Tribeca Film Festival 2015: Spotlight, Midnight, Short Film Lineup

The Spotlight, Midnight, Short Film Lineup for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival has been announced. The mission of the 14th Annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) is “‘to enable the international film community and the general public to experience the power of film by redefining the film festival experience.’ The Tribeca Film Festival was founded to celebrate New York City as a major filmmaking center and to contribute to the long-term recovery of lower Manhattan.”

The official press release containing the full short film lineup for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival:

The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced its lineup of 60 short films, 40 of which are world premieres. The selections were curated from 3076 submissions. The 2015 program includes shorts from 18 countries, including Argentina, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Liberia, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The 14th annual Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 15-26. The shorts will be presented in nine programs made up of five narrative, three documentary, and one combined, narrative and documentary programs.

“Forty of the 60 shorts are making their world premiere at TFF, a record for the Festival. We’re excited to have discovered this wonderful new work,” said Sharon Badal, Director of Short Film Programming and Initiatives, Tribeca Enterprises.
Several TFF Alumni return this year as part of the short film program. Filmmaker Stefan Nadelman, who screened his short film Terminal Bar at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2003, returns to premiere his short film Last Call. Producer Ellen Bar returns to the festival this year with narrative Early Sunday Morning, starring American Ballet Theatre dancers Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside.  Bar produced the documentary feature Ballet 422 which premiered at TFF 13.  Also returning is Andrew Jenks with the short documentary film All American Family, a personal story about four generations of star football players in California who happen to be deaf.  In 2008 Jenks screened his sports documentary The Zen of Bobby V.
This year’s selection features exceptional talent on both sides of the camera. Olivia Wilde produced the short documentary Body Team 12 about the Ebola outbreak, directed by four-time returning filmmakers David Darg and Bryn Mooser. In the the artistic and cerebral ‘Gallery Opening’ program, JR’s Les Bosquests, reveals his experience in the Montfermeil ghetto, where he created Portraits of a Generation; and artist Daniel Arsham directs Juliette Lewis in Future Relic 03. Boman Modine’s Merry Xmas stars Dick Van Dyke, Valerie Harper, Glenne Headly, and his father Matthew Modine, and Katie Holmes directs Eternal Princess starring Nadia Comaneci. The lineup also features performances by Patrick Fugit, Tim DeKay, and SNL alums Fred Armisen and Paula Pell.

Recipients of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Best Narrative Short and Best Documentary Short Awards will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Annual Academy Awards® provided the film complies with the Academy rules. Last year’s Festival winner for Best Narrative Short, The Phone Call, won this year’s Academy Award® for the Best Live-Action Short.

“Our New York shorts return with a narrative and a documentary program, and we’ve also added a uniquely artistic program called ‘Gallery Opening,’ as well as ‘FML,’ a program that’s curated for today’s online-living audience,” said Badal. “Each year we try to do something a little different, and that is particularly reflected in this year’s programs.”
This year, audiences across the country, and around the world can experience a selection of the Short Films online. Each of the seven stories featured in ‘FML’, a program created for modern-day audiences living online, will be part of the Tribeca Online Festival. Three hours after ‘FML’ premieres in the cinema, it will be available for the world to view online at tribecafilm.com, through to April 26. These present-day and futuristic short stories confront the consequences of living a digital life, touching on many intriguing topics including wearable tech, online dating, and homeland.
A list of the short film selections is as follows:

Be Yourself – Documentary program
Personal stories about self-identity are the focus of these documentary shorts.

American Renaissance explores the fantastic world of Elizabethan England at one of the largest renaissance faires in the U.S., and is a portrait of the characters that return annually. Live Fast, Draw Yungfollows 7-year-old rap portraitist Yung Lenox and his dad Skip, an unconventional artistic duo navigating the tumultuous worlds of hip hop and modern day parenting. Eternal Princess explores the extraordinary life of famed Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, who at the age of 14 scored the first perfect 10 during the 1976 Olympics, and is now a loving mother, philanthropist and sports icon.  In All American Family four generations of the Pederson family have had a star player on The Eagles, one of the best football teams in California, but unlike other teams these players are all deaf.  In 1974 when a Mormon missionary in Elder falls in love with a handsome Italian Communist, his world turns upside down. In My Enemy, My Brother former Iran-Iraq War enemies, Zahed and Najah, become blood brothers 25 years after one saves the other’s life.

American Renaissance, directed and written by Ryan Scafuro, and Jarred Alterman. (USA) – North American Premiere.

Live Fast, Draw Yung, directed by Stacey Lee and Anthony Mathile. (USA) – World Premiere.

Eternal Princess (Printesa Vesnica), directed by Katie Holmes. (USA) – World Premiere. ESPN Film’s 30 for 30 short.

All American Family, directed by Andrew Jenks. (USA) – World Premiere.

Elder, directed and written by Genéa Gaudet. (USA) – World Premiere.

My Enemy, My Brother, directed and written by Ann Shin. (Canada) – World Premiere.

Family Dynamics – Narrative Program
Relationships are often complicated, particularly so for the characters in this short program.

Advertisement

 

A mischievous dad in Merry Xmas tells his adult kids he’s divorcing their mom… just in time for the holidays! In SexLife, Dan and Mia haven’t had sex since before the birth of their son, so Dan takes extreme action and decides to get Mia back in the mood. A Boy’s Life is a portrait of a troubled youth in an environment of chaos and violence. The Arrest is a film about occupation and creation; the story deconstructs reality, to tell a believable tale about a different Middle East. When a young military wife in Birthday, gets news that her Marine husband has been severely wounded in combat, she discovers that life ahead is going to be a difficult yet amazing journey for them both. Personal Development finds Fintan’s already fragile relationship with his youngest daughter is put to the test with the arrival of some unexpected news. Secrets and sexuality are revealed in The Parker Tribe, where it’s 1976 and Jo, the oldest daughter in a loud Irish Catholic family of nine questions her place in the family, while taking care of her two critically ill brothers.

Merry Xmas, directed by Boman Modine, written by Matthew Modine. (USA) – World Premiere.

SexLife, directed by Stefan Georgiou, written by Kefi Chadwick. (U.K.) – New York Premiere.

