelder, Jane Bergère/Willette and Manny Klausner, The Broadway Investor’s Club/Eastern Standard Time, Barbara Chiodo/Adam Cohen, Merrie L. Davis/Tony Spinosa, Noah Eisenberg/Sue Drew, Robin Gorman Newman/Laurence Padgett Productions, LLPR Productions/Patinogal, Mary Maggio/Janet Rosen, Thomas Swayne, Lawryn LaCroix, Audible
Death Becomes Her Producers: Universal Theatrical Group, James L. Nederlander, Steven Spielberg & Kate Capshaw, Jason Blum & James Wan, Debra Martin Chase, John Gore Organization, Marc Platt, Lowe Cunningham, Marcia Goldberg
Maybe Happy Ending Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Hunter Arnold, Darren Criss, Dr. Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, NHN Link Corporation, Greg & Lisa Love, Kayla Greenspan, Jayne Baron Sherman, Louise Gund, Spencer Ross, Yonge Street Theatricals, Ruth Hendel, Kaplan-Gopal-MMC, Adam Zotovich, At Rise Creative, Broadway Strategic Return Fund, Curt Cronin, Fahs Productions, Greg Field, Paul Gavriani/Michael Patrick, Rebecca Gold, Grace Street Creative Group, John Gore Organization, Willette & Manny Klausner, Kent Knudsen, James L. Nederlander, Salmira Productions, The Shubert Organization, Jacob Stuckelman & John Albert Harris, Wooran Foundation, You Should Smile More Productions, Mark and David Golub Productions, Diego Kolankowsky, Takonkiet Viravan, Brad Blume, Will Aronson & Hue Park, Hugo Six, Clarissa Cueva, Ali Daylami, Maia Kayla Glasman, Patrick W. Jones, Brandon J. Schwartz, Allan Williams
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Producers: Avalon, SpitLip, Jon Thoday, Richard Allen-Turner, Bryan McCaffrey, Walport Productions, LeftNoRing Productions, Barbara Chiodo, Feuille Dooley North Productions, The Shubert Organization, Ken Davenport, Steve & Paula Reynolds, Concord Theatricals, Byron Grote & Susan Miller, John Gore Organization, M. Kilburg Reedy, Sony Music Entertainment, You Should Smile More Productions, Tom Smedes & Peter Stern, Judith Ann Abrams Productions/The Broadway Investor’s Club, Lang Entertainment Group, Alli Folk/Evelyn Hoffman & Gregory Stern, Nick Flatto/Evan & Claudia Caplan Reynolds, Larry Hirschhorn & Ricardo Hornos/Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg, Independent Presenters Network/Lloyd Tichio Productions, Kendall Kellaway III/Megan Minutillo, Blume Johnson Rubin & Silver, Russell Citron, The Council, Jamie deRoy & Brian Rooney/Corey Brunish & Matthew P. Hui, Dodge Hall Productions, 42nd.club, IJB Productions, Mickey Liddell & Pete Shilaimon, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Simon, Mark Weinstein, Adam Cohen/Nick Padgett, Vibecke Dahle Dellapolla/Lynnette Barkley, Willette & Manny Klausner/Elizabeth Faulkner Salem, Michael Page/Burnt Umber Productions, Wallace-Phoebe/Laurie Oki & Alexander Oki, Margot Astrachan/TT Partners, Andrew Fell
Best Revival of a Play
Eureka Day
Author: Jonathan Spector
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Chris Jennings
Romeo + Juliet
Producers: Seaview, Harbor Entertainment, Kevin Ryan, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Roth-Manella Productions, Kate Cannova, J + J Productions, Julie Boardman, Alexander-Taylor Deignan, Atekwana Hutton, Bensmihen Mann Productions, Patrick Catullo, Chutzpah Productions, Corets Gough Willman Productions, Dave Johnson Productions, DJD Productions, Hornos Moellenberg, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Mark Gordon Pictures, Oren Michels, No Guarantees Productions, Nothing Ventured Productions, Strus Lynch, Sunset Cruz Productions, Dennis Trunfio, Stephen C. Byrd, Fourth Wall Theatricals, Level Forward, Soto Productions, WMKlausner
