The Press Release:
The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, unveiled its feature film lineup today. Continuing its tradition of elevating exceptional storytelling rooted in today’s global film communities, the 18th annual Festival will showcase debut works from emerging talent and new works from notable filmmakers. The program includes discoveries, comedies, music-centered, politically-minded, and social films. The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival takes place from April 24th to May 5th.
This year’s features program includes 103 films from 124 filmmakers. 50% of the films selected in the three competition sections are directed by women filmmakers. The lineup includes 81 world premieres, three international premieres, eight North American premieres, one U.S. Premiere, and 10 New York premieres. This year’s program also includes 42 first-time filmmakers and 19 Tribeca alums returning to the Festival with their latest projects. 40% of the feature films have one or more women directors, 29% of the feature films are directed by filmmakers of color, and 13% of the feature films are by individuals who identify as LGBTQIA. The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival was programmed from more than 9,295 total submissions.
“Our goal each year is to strike a balance between discovering new talent and showcasing new projects by notable filmmakers and storytellers. At Tribeca, we believe in amplifying fresh voices as well as celebrating the continued success of artists in the industry,” said Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President of Tribeca Enterprises. “The art of filmmaking is displayed across the program in both narrative and documentary films.”
“Every festival is shaped by and reflective of its community, and we are fortunate that our hometown just happens to be the most diverse city on earth. So our curatorial mandate is to bring to the screens a cinematic celebration—in only 100 features—whose breadth of stories and storytellers is as prismatic and adventurous, local and global, diverse and inclusive as our incredible city,” said Festival Director Cara Cusumano.
“There are many factors we consider each year when selecting films for the Festival program,” said Frédéric Boyer, Artistic Director. “We look at styles, approaches, tones, perspectives; we examine storylines and character development; we search for uniqueness and untold stories. Most importantly, we also pay attention to what stirs emotions, sparks inspiration, and makes us think. It’s an exciting process for us, and we look forward to sharing this year’s original films with audiences.”
Tribeca will also introduce Tribeca Critics’ Week, the first for a North American film festival. This section will debut with a slate of five feature films curated by New York-based film critics.
Special for this year is This Used To Be New York, a curated section whose films reflect on quintessential New York cultural eras that shaped and have come to define the city today.
The 12-day Festival will see the debuts of 52 narratives and 51 documentaries. The competition section features 12 documentaries, 10 U.S. narratives, and 10 international narratives. The films in competition will compete for cash prizes totaling $165,000, as well as artwork from the Art Awards program, which offers work from acclaimed contemporary artists in select categories. For the seventh year, the jury-selected Nora Ephron Award, presented by CHANEL, will award $25,000 to the woman filmmaker in this year’s program who embodies the spirit and boldness of the late, pioneering Ephron.
As previously announced, the Festival will open at New York’s iconic Apollo Theater with the world premiere of Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams’ documentary, The Apollo, from HBO Documentary Films.
In addition to Cusumano and Boyer, the programming team includes VP of Shorts Sharon Badal; senior programmers Liza Domnitz (features, TV, and online work), Loren Hammonds (immersive and features), and Lucy Mukerjee (features); programmer Ben Thompson (shorts); and program advisors Paula Weinstein and Tammie Rosen, alongside a team of associate programmers.
The 2019 feature film selections are as follows:
U.S Narrative Competition
Documentary Competition
International Narrative Competition
Spotlight Narrative
Spotlight Documentary
Viewpoints
Tribeca Critics Week
This Used To Be New York
Midnight
Movies Plus
2019 Juried Feature Film Awards:
Awards in the three main competition sections—U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, and Documentary Competition—will be determined by a jury and presented in the following categories: Founders Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature; Best Screenplay in a U.S. Narrative Feature; Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature; Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature; Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature; Best International Narrative Feature; Best Screenplay in an International Narrative Feature; Best Cinematography in an International Narrative Feature; Best Actor in an International Narrative Feature; Best Actress in an International Narrative Feature; Best Documentary Feature; Best Editing in a Documentary Feature, and Best Cinematography in a Documentary Feature.
In addition, the Festival juries will present awards for Best New Narrative Director and The Albert Maysles Award (Best New Documentary Director) for first time feature directors in any section.
One narrative film directed by or written by a woman making its World or International Premiere will receive the Nora Ephron Award, which recognizes a woman who embodies the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron.
Two feature films—one narrative and one documentary—will be selected to receive the Audience Award, the audience choice for best feature film. Films playing in the Competition, Viewpoints, Spotlight, Midnight, Movies Plus, This Used To Be New York, and Tribeca Critics’ Week screenings sections are eligible.
Passes, Tickets, and Credentials for the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival:
Advance selection ticket packages are now on sale. All packages can be purchased online, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).
Also available for purchase now is The Hudson Pass, an all access pass to screenings and talks taking place at BMCC, Regal Battery Park Stadium, Village East Cinema, and SVA theaters as well as full access to all events at the Festival Hub at Spring Studios, which includes VR and Immersive projects, Movies Plus screenings, and access to festival lounges.
Single tickets cost $24.00 for evening and weekend screenings, $12.00 for weekday matinee screenings, $30.00 for Tribeca TV and Movies Plus $40.00 for Tribeca Talks panels, and $40.00 for Tribeca Immersive. Single ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 26th and can be purchased online through our film guide or through the call center.
Tickets for events at The Beacon Theatre are available for purchase online starting March 19th. Packages and passes are now available for purchase on the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival App, on iTunes and Google Play.
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Piercing Ken Thoughts: So that was one long press release and that is why I serialized all of the assorted sections of To Do for you to find by clicking their name up above. In the event that I end up posting more alerts of this kind, the interested reader can click “Tribeca Film Festival 2019” to see them on a brand new tab. Just scroll through them to see that which interests you the most. As I close this up I wonder if any of you are planning on going and what about it did you like. I’ve never gone but admit that it sure sounds interesting. Okay, now its time for me to say goodbye and for you to watch for those other sections which will manifest every hour on the half hour mark. Enjoy.
Official Website: https://www.tribecafilm.com/