A Boy’s Life, directed and written by Howard McCain. (USA) – US Premiere.

The Arrest (HAMA’ATZAR), directed by Yair Agmon. (Israel) – North American Premiere.

Birthday, directed and written by Chris King. (USA) – New York Premiere.

Personal Development, directed by Tom Sullivan, written by Muirinn Lane Kelly. (Ireland) – International Premiere.

The Parker Tribe, directed and written by Jane Baker, co-written by Roberta Munroe. (USA) – World Premiere.

FML – Narrative program
This thought-provoking program curated for a contemporary audience that lives online ponders, “Does technology rule, or rule us?”

In a future augmented by wearable tech and online dating a student must risk offline dating to connect with a mysterious profile due to a failed network in Café Glass. When Iranian-born Rita sets out to change her life from ordinary to extraordinary she accidentally captures the attention of a homeland security agent in Rita Mahtoubian is Not a Terrorist. One broken-hearted guy gets more than he bargained for when he tries to get over his recent breakup in The Girlfriend Experience. All the significant moments over the last twenty years in Zack’s life parallel the changing landscape of music purchasing technology in The Evolution of a Gen-X Music Purchaser. Emily is your average 26-year old who texts her friends, chats on Facebook, orders online, and uses GPS to get where she’s going in Aphasia, until one day she suddenly comes face-to-face with the consequences of living a digital life. Morgan’s attempt to gain attention is not appreciated in Like—he rebels, and hidden by the Internet’s anonymity he goes on attack against an innocent blogger. Two housing project teens create a website for a video of a staged bus assault, and after it goes viral they receive an unusual offer in Ghettotube.

Cafe Glass, directed and written by Wen Ren. (USA) – World Premiere.

Rita Mahtoubian is Not a Terrorist, directed and written by Julia Lerman and Roja Gashtili. (USA) – World Premiere.

The Girlfriend Experience, directed and written by Mark Kunerth. (USA) – New York Premiere.

The Evolution of a Gen-X Music Purchaser, directed and written by Jack Marchetti. (USA) – World Premiere.

Aphasia, directed by Luke LoCurcio, written by Robin Rose Singer. (USA) – World Premiere.

Like (Gilla), directed and written by Crazy Pictures, co-written by Christoffer Nordenrot. (Sweden) – International Premiere.

Ghettotube, directed and written by Saïd Belktibia, co-written  by Jérémie Delon. (France) – World Premiere.

Gallery Opening – Narrative/Documentary program
This combination of artistic and cerebral docs and narratives will captivate you with some very visual storytelling.

Nine-year-old Ella’s classmates are playing in the schoolyard in full adult dress-up, and she wants to be part of that world in Catwalk. The moon has been excavated for 30 years in Future Relic 03, as per the work of Dr. Mattias Rey, and his daughter Lona returns to his labs seeking guidance for the first time since being abandoned. Where We Begin sheds light on the many faces of love, life, and pressure that we place upon ourselves, and that others place upon us. The Artist Is Absent profiles the influential Margiela, who has been a major force in fashion for over 20 years, yet the man himself remains elusive, maintaining his anonymity in an age of celebrity. Walter Potter: The Man Who Married Kittens is a look at one of Victorian England’s most enigmatic and quirky characters, who became an unlikely success by putting his creatures in human positions and scenarios, referred to as “anthropomorphic taxidermy.” Based on the New York City Ballet performance inspired by the riots in France in 2005, Les Bosquets reveals JR’s experience in the ghetto of Montfermeil where he created Portrait of a Generation.

Catwalk, directed by Ninja Thyberg, written by Ninja Thyberg. (Sweden) – North American Premiere, Narrative.

Future Relic 03, directed by Daniel Arsham, written by Tim Stanley & Daniel Arsham. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.

Where We Begin, directed and written by Mitsuyo Miyazaki. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.

The Artist Is Absent, directed and written by Alison Chernick. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary

Walter Potter: The Man Who Married Kittens, directed and written by Ronni Thomas. (England, USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary

Les Bosquets, directed by J R, written by jr. (France) – World Premiere, Narrative.

Home Improvement – Documentary program
Home is where the heart in these short docs.

Every Christmas, Jorge and Jorge Jr. decorate what the people in the village call “the house of the lights,” in The Lights. Three broken women discover that magic is real in The Gnomist, a true story about the mysterious appearance of fairy homes in a suburban forest. Meet Tom and Barbara, the proud new owners of the most infamous house in Sacramento, California in The House is Innocent. In Interview With a Free Man, the questions put to several men at a job interview reveal the plots of their existences. In Body Team 12 a team is tasked with arguably the most dangerous and gruesome job in the world: collecting the dead at the height of the Ebola outbreak. The Trials of Constance Baker Motley spans the legal career of the first black woman voted NY State Senator, from working closely with Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to being appointed to the federal bench by President Lyndon Johnson.

The Lights, directed and written by Manuel Abramovich and Juan Renau. (Argentina) – North American Premiere.

The Gnomist, directed and written by Sharon Liese. (USA) – World Premiere.

The House is Innocent, directed by Nicholas Coles. (USA) – World Premiere.

Interview With a Free Man (Entrevue avec un homme libre), directed and written by Nicolas Lévesque. (Canada) – International Premiere.

Body Team 12, directed and written by David Darg, written by David Darg. (Liberia) – World Premiere.

The Trials of Constance Baker Motley, directed and written by Rick Rodgers. (USA) – World Premiere.

Interference – Narrative program
Some are futuristic, others fatalistic, but always expect the unexpected in this group of shorts.

Set in post-apocalyptic Manhattan where even the air we breathe has a price, oxygen dealer Winston Willis faces off with a mysterious buyer who seems to know Winston’s darkest secret in Grow. It’s the dark year 2024 when a shaman is sent on a mission to convert the soul of a giant battle colossus in The Shaman, and faces a deadly psychological confrontation in the Netherworld. In Warning Labels, co-workers at the Center for Disease Control meet for drinks only to discover that love is the most hazardous thing of all. A Mighty Nice Manis the haunting story of a day in a young girl’s life when a kind stranger comes to town. It can be tough to be a kid if you’re not part of the gang in Foul, especially for this ten-year-old girl on a winter day in Norway. In Listen a foreign woman in a burqa brings her young son to a police station to file a complaint against her abusive husband, but the translator assigned to her seems unwilling to convey the true meaning of her words. A recruit in a military drone program arrives at a remote diner, and is faced with an unexpected chain of events in Nostradamus.