Thornton Wilder’s Our Town Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Samsational Entertainment, Louise Gund, Eric Falkenstein, Suzanne Grant, Patty Baker, Daryl Roth/Tom Tuft, Ronald Frankel, Rebecca Gold, Gabrielle Palitz, Brunish-Rooney-Hui/Laura Little, Thom and Karen Lauzon, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Score 3 Partners, Secret Hideout, David S. Stone, Craig Balsam, John Gore Organization, Caiola Productions, Concord Theatricals, Melissa & Bradford Coolidge, Irene Gandy, Kenny Leon, Willette & Manny Klausner, Andrew Marderian-Davis, Ellen Susman, Leslie Rainbolt, Randy Jones Toll & Steven Toll, James S. Levine, Hank & Kara Steinberg, Alexander “Sandy” Marshall, Ken & Rande Greiner/David Schwartz & Trudy Zohn, Patrick W. Jones, Maia Kayla Glasman, Brandon J. Schwartz, The Shubert Organization
Yellow Face Author: David Henry Hwang Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter
Best Revival of a Musical
Floyd Collins Book/Additional Lyrics: Tina Landau Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Adam Siegel, Naomi Grabel, Ira Weitzman, Creative Partners Productions, Mark Cortale & Charles D. Urstadt
Gypsy Producers: Tom Kirdahy, Mara Isaacs, Kevin Ryan, Diane Scott Carter, Wendy Federman & Heni Koenigsberg, Roy Furman, Viajes Miranda, Kerry Washington, Peter May, Thomas M. Neff, Cynthia J. Tong, Adam Hyndman, A Perfect Team Productions, Cue to Cue Productions, Da Silva Stone, DMQR Productions, Grant Spark Productions, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, KarmaHendelMcCabe, James L. Nederlander, Janet and Marvin Rosen, Archer Entertainment, Dale Franzen, 42nd.club, Rob Acton, All That JJAS, Mike Audet, Patty Baker, Cohen Soto, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Crumhale Taylor Productions, Ken Davenport, DJD Productions, Flipswitch Entertainment, Frankly Spoken Productions, Roy Gabay, Happy Recap Productions, Sandra and Howard Hoffen, John Gore Organization, Johnson Maggio Productions, Willette and Manny Klausner, Kors Le Pere Theatricals, LaCroix Eisenberg, David Lai, Little Lamb Productions, Bill and Sally Martin, Mohari Media, No Guarantees Productions, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra and Stephen Della Pietra, Regian Davison, Lamar Richardson, Patti and Michael Roberts, RTK Rose, Score 3 Partners, Silva Theatrical Group, Some People, Stone Arch Theatricals, Storyboard Entertainment LE, Mary and Jay Sullivan, The Adams Hendel Group, The Array VI, The Broadway Investor’s Club, Theatre Producers of Color, Tom Tuft, TreAmici Gooding, Waiting in the Wings Productions, Whitney Williams, Sara Beth Zivitz, Jamila Ponton Bragg, The Industry Standard Group
Pirates! The Penzance Musical Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Scott Ellis, Sydney Beers, Christopher Nave, Steven Showalter, James L. Nederlander, Fran and Paul Turner, ATG Productions/Gavin Kalin Productions
Sunset Blvd. Producers: The Jamie Lloyd Company, ATG Productions, Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, Christopher Ketner, Aleri Entertainment, Sonia Friedman, Roth-Manella Productions, Winkler Smalberg, Caitlin Clements, 42nd.club, Abrams Johnson, Aron on Broadway, The Array V, At Rise Creative, Bad Robot Live, Craig Balsam, Greg Berlanti, Boardman Cannova Productions, Bob Boyett, Burnt Umber Productions, Patrick Catullo, Crane McGill Trunfio, Core Four Productions, Nicole Eisenberg, The Factor Gavin Partnership, Federman Jenen Koenigsberg, Forshaw Turchin, John Gore, Jake Hine, LAMF Secret Hideout, Jack Lane, Lang Entertainment Group, Lelli Armstrong, Alex Levy, Luftig Reade St. Kawana, Mary Maggio, Jay Marcus, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, No Guarantees Productions, P3 Productions, Thomas Steven Perakos, Pam Hurst-Della Pietra, Shari Redstone, Regian Davison Buckman, Sand & Snow Entertainment, SBK Productions, The Shubert Organization, Smedes Stern Productions, Tilted, Willowrow Entertainment, WMKlausner
Tony Nominations by Production
Buena Vista Social Club – 10
Death Becomes Her – 10
Maybe Happy Ending – 10
Dead Outlaw – 7
John Proctor is the Villain – 7
Sunset Blvd. – 7
The Hills of California – 7