Grow, directed by Micah Levin, written by Chris Basler. (USA) – World Premiere.

The Shaman, directed and written by Marco Kalantari. (Austria, Japan) – World Premiere.

Warning Labels, directed by Jennifer Morrison, written by Jenelle Riley. (USA) – World Premiere.

A Mighty Nice Man, directed and written by Jonathan Dee. (USA) – World Premiere.

Foul, directed and written by Rune Denstad Langlo. (Norway, Mexico) – North American Premiere.

Listen, directed by Hamy Ramezan, Rungano Nyoni, written by Hamy Ramezan, Rungano Nyoni. (Finland, Denmark) – New York Premiere, Narrative

Nostradamus, directed and written by Thomas Ikimi, co-written by Joshua Banta. (USA) – World Premiere.

NY – Double Espresso– Narrative program
Our popular New York narrative program returns with everyday life imagined – past, present, and future.

A movie theater usher in Early Sunday Morning has a chance encounter after hours. The Statistical Analysis of Your Failing Relationship examines a young man’s probability of reviving his relationship with a young woman through statistical analysis. When an asteroid in Let’s Not Panic threatens to hit New York, twenty-something Sadie embarks on a quest from Brooklyn to Manhattan to reunite with the man she loves – her therapist. In Blitz a father and son agree to a “winner takes all” chess blitz in order to settle a bet. George and Lacy walk through the streets of Brooklyn and revisit their memories in George and the Vacuum. The deterioration of one cycle is the foundation for another in Wrapped, an exploration of time and change. In Stop, a young man’s livelihood is put to the test when the police stop him on his way home from practice. When a celebrated New York chef discovers an affair between his super-model wife and his best man in Best Man Wins, he devises a plan to deal with each of them.

Early Sunday Morning, directed and written by Yoonha Park. (USA) – World Premiere.

The  Statistical Analysis of Your Failing Relationship, directed and written by Miles Jay. (USA) – World Premiere.

Let’s Not Panic, directed and written by Heather Jack. (USA) – World Premiere.

Blitz, directed and written by Faraday Okoro, written by Faraday Okoro. (USA) – World Premiere.

George and the Vacuum, directed by Chadd Harbold, written by Charlyne Yi. (USA) – World Premiere.

Wrapped, directed and written by Roman Kaelin, Falko Paeper, and Florian Wittmann. (Germany) – New York Premiere.

Stop, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, written by Reinaldo Marcus Green. (USA) – New York Premiere.

Best Man Wins, directed by Stéphane Dumonceau, written by Frederick Waterman, Stéphane Dumonceau. (USA) – World Premiere.

NY-Daily Grind – Documentary program
Life in New York is tough but the subjects of these documentary shorts are up to the challenge.

There is so much more to the performers on the MTA than their acrobatic skills, We Live This is the story of four boys from the projects who come together to pursue their dreams. Drama majors tackle anxiety, cutting, and suicide, in the unscripted and raw Better to Live, as they build a “reality” show for 5,000 college freshmen. What Lies Beneath The Sky is a meditation on urban alienation and personal disconnection in the eye of a hurricane. Every year dozens of people use NYC subway trains as a means to end their suffering, but for a train operator whose life is derailed by such an incident the anguish is just beginning in Man Under. From 1973-1981, bartender Sheldon Nadelman shot over 1,500 black-and-white photographs of his customers at the Terminal Bar in New York City; Last Call recollects their stories 25 years after the bar closed its doors for good. In The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano photographer Phil Toledano is obsessed with his own demise, photographing himself in every dark depiction of his future, which changes him and his family forever.

We Live This, directed and written by James Burns. (USA) – World Premiere.

Better to Live,directed by Linda G. Mills. (USA) – World Premiere.

What Lies Beneath The Sky, directed and written by Vladimir de Fontenay. (France, USA) – World Premiere.

Man Under, directed by Paul Stone, written by Vincent Tozzi. (USA) – World Premiere.

Last Call, directed by Stefan Nadelman. (USA) – World Premiere.

The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano, directed by Joshua Seftel. (USA) – World Premiere.

Tightrope – Narrative program
Life is a delicate balancing act in these short films.

The Kiss: what do you do when your best friend shows up at your front door asking you to kiss him, can there really be “just a kiss” between friends? Big Boy is a nine-year-old boy’s first solo excursion into a highway rest stop bathroom. Jamesy and Malachy are over the moon when their soft-hearted dad presents them with two baby chicks, but the boys are in for a shock when they hear that big changes are coming to the family in Boogaloo and Graham. In a small town in Northern France, Alex, a young skinhead, enters a grocery store in The Way Of Tea. In Kingdom of Garbagesibling relationships and childhood rivalries are tested as poor children scavenge for valuable materials in a landfill site. Banditois a coming-of-age drama about Jamie, a young boy who stows himself away to join his older brother on a highway truck heist. Joachim is retiring from base-jumping to become a father, but not until one last adventure with his best friend Øyvind as they set out to climb Mt. Katthammeren in Last Base.

The Kiss, directed by Carlos G. Davila, written by Mark Harvey Levine. (Mexico) – New York Premiere.

Big Boy, directed by Bryan Campbell, written by David R. Larson. (USA) – World Premiere.

Boogaloo and Graham, directed by Michael Lennox, written by Ronan Blaney. (Northern Ireland) – New York Premiere.

The Way Of Tea, directed and written by Marc Fouchard. (France) – New York Premiere.

Kingdom of Garbage, directed and written by Yasser Kareem. (Iraq, U.K.) – World Premiere.

Bandito, directed by Evan Ari Kelman, and co-written by Evan Ari Kelman and Parker Hill. (USA) – World Premiere.

Last Base, directed and written by Aslak Danbolt. (Norway, U.K.) – New York Premiere.

2015 Awards for the Shorts program
Awards in the Shorts program are given out for Best Narrative Short; Best Documentary Short; and the Student Visionary Award; all films are eligible.