Floyd Collins – 6
Just in Time – 6
Purpose – 6
The Picture of Dorian Gray – 6
English – 5
Good Night, and Good Luck – 5
Gypsy – 5
Oh, Mary! – 5
Stranger Things: The First Shadow – 5
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical – 4
BOOP! The Musical – 3
Yellow Face – 3
Eureka Day – 2
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical – 2
SMASH – 2
A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical – 1
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.
Directed by Kevin Macdonald; co-directed by Sam Rice-Edwards
Culture Representation: Taking place from 1971 to 1973, primarily in New York City, the documentary film “One to One: John & Yoko” features a predominantly white group of people (with a few Asians, Latin people and African Americans) discussing the period of time when John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono were outspoken sociopolitical activists during the first few years that they lived in New York City.
Culture Clash: Lennon’s and Ono’s left-wing liberal political views and the couple’s celebrity influence made them targets of the right-wing conservative then-U.S. President Richard Nixon, whose administration put the couple under surveillance and immigration scrutiny.
Culture Audience: “One to One: John & Yoko” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of Lennon, Ono, the Beatles and documentaries about rock music, pop culture and political activism in the 1970s.
A 1969 photo of Yoko Ono, Kyoko Cox and John Lennon in “One to One: John & Yoko” (Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures)
“One to One: John & Yoko” is named after the One to One charity concerts (headlined by spouses John Lennon and Yoko Ono, a member of the Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory Band) that took place on August 30, 1972 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, as a fundraiser for the Willowbrook State School for disabled children. There were two concerts for the event: one concert was held in the afternoon, and the other concert was held in the evening. Die-hard fans will already be familiar with many of the concert performances in the documentary. The movie is more interesting with its previously unreleased archival material, such as recordings of John Lennon’s and Yoko Ono’s phone conversations. In this all-archival documentary, the concert footage is prominent, but it’s not the main purpose of the film.
Directed by Kevin Macdonald, “One to One: John & Yoko” had its world premiere at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival and subsequently had screenings at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival and the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The One to One concert performances were not only Lennon’s first full-length concerts as a solo artist after the 1970 breakup for Lennon’s former band The Beatles but the concerts were also Lennon’s last public performances where he did a full set of songs. Highlights from Lennon’s performances at the One to One concerts were released in 1986 as a John Lennon album and home video titled “Live in New York City.”
“One to One: John & Yoko” features restored and remastered concert footage that includes Ono performing “Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow),” a song that was not in the “Live in New York City” compilation. Sean Ono Lennon (the son of Lennon and Ono) produced and remixed the documentary’s score music and serves as one of the movie’s executive producers. Sam Rice-Edwards co-directed and edited “One to One: John & Yoko,” which has Macdonald, Peter Worsley and Alice Ebb as producers. Other performers at the One to One concerts included Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Melanie Safka (also known as just Melanie) and Sha Na Na, but they are only seen in this documentary in the all-star finale when Lennon led a sing-along of “Give Peace a Chance.”