About the Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enabling the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. It is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture, the Festival brings the industry and community together around storytelling.

The Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,600 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 4.9 million attendees, and has generated an estimated $900 million in economic activity for New York City.

About the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival Sponsors
As Presenting Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, AT&T is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of filmmaking through access and innovation, aiming to make this the most interactive film festival in the country, where visitors experience the Festival in ways they never imagined.

The Tribeca Film Festival is pleased to announce its Signature Sponsors: Accenture, American Express, Bloomberg, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Brookfield Place, ESPN, IWC Schaffhausen, The Lincoln Motor Company, NCM Media Networks, The New York Times, Santander, United Airlines, and VDKA® 6100. The Festival welcomes new Signature Sponsors: NBC 4 New York and Spring Studios.

Passes and tickets for the 2015 Festival
The new Spring Pass is on sale now at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets. This pass will provide access to Spring Studios, throughout the Festival, including innovation talks, exhibitions, as well as a resource center, and creative workspace, with food, and drinks. It also includes access to select special events at Spring Studios. The Pass will give discounts to all general screenings and panels during the Festival. The Spring Pass costs $400, discounted to $300 if purchased before April 15.  Pass holders can invite one guest to accompany them to Spring Studios each day of the Festival. An Individual Day Pass for Spring Studios costs $50, discounted to $40 if purchased before April 15.

Advance selection ticket packages and passes go on sale Monday, March 2 for American Express Card Members, and on Monday, March 9 for the general public. All advance selection packages and passes can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single tickets cost $18.00 for evening, and weekend screenings, and $10.00 for weekday matinee screenings.

Single ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 31 for American Express Card Members, Sunday, April 5 for downtown residents, and Monday, April 6 for the general public. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Regal Cinemas Battery Park (102 North End Avenue), Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (260 W. 23rd Street), and the Tribeca Film Festival creative hub at Spring Studios (50 Varick Street). The 2015 Festival will offer ticket discounts on general screenings and Tribeca Talks: After the Movie and Directors Series panels for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only.

The official press release containing the full Spotlight, Midnight, and Special Screening film lineup for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival:

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight, Midnight, and Special Screening sections as well as work in progress screenings. The 14th edition of the Festival will take place from April 15 to April 26 in New York City.

The Spotlight section features 40 films, consisting of 23 narratives and 17 documentaries. Twenty-four films in the selection world premiere at the Festival.

The Midnight section will premiere five films, four of which are world premieres from dynamic new genre voices from around the world. It is an eclectic lineup of twisted tales that run the gamut from creature features to ominous, creepy horror films, including a real life underground wrestling revenge story and an unsettling babysitter thriller.

This year’s Special Screenings have been programmed to provide exciting film experiences partnering both new and classic films with unique live performances. They include the world premiere of the documentary Mary J. Blige – The London Sessions, which follows Mary as she writes, records, and curates one of her most experimental albums to date. The premiere will take place at the Beacon Theater and be followed by a live performance from Mary J. Blige. Nelson George will premiere his documentary, A Ballerina’s Tale, about one of the most notable and trailblazing figures in the ballet world, Misty Copeland. The evening will be followed by a conversation with Misty, and a performance by her protégées. The evening will be followed by a conversation with Misty, and a performance by her protégées from Project Plie. A restoration of the effervescent comedy Speedy, Harold Lloyd’s silent film from 1928, will be presented with a new score performed live by DJ Z-Trip. Rounding out the program is the special event, which is also part of the Midnight section, Rifftrax Live: The Room. Rifftrax, an expansion of cult classic TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 by its original cast members, skewers cult classic films with live comedic commentary.

The Festival welcomes back two alumni for Work In Progress screenings. Alma Har’el, whose documentary Bombay Beach won the 2011 Best Documentary Feature award, will show excerpts of her new documentary LoveTrue. Patrick Creadon (Wordplay, 2011) will show the work in progress cut of his documentary All Work, All Play that looks at the world of video-game arena competitions.

“The Spotlight section highlights many familiar faces as well as new ones, while the films’ stories deliver unconventional perspectives and fresh commentary,” said Festival director, Genna Terranova.

Terranova continued, “Seeing a film together alongside a live performance heightens the experience, engages the imagination, and brings audiences together in unforgettable way. We have had a lot of success with these film events in the past, so it was only natural to make them a bigger part of the program with a series of Special Screenings featuring live music, dance and comedy.”

“As a genre fan myself, I had a lot of fun with the range of storytelling in this year’s section,” said Cara Cusumano, Senior Programmer. “From one worst nightmare to another, I know this year’s selections will engage – and sometimes unnerve – audiences with a range of edgy horror stories, suspenseful thrillers, and absurd humor.”

In addition to the films announced today, the World Narrative and Documentary Competitions and Viewpoints sections have been announced. The Short film program will be announced March 6 and Storyscapes as well as Tribeca Talks will be announced over the next two weeks.

The complete film selections for the Spotlight, Midnight, and Special Screenings sections, as well as the Work In Progress titles are as follows:

SPOTLIGHT
Co-Sponsored by Brookfield Place and The Lincoln Motor Company
See it here first. Spotlight is Tribeca’s destination for today’s most talked about themes and filmmakers. The section debuts new work from master directors like Italy’s Taviani Brothers (Wondrous Boccaccio), Neil LaBute (Dirty Weekend), and Michael Winterbottom (The Emperor’s New Clothes), alongside exciting new voices like first time director Henry Hobson (Maggie) and Pray The Devil Back To Hell producer Abigail Disney’s anticipated directorial debut (The Armor of Light). On screen, audiences will see favorite performers taking on unique and challenging roles such as Jessica Biel’s assured turn as a yoga instructor in Bleeding Heart, or Arnold Schwarzenegger as a dedicated father whose daughter is succumbing to a zombie plague in Maggie. Recent Oscar® winner Patricia Arquette plays a real-life mob moll in The Wannabe, while Oscar Isaac brings a sociopathic stalker to life in Mojave. On the documentary side the section is rich with profiles of important artists and thinkers ranging from seminal figures like Noam Chomsky (Requiem For The American Dream) and Peggy Guggenheim (Peggy Guggenheim – Art Addict) to cultural influencers like Roseanne Barr (Roseanne For President!) and DJ AM (As I Am: The Life and Times of DJ AM). Enjoy this wealth of stories and performances in Tribeca’s always exciting Spotlight program.