The documentary aims to serve as a time capsule of what was going on in the lives of Lennon and Ono (who got married in 1969) during the years 1971 to 1973, the first years that the couple made New York City their main home base. Lennon (who was born and raised in England) and Ono (who was born and raised in Japan) still maintained a home in England throughout their marriage. On December 8, 1980, Lennon (at the age of 40) was tragically murdered by a lone gunman outside of Lennon’s home in New York City. Lennon’s murderer was sentenced to life in prison.
Lennon and Ono said in interviews that they spent of a lot of their free time watching TV. The documentary has a clip of Lennon quipping in an interview that TV is “the window of the world.” Much of the documentary consists of news clips and pop culture tidbits to give context to the period of time that’s covered in the movie. Sometimes, the clips are well-edited. Other times, the clips look like a hodgepodge of things thrown together to fill up time in the documentary.
These news clips include coverage of the Vietnam War and the 1971 deadly prison rebellion Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York. There’s also footage from TV journalist Geraldo Rivera’s 1972 WABC-TV documentary “Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace,” which exposed Willowbrook to be a hellish, understaffed institution that abused and neglected its child residents. Rivera was the person credited with persuading Lennon to perform at the One to One concerts, which were intended to raise money to reform Willowbrook. The pop culture clips, which are less substantial than the news footage, include commercials for Coca-Cola, footage from the TV game show “The Price Is Right” and scenes from the family drama “The Waltons,” which was a popular series at the time.
The documentary also includes clips (video and audio) of interviews that Lennon and Ono did during this time period, including their appearances on “The Mike Douglas Show” and “The Dick Cavett Show.” In various other interviews, Ono talks abut feminism and about the racist bullying, death threats and physical attacks (such as hair pulling and worse) that she received from people who wrongfully blamed her for breaking up the Beatles. Lennon praises Ono for being a strong and creative woman.
Lennon’s attitude about the Beatles was summed up in an interview quote included in the documentary: “I don’t want to recreate the past. I want to be me now.” Ono takes issue with the other former members of the Beatles (Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) by saying that she doesn’t get enough credit for all the compliments that she gave to the Beatles in the media. Ono bitterly comments that McCartney, Harrison and Starr never gave the same compliments to her in the media.
Lennon and Ono both talk about the emotional pain of not seeing Ono’s daughter Kyoko Cox for years, due to a custody battle that Ono was having with Ono’s ex-husband Tony Cox, who was Kyoko’s father. There is no mention of Lennon’s son Julian, who was living with Lennon’s ex-wife Cynthia at the time. Even though there was no custody battle between Julian’s parents, it’s been well-documented (but not mentioned in this documentary) that Julian had a complicated relationship with his father, whom he felt neglected him during much of Julian’s childhood.
“One to One: John & Yoko” is at its best when it shows the evolution of Lennon and Ono as sociopolitical activists. The couple famously spent their 1969 honeymoon doing a Bed-In for Peace, where they stayed in bed in two separate one-week periods (one week in Montreal, another week in Amsterdam) to promote world peace. By 1971, as residents of the United States, the couple became more outspoken against the controversial Vietnam War. As the documentary points out, it’s one thing for celebrities to speak about their political views. It’s another thing for celebrities to use their influence to make a difference in legal and political situations.
And that’s what Lennon and Ono did when they performed a song at the John Sinclair Freedom Rally, an event for left-wing activist/poet John Sinclair, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of two marijuana joints. The rally took place at the University of Michigan’s Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which was Sinclair’s home state. Grammy-winning superstar Wonder, Bob Seger and Phil Ochs were among the other performers at the rally, which was filmed for the televised documentary “Ten for Two: The John Sinclair Freedom Rally.”
As a result of the rally, Sinclair was let out of prison. It put the U.S. government on notice that Lennon and Ono had the power to influence public opinion and outcomes of political oppression. Because of this event and the couple’s other high-profile activism, declassified FBI documents have since confirmed that Lennon and Ono were put under U.S. government surveillance and were targeted for immigrant visa problems. Lennon was threatened with deportation and had to go to court to fight these visa problems. Audio clips from recorded phone calls and interviews reveal that Lennon knew that his private phones were tapped, and the U.S. government was listening in on his conversations.
Lennon’s and Ono’s social circles began to include poet Allen Ginsberg and left-wing activist Jerry Rubin, who co-founded the Youth International Party (YIP), also known as the Yippies. Rubin, who was considered a leader of the counterculture/anti-establishment movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, became such a close confidante of Lennon and Ono, he convinced them to be part of a Free the People tour (a liberal counterculture event mixing politics and music) that was also supposed to have Bob Dylan as a co-headliner. The tour had been planned to culminate at the 1972 Republican National Convention, which was held in Miami.
Phone conversations between Lennon, Ono, Lennon’s manager Allen Klein reveal some of the behind-the-scenes drama and negotiations involved in the couple’s activism. For the John Sinclair Freedom Rally, Klein can be heard objecting to Lennon’s idea to perform the song “Attica State” (which is on Lennon’s 1972 album “Some Time in New York City”) because Klein thinks it’s too much of a controversial political statement. Lennon compromises and says he’ll do another one of his original songs instead. That song was “John Sinclair,” a song that he wrote specifically for the event. “John Sinclair” is also on “Some Time in New York City” album.
There was even more turmoil over Dylan’s involvement in the Free the People tour. In a phone call, Ono asks writer A.J. Weberman (who has been called outside of this documentary a “Dylanologist,” a “Dylan expert” and a “Dylan stalker”) to stop harassing Dylan because she wants Dylan to do the tour. Weberman says he will make an apology to Dylan. By this time, Dylan was having second thoughts about doing the tour and backed out before any official contracts were signed.
Even though Dylan had a “counterculture” image, he was reportedly wary of how the tour would affect his future business prospects. In the end, the Free the People tour didn’t happen. Lennon and Ono also dropped Rubin from their circle of friends. The documentary has a more diplomatic way of putting it by saying that Lennon and Ono “parted ways” with Rubin.
“One to One: John & Yoko” doesn’t have all the songs featured on “Live in New York City.” In addition to “Give Peace a Chance,” the other songs performed in “One to One: John & Yoko” are “Power to the People”; “Come Together” (a song originally recorded by the Beatles); “Instant Karma (We All Shine On)”; “Hound Dog” (a song originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton and made more famous by Elvis Presley’s version of the song); “Cold Turkey”; “Mother”; and “Imagine.”
An epilogue mentions that in August 1973, Lennon and Ono moved out of their relatively small apartment in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village region to a larger apartment in the luxury Dakota building in Manhattan’s Upper West Side region. This move to the Dakota also marked a new chapter in their lives. The documentary doesn’t mention that not long after Lennon and Ono moved to the Dakota, the couple separated for about 18 months (beginning in the summer of 1973 and ending in early 1975), when he lived mostly in Los Angeles with their personal assistant May Pang, who became Lennon’s mistress because Ono demanded it. Pang’s memoirs and the 2023 documentary “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story” have details about this marital separation period of Lennon’s life, when he self-admittedly was abusing alcohol and drugs.
Because “One to One: John & Yoko” was approved by the Lennon estate, these are the messy details of his life that aren’t going to be in this type of documentary. What is presented in this documentary is undoubtedly carefully curated, but still has some meaning in showing how even a world-famous celebrity as Lennon got backlash because he took risks and stood up for the political causes that meant a lot to him. Ono was a willing partner who also went through her own difficulties. “One to One: John & Yoko” doesn’t try to make Lennon and Ono look perfect but makes them look like two celebrities who were aware of the privileges and burdens of fame and did what they could to make the best of it.
Magnolia Pictures will release “One to One: John & Yoko” in select U.S. cinemas on April 11, 2025. The movie will be released on digital and VOD on May 9, 2025.