Aferim!, directed and written by Radu Jude, co-written by Florin Lazarescu . (Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic) – North American Premiere, Narrative. A police officer and his son travel across Wallachia in 1835, hunting down a runaway gypsy slave. In their journey across the countryside they encounter people of different religions and nationalities, each with their own prejudices and opinions on the state of the country. Shot in black-and-white, Radu Jude’s Aferim! is a gripping look into the political and religious landscape of 19th century Romania. In Romanian with subtitles.

Aloft, directed and written by Claudia Llosa. (Canada, France, Spain) – New York Premiere, Narrative. In parallel narratives, single-mother Nana (Jennifer Connelly) has a mysterious experience at the hands of a traveling healer, years later her troubled son Ivan (Cillian Murphy) sets out in search of his now absent mother. Academy Award®–nominee Claudia Llosa’s (The Milk of Sorrow) decade-spanning family drama is a dreamlike rumination on faith, forgiveness, and family, set against an otherworldly frozen landscape. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.

Anesthesia, directed and written by Tim Blake Nelson. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. On a snowy night in New York City, a Columbia professor is brutally mugged on the doorsteps of an apartment building. Director Tim Blake Nelson’s haunting meditation of city life traces the chain of events that precipitate the attack, examining the inextricable and unforeseen forces that bring a group of disparate individuals together. Featuring a star-studded ensemble including Sam Waterston, Kristen Stewart, Glenn Close, and Cory Stoll.

Angry Sky, directed by Jeff Tremaine. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. In the 1960s, truck-driver Nick Piantanida discovered skydiving, and set out to break the world record for highest parachute jump by taking a helium balloon to the edge of space. Over the course of a year, his dream to launch the first civilian space program drove him to obsession. An ESPN Films release.

The Armor of Light, directed by Abigail Disney. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. This inspiring documentary digs into the deep affinity between the evangelical Christian movement and our country’s gun culture — and how one top minister and anti-abortion activist undergoes a change of consciousness to challenge prevailing attitudes toward firearms among his fellow Christians.

As I AM: the Life and Times of DJ AM, directed and written by Kevin Kerslake. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, was a man with deep passions and aggressive demons. As I AM is an insider’s look into the life of the late, famed mash-up pioneer: his professional successes that made him the first million-dollar deejay in the United States and his incredibly complex personal life that was lived under the specter of drug addiction.

Ashby, directed and written by Tony McNamara. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Awkward Ed Wallis (Nat Wolff) needs help fitting in and turns to his neighbor Ashby Holt (Mickey Rourke) for help. Ashby’s unforgiving brand of tough love soon tests their friendship, and it hardly helps when Ed learns that Ashby is a former CIA assassin. Peppered with upbeat music and standout performances, Ashby is a spirited, self-referential update on Harold and Maude for a John Wick generation. With Emma Roberts and Sarah Silverman.

Backtrack, directed and written by Michael Petroni. (Australia) – World Premiere, Narrative. In this spine-tingling supernatural thriller, troubled psychotherapist Peter Bowers (Adrien Brody) is suffering from nightmares and eerie visions. When he uncovers a horrifying secret that all of his patients share, he is put on a course that takes him back to the small hometown he fled years ago. There he confronts his demons and unravels a mystery 20 years in the making.

Bleeding Heart, directed and written by Diane Bell. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Reserved yoga instructor May’s (Jessica Biel) peaceful, clean-living life is thrown out of balance by the arrival of her long-lost sister Shiva (Zosia Mamet), a street-smart yet naive young woman trapped in an abusive relationship. May feels compelled to rescue the hapless Shiva, but she finds herself increasingly drawn out of her sedate world and deeper into Shiva’s chaotic one. With Edi Gathegi, Joe Anderson, Kate Burton, and Harry Hamlin.

Cartel Land, directed by Matthew Heineman. (USA, Mexico) – New York Premiere, Documentary. A portrait of two men, both leaders of small paramilitary groups that police different sides of the Mexican drug war. With unprecedented access, this film brings forward deep questions about the breakdown of order and entanglement of modern-day vigilante movements at a time when the government cannot provide basic security for its people. In Spanish and English with subtitles. A release by The Orchard.

The Cut, directed by Fatih Akin, written by Fatih Akin and Mardik Martin. (Germany) – North American Premiere, Narrative. Fatih Akin’s historic epic follows one man’s journey through the Ottoman Empire after surviving the 1915 Armenian genocide. Deported from his home in Mardin, Nazareth (Tahar Rahim) moves onwards as a forced laborer. When he learns that his daughters may still be alive, his hope is revived and he travels to America to find them. In Arabic, Armenian, and Spanish with subtitles.

Dirty Weekend, directed and written by Neil LaBute. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Neil LaBute returns to Tribeca with this sharp-edged comedy treat about the ripple effects of desire, whether it’s followed or left unredeemed. Matthew Broderick and Alice Eve are wonderful together as colleagues with secrets who come to depend on each other for understanding as they go to find a spark of excitement in Albuquerque, after dark.

Down in the Valley, directed by Jason Hehir. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. How far would you go to save your hometown team? For many Sacramento residents, faced with the nearly certain relocation of their beloved Kings, no boardroom was too distant. One native son proved it. Follow former NBA superstar turned Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson as he battles owners and executives to keep the Kings at home, in this a roaring testament to the passion and power of the small-market fan. An ESPN Films release.

The Driftless Area, directed and written by Zachary Sluser, co-written by Tom Drury (Canada, USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Pierre Hunter (Anton Yelchin), a bartender with unyielding optimism, returns to his tiny hometown after his parents’ death. When he falls for the enigmatic Stella (Zooey Deschanel), Pierre is unknowingly pulled into a cat-and-mouse game that involves a duffel bag full of cash, a haphazard yet determined criminal (John Hawkes), and a mystery that will determine all of their fates. With Alia Shawkat, Frank Langella, Aubrey Plaza, and Ciarán Hinds.

DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: The Story of the National Lampoon, directed by Douglas Tirola, and written by Mark Monroe and Douglas Tirola. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary. Using rare, never-before-seen archival footage and in-depth interviews with fans and founders, Douglas Tirola traces National Lampoon’s evolution from underground countercultural movement to mainstream household brand. Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead is a riotous and revealing chronicle of a trailblazing comedic institution and a celebration of creative expression at its radical, envelope-pushing finest.

The Emperor’s New Clothes, made by Michael Winterbottom & Russell Brand (UK) – International Premiere. Cinema’s prolific writer/director Michael Winterbottom and comedian/provocateur Russell Brand join forces in this polemical expose about inequality and the financial crisis. From London to New York the film combines documentary style, archive footage and comedy to explore how the crisis has gravely affected the 99% and only benefited the 1%.

Far From Men (Loin des Hommes), directed and written by David Oelhoffen. (France) – U.S. Premiere, Narrative. During the height of the Algerian War, an unlikely bond forms between a reserved French teacher (Viggo Mortensen) and the elusive dissident (Reda Kateb) he must turn over to the authorities. Based on a short story by Albert Camus, David Oelhoffen’s classically conceived period Western is a tense and timely study of war’s political and personal sacrifices. In French with subtitles. A Tribeca Film release.

Fastball, directed and written by Jonathan Hock. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Since 1912, baseball has been a game obsessed with statistics and speed. Thrown at upwards of 100 miles per hour, a fastball moves too quickly for human cognition and accelerates into the realm of intuition. Fastball is a look at how the game at its highest levels of achievement transcends logic and even skill, becoming the primal struggle for man to control the uncontrollable.

A Faster Horse, directed by David Gelb, and written by Mark Monroe. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. As the fiftieth anniversary of the Mustang approaches, Ford is launching a redesign, placing the jobs and expectations of thousands squarely on the shoulders of Chief Program Engineer Dave Pericak. Masterfully crafted by TFF alumnus David Gelb (Jiro Dreams of Sushi), A Faster Horse moves beyond a car lover’s documentary to a resonant examination of American ingenuity, workmanship, and resilience.

Good Kill, directed and written by Andrew Niccol. (USA) – U.S. Premiere, Narrative. Major Tommy Egan (Ethan Hawke) is fighting a war from the safety of a Nevada trailer, but commitment to the mission comes at a price. Gattaca director Andrew Niccol reunites with Ethan Hawke for this timely drama about the human costs of advanced war technology. Co-starring January Jones and Zoe Kravitz. An IFC Films Release

Grandma, directed and written by Paul Weitz. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Reeling from a recent breakup and still mourning the loss of her longtime partner, once-famous poet Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) is surprised to find her teenage granddaughter on her doorstep in need of $600 and a ride. The two embark on an all-day road trip that ends up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets all over town. Co-starring Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, Laverne Cox, and Sam Elliott. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

Hungry Hearts, directed by Saverio Costanzo. (Italy) – U.S. Premiere, Narrative. After a chance meeting and a whirlwind romance in New York City, Jude (Adam Driver) and Mina (Alba Rohrwacher) become pregnant. Convinced their child will be harmed by the pollutions in the outside world, Mina becomes consumed by protecting her baby, forcing Jude to recognize a terrible truth about why his son’s life could be in danger. A Sundance Selects Release

Jimmy’s Hall, directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty. (UK, Ireland, France) – North American Premiere, Narrative. James Gralton returns from exile and reopens a public dancehall, bravely pushing back against the sharply drawn religious and political margins of his time. Ken Loach (Winner, Palme-d’or 2006, The Wind that Shakes the Barley) paints a romantic drama about a leftist leader, and a 1930s Ireland that celebrates free speech and thought in the face of oppressive dogma. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.

Maggie, directed by Henry Hobson, written by John Scott 3. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. There’s a deadly zombie epidemic threatening humanity, but Wade (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a small-town farmer and family man, refuses to accept defeat even when his daughter Maggie (Abigail Breslin) becomes infected. As Maggie’s condition worsens and the authorities seek to eradicate those with the virus, Wade is pushed to the limits in an effort to protect her. Joely Richardson co-stars in this post-apocalyptic thriller. Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions release.

Mojave, directed by and written by William Monahan. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. William Monahan’s second feature, starring Oscar Isaac and Garrett Hedlund, is a delirious trip from the fringes of the desert to the center of the film industry. Armed with little more than a knife and two handles of vodka, an on-edge Hollywood director sets out to the Mojave Desert, where he finds a drifter brandishing a rifle and claiming to be the Devil.

A Nazi Legacy: What Our Fathers Did, directed by David Evans, written by Philippe Sands (UK) – World Premiere, Documentary. Can you imagine what it means to grow up as the child of a mass murderer? While studying the Nuremberg trials, a lawyer becomes fascinated with two men: both sons of famous Nazi Governors, and both with polar opposite views of their fathers’ hand in the war. A forthright dive into individual perception, A Nazi Legacy: What Our Fathers Did adds new meaning to the ties that bind us.

The Overnight, directed and written by Patrick Brice. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Alex and Emily have just moved to LA with their young son. Eager to make new friends, they accept an invitation to a party from the father of their son’s playground mate. After the kids fall asleep, the “playdate” takes a bizarre turn in this racy and hilarious romp. Featuring Judith Godrèche, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, and Adam Scott. A release by The Orchard.

Peggy Guggenheim – Art Addict, directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, written by Bernadine Colish, Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and John Northrup. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Bouncing between Europe and the US as often as she would between lovers, Peggy Guggenheim’s life story was as swirling as the design of her uncle’s museum, and reads more like fiction than any reality imaginable. Art Addict is a picture into Guggenheim’s world: abstract, colorful, and as salacious as the artwork she revered.

Prescription Thugs, directed by Christopher Bell, written by Josh Alexander. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Americans consume 75% of the world’s prescription drugs. After losing his own brother to the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse, documentarian Chris Bell (Bigger, Stronger, Faster) sets out to demystify this insidious addiction. While the war has raged against illegal drugs, Bell attempts to break the hardened correlation that legal means safe.

Requiem for the American Dream, directed and written by Peter Hutchison, Kelly Nyks and Jared P. Scott, . (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Anchored by a series of interviews with Noam Chomsky, this definitive documentary of the “Two Americas” is an unvarnished account of how policies have helped concentrate wealth in the hands of a few at expense of everyone else. This is an eye-opening, revised vision of the American Dream, in the wake of a dying middle class.

Roseanne for President!, directed by Eric Weinrib. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Comedian Roseanne Barr always went against the odds, first as an assertive housewife struggling to pay the bills on her sitcom. Now she tests the limits of the two-party system, vying for candidacy on the 2012 ballot. Roseanne for President! follows her impassioned campaign journey.

Sleeping With Other People, directed and written by Leslye Headland. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative. Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie star as two romantic failures whose years of serial infidelity and self-sabotage have led them to swear that their relationship will remain strictly platonic. But can love still bloom while you’re sleeping with other people? Writer/director Leslye Headland’s (Bachelorette) sexy romantic comedy co-stars Amanda Peet, Adam Scott, and Natasha Lyonne. An IFC Films Release

Slow West, directed by John Maclean. (UK, New Zealand) – New York Premiere, Narrative. At the end of the nineteenth century, 16-year-old Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) journeys across the American frontier in search of the woman he loves. He is joined by Silas (Michael Fassbender), a mysterious traveler, and hotly pursued by an outlaw (Ben Mendelsohn) along the way. Sundance 2015 World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic. An A24/DIRECTV release.

Steak (R)evolution, directed and written by Franck Ribière, co-written by Vérane Frédiani (France) – International Premiere, Documentary. Grass fed, grain finished, intricately marbled, and dry aged — the concept of what makes the best steak varies greatly, and it continues to evolve as we move toward more sustainable farming practices. In this gourmet, across-the-world road trip, chefs, farmers, butchers, journalists and other experts weigh in on the various factors at play to help us understand the (r)evolution taking place right now and the challenges ahead. In English, French with subtitles. A Kino Lorber release.

Thought Crimes, directed by Erin Lee Carr. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Convicted yet then acquitted of conspiring to kidnap, rape, kill, and eat several women, NYPD officer Gilberto Valle quickly rose to infamy as New York’s own “Cannibal Cop”. With exclusive access to Valle, Erin Lee Carr’s unflinching documentary asks a fundamental question that challenges our beliefs about the criminal justice system, and even the very nature of right and wrong: can you be guilty of a crime you only thought about committing? An HBO Documentary Film.

Tumbledown, directed by Sean Mewshaw, and written by Desi Van Til. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Years after the accidental death of her folk-singer husband, Hannah (Rebecca Hall) has yet to fully accept her small-town life without him. Then she is approached by a charming New York writer (Jason Sudeikis) intent on penning a biography of her late husband’s life, and Hannah finds herself opening up again. Also featuring performances by Dianna Agron, Blythe Danner, Griffin Dunne, Joe Manganiello, and Richard Masur

The Wannabe, directed and written by Nick Sandow. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Gotti-obsessed and hopelessly in love, Thomas (Boardwalk Empire’s Vincent Piazza) and Rose (Academy Award®–winner Patricia Arquette) are looking to fit in to a neighborhood where mob-ties equal social currency. Amidst events surrounding the 1992 trial of John Gotti, Thomas and Rose attempt to make their mark. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese.

When I Live My Life Over Again, directed and written by Robert Edwards. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Jude (Amber Heard) is a would-be singer-songwriter still struggling to make her mark. Cash-strapped and homeless, she begrudgingly returns to the Hamptons home of her father (Christopher Walken), an over-the-hill crooner desperately charting his musical comeback, in this spunky, soulful dramedy about the personal costs of artistic ambition and the bonds that carry us through.

Wondrous Boccaccio (Maraviglioso Boccaccio), directed and written by Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani. (Italy) – International Premiere, Narrative. Set against the backdrop of a black plague-stricken Florence, ten young men and women escape to a country estate where they spend their days telling different stories of love, fate, and resurrection. From legendary Italian directors Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Wondrous Boccaccio is a tribute to the stories that emerged from one of the darkest periods in Italian history, and the imaginations that quietly fueled them. In Italian with subtitles.

MIDNIGHT
Always thrilling and a little bit dangerous, Tribeca’s Midnight section this year features five genre films and one special event for adventurous late night audiences. Creative and unique villains from vengeful anthropomorphic bananas to evil mutant wasps and crazy ass babysitters terrorize the heroes of Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana!, Stung, and Emelie; Conversely it’s antiheroes who take the spotlight in corrupt cop drama Hyena and envelope-pushing kidnapping story Scherzo Diabolico. The program is capped off with a one-night only live performance from cinephile comedy group Rifftrax, who will skewer the reigning king of Midnight Movies: Tommy Wiseau’s The Room. Stay up late with these scary, funny, surprising tales in Midnight at Tribeca.

Bodyslam: The Revenge of the Banana!, directed and written by Ryan Harvie and John Paul Horstmann. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Ronald McFondle, Eddie Van Glam, and other social outcasts made up the Seattle Semi-Pro (SSP) Wrestlers, an off-kilter family of cabaret fighters that spoofed the pros. When a newcomer Paul, The Banana, fell on the wrong end of the joke, he ran to the government to disband the SSP. Bodyslam: The Revenge of the Banana! captures the wrestlers’ fight to keep the theatrics alive.

Emelie, directed by Michael Thelin, and written by Richard Raymond Harry Herbeck. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. After their regular babysitter Maggie can’t make it, the Thompson family turns to her friend Anna to supervise their children while the parents go out to celebrate their anniversary. At first Anna seems like a dream come true to the kids, allowing them to eat extra cookies and play with things that are usually off-limits, but as her behavior becomes increasingly odd, the kids soon find out that her intentions are dark and twisted, and she is not who she seems to be.

Hyena, written and directed by Gerard Johnson. (UK) – U.S. Premiere, Narrative. Michael Logan (Peter Ferdinando) may be a corrupt, coke-addled cop, but he’s a bad lieutenant with a conscience. After years of dodging the same laws he was assigned to uphold, Michael suddenly finds himself trying to change while safeguarding a young Albanian woman from the sex trade. Equal parts grit and neon, Hyena blurs the line between cop and criminal and exposes the illicit underworld inhabited by London’s most ruthless policemen. A Tribeca Film release.

Scherzo Diabolico, directed and written by Adrián García Bogliano. (Mexico, USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.Armed with a fine-tuned chokehold and penchant for piano sonatas, a wearied accountant breaks his mild-mannered routine when he kidnaps a young woman. What starts as a carefully calculated plan soon crescendos into his worst nightmare. A delightfully twisted black comedy, Scherzo Diabolico is the latest opus from director Adrián García Bogliano. In Spanish with subtitles

Stung, directed by Benni Diez and written by Adam Aresty. (Germany, USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. For catering staffers Paul and Julia, Mrs. Perch’s fancy garden party at her remote country villa is nothing out of the ordinary. A mishap with toxic plant fertilizer leads to the most unwelcome of dinner guests: giant killer wasps. Director Benni Diez takes audiences on a thrilling, gory rollercoaster ride from campy to creepy, in this delightful and dreadful creature-feature.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS
This year’s special screenings are all exciting film experiences.

A Ballerina’s Tale, directed and written by Nelson George, (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Join us for a world premiere screening of Nelson George’s much-anticipated, behind-the-curtain documentary about the daily routine of Misty Copeland, the first African-American female soloist at New York’s American Ballet Theatre® in two decades.

Followed by a Q&A with Misty Copeland and a special ballet performance by her mentees Erica Lall (American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company) and Naazir Muhammad (ABT’s JKO School) sponsored by Under Armour.

Mary J. Blige – The London Sessions, directed by Sam Wrench, (U.K., USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. Join Mary J. Blige in London, where over ten days she will record her 13th studio album. Featuring a behind-the-scenes look at her work sessions with some of Britain’s hottest recording artists, including Sam Smith, Disclosure, Emeli Sandé, Naughty Boy, and Sam Romans.

A performance from Mary J. Blige will follow the screening.

Rifftrax Live: The Room. (USA) – World Premiere. The brainchild of Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumnus Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy (aka Tom Servo), and Bill Corbett (aka Crow T. Robot), Rifftrax skewers cult classic films with hilarious live commentary.

For their first-ever New York performance the Rifftrax gang will unleash their signature comedic chops on Tommy Wiseau’s modern masterpiece, The Room, for a one-night-only live cinema event.

Speedy, directed by Ted Wilde. (USA) – Newly restored print from the Criterion Collection, Narrative. Silent comedy legend Harold Lloyd stars as a die-hard Yankees fan who can’t keep a job, but is determined to save the last horse-drawn trolley in New York. This lighthearted slapstick classic features visits to Coney Island and Yankee Stadium, an incredible cameo by Babe Ruth, and hair-raising cab rides through the city streets.

For one-night only, the legendary dj and producer DJ Z-Trip lends his amazing musical talent to create an all new soundtrack for this silent film classic, showcasing his eclectic style and considerable live turntable skills.

WORK IN PROGRESS

LoveTrue, directed by Alma Har’el, (USA) – Work in Progress, Documentary. Director Alma Har’el returns to TFF with a work-in-progress presentation. LoveTrue weaves three challenging relationships, while examining non-fiction performance as a documentation of truth and a purveyor of memory.

Join Har’el and Executive Producer, Shia LaBeouf for an exclusive preview of scenes from the film and an intimate conversation about True Love.

All Work, All Play, Directed by Patrick Creadon, (USA) – Work in Progress, Documentary. There’s something happening in the world of video games. Thousands are flocking to arenas to watch tournaments unfold. Tens of millions are watching online. One percent of the world population is playing the most popular competitive game. In All Work All Play, go behind the scenes and follow the ascent of eSports, and watch as the best pro gamers in the world fight for the Intel Extreme Masters championship.

Starting March 18, the Film Guide and screening schedule will be live on www.tribecafilm.com and detail all feature films announced to date; additional programs will be added upon announcement.

Passes and tickets for the 2015 Festival
The new Spring Pass is on sale now at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets. This pass will provide access to Spring Studios, throughout the Festival, including innovation talks, exhibitions, and special events, as well as a resource center, and creative workspace, with food, and drinks. This Pass will also provide reduced ticket prices for select special events. The Spring Pass costs $400, discounted to $300 if purchased before April 15. Pass holders can invite one guest to accompany them to Spring Studios each day of the Festival. An Individual Day Pass for Spring Studios costs $50, discounted to $40 if purchased before April 15.

Advance selection ticket packages and passes are now on sale for American Express Card Members, and on Monday, March 9 for the general public. All advance selection packages and passes can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single tickets cost $18.00 for evening, and weekend screenings, and $10.00 for weekday matinee screenings.

Single ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 31 for American Express Card Members, Sunday, April 5 for downtown residents, and Monday, April 6 for the general public. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Regal Cinemas Battery Park (102 North End Avenue), Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (260 W. 23rd Street), and the Tribeca Film Festival creative hub at Spring Studios (50 Varick Street). The 2015 Festival will offer ticket discounts on general screenings and Tribeca Talks: After the Movie and Directors Series panels for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only.

About the Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enabling the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. It is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture, the Festival brings the industry and community together around storytelling.

The Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,600 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 4.9 million attendees, and has generated an estimated $900 million in economic activity for New York City.

About the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival Sponsors
As Presenting Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, AT&T is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of filmmaking through access and innovation, aiming to make this the most interactive film festival in the country, where visitors experience the Festival in ways they never imagined.

The Tribeca Film Festival is pleased to announce its Signature Sponsors: Accenture, American Express, Bloomberg, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Brookfield Place, ESPN, IWC Schaffhausen, The Lincoln Motor Company, NCM Media Networks, The New York Times, Santander, United Airlines, and VDKA® 6100. The Festival welcomes new Signature Sponsors: NBC 4 New York and Spring Studios.

Leave your thoughts on the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival Spotlight, Midnight, Short Film lineup below in the comments section. For more Tribeca Film Festival news, photos, videos, and information, visit our Tribeca Film Festival Page, subscribe to us by Email, “follow” us on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, or “like” on Facebook for quick updates. The Tribeca Film Festival will take place from April 15 to Sunday April 26, 2015.

Source: Tribecafilm