Alia Shawkat Joins Lucid Dreams Productions, THE KEY | TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2019

The Key, a mysterious virtual reality journey from Lucid Dreams Productions’ director Celine Tricart and producer Gloria Bradbury today announced that they have tapped Alia Shawkat to narrate the experience. Shawkat, best known for her roles on Arrested Development and Search Party, will be the voice to carry audience members through the experience that presents the viewer with moments of intense choice to unlock the mystery of the key.

The Key will world premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival as a juried selection in the Immersive Storyscapes category. The interactive virtual reality experience shares a journey through dreams, where Shawkat will guide viewers through four different environments as they face challenging moments prompting them to make difficult and dangerous decisions as they make their way to safety.

“We are thrilled to be working with Alia on “The Key”. With her high attention to detail, she brings the voice we needed to complete this project. Finding the exact quantity of information you need to communicate in a VR experience is tricky. Alia’s voice provides the emotion to balance out the intricate details I’m communicating with the script,” said director Celine Tricart.

“Alia’s background is a great fit for the project and we are impressed by the type of artist she is, well rounded and present. With VR, sound is an important part of the experience, and Alia will deliver the nuances we envision. As someone who strives to empower change for more social fairness and justice, it is clear that the theme of our story resonates with her. Celine and I believe in the beauty and strength of diversity and Alia represents all that.” said producer, Gloria Bradbury.

The Key invites its audience to pursue their own journey into darkness making their way to light. A room-scale interactive experience, The Key holds a special message that is not revealed until the end, when the twists and turns selected by the viewer uncover the past that necessitated making so many difficult and delicate decisions under pressure.

The Key is created and directed by Celine Tricart and produced by Gloria Bradbury, made in partnership with the Oculus VR for Good Creators Lab. The experience will world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in the Immersive Virtual Arcade with screening beginning Friday, April 26th through Saturday, May 4th. Tickets to experience The Key can be purchased on the festival website HERE.

ABOUT LUCID DREAMS PRODUCTIONS

Lucid Dreams Productions is a production company specializing in new technologies and the future of storytelling. Celine Tricart co-directed and produced Maria Bello’s “Sun Ladies” VR experience about the women Yazidi fighting ISIS in Iraq which world premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and screened at SXSW, HotDocs, Cannes NEXT, Beijing Film Festival and more. For the project, Tricart traveled through ISIS-held territory to meet the women soldiers at the border between Iraq and Syria and record their stories. “Sun Ladies” won Best VR Documentary at the World VR Forum and a Lumiere Award for Best 360 Film. In 2019, Tricart premieres “The Key”, her first room-scale interactive VR experience as part of the Storyscapes competition at the Tribeca Film Festival.

ABOUT OCULUS CREATORS LAB

Creators Lab from Oculus pairs rising filmmakers with nonprofits to use the power of VR to tell stories and help people around the world better understand each other. Through VR, we aim to bring greater awareness to challenges people face around the globe. Now it its third year, Creators Lab projects have debuted around the world with premieres at festivals such as Tribeca Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival, Sheffield Doc Fest, and Venice International Film Festival. Creators Lab is part of Oculus VR for Good, a broader initiative dedicated to harnessing the power of VR to drive positive social change.

#Tribeca2017: Hillary Rodham Clinton Surprise Guest at Tribeca Film Festival Earth Day VR Talk with Kathryn Bigelow

SURPRISE GUEST HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON JOINS TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL TALKS VR PANEL DISCUSSION ON EARTH DAY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON ELEPHANT POACHING

Panel Moderated by Academy Award®-Winning Director Kathryn Bigelow, and also Featured Director Imraan Ismail, African Parks CMO Andrea Heydlauf, and Nat Geo’s Rachel Webber

Talk Followed 250 Audience Members’ Simultaneous VR Experience of the World Premiere of Nat Geo’s The Protector’s: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes

New York, NY [April 22, 2017] – Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared at the world premiere of the National Geographic Documentary Films’ VR short The Protector’s: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes, the first VR short from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow and Emmy-nominee Imraan Ismail. The 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, runs April 19-30.

Produced by Here Be Dragons, The Protectors was filmed deep in the Congo and shot in virtual reality to immerse viewers in the dangerous reality of those who risk their lives to protect elephants from poachers slaughtering the animals for their ivory tusks.

Tribeca co-founder Jane Rosenthal introduced the special event and then the panel discussion followed the screening of The Protector’s: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes, with 250 audience members donning VR headsets simultaneously to experience the film together.   

Highlight of comments said during the panel:

Hillary Rodham Clinton

·         “Here it is Earth Day and we are marching on behalf of science. Part of science is understanding the intricate relationships we share with all those who are on this planet and in particular large mammals like elephants.”

·         “It's really important for everyone here to know that there is something you can do. You can support organizations like African Parks and others.”

·         “I'm very proud that under President Obama, the United States passed a near federal ban on the transportation and interstate trafficking of ivory in our own country.”

·         “As critical as this problem is, there have been a lot of good effort made at a local, regional, national and now international level to try to address it.”

·         “We [the Obama administration] had 3 overriding goals - stop the killing, stop the trafficking, and stop the demand...and part of that is protecting these rangers.”

Kathryn Bigelow, Co-Director, The Protectors

·         “I realized that there was an intersection between poaching and terrorism, which led me to this project.”

·         “These rangers are doing an extraordinarily heroic job of putting their life on the line every single day in order to protect these elephants and save them from extinction, and sometimes sadly they pay the ultimate price.”

·         “The biggest challenge that Imraan and I looked at when making this piece was how to activate the audience. How do you take it from being informative one step further and engage the viewer with a call to action.”

·         “We used VR to put people into a very active relationship with the subject.”  

Imraan Ismail, Co-Director, The Protectors

·         “The challenges, threats, dangers the rangers are facing each day are almost insurmountable. They're outmanned outgunned and they're putting themselves in the line of fire. As long as there are elephants, these rangers will just keep on doing it.”

Rachel Webber, EVP of Digital Product for National Geographic

·         “With this specific piece, we can all rally around this specific mission.”

·         “VR enables people to feel like they’re on the ground with these rangers. They become a part of the mission, a part of conservation. We need to continue pushing the boundaries of taking people on that conservation journey.”

Andrea Heydlauff, Chief Marketing Officer of African Parks

·         “We’ve been holding the front line since 2015. This is ground zero in the poaching war.”

·         “What these rangers are doing is providing connection for communities surrounding the parks. These are their families and friends and they see the direct benefit of what they are doing.”

·         “Good news here is only the absence of bad news.”

More than 30,000 African elephants die each year at the hands of poachers, and despite the global outcry over the killings, trafficking continues. The Protectors: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes is a call to action to help African Parks and to end the Ivory War. From National Geographic Documentary Films, the VR short chronicles a day in the life of a ranger in Garamba National Park, managed by the conservation non-profit African Parks, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These rangers often serve as the last line of defense in a race against extinction at the hands of poachers slaughtering elephants for their ivory tusks, facing constant danger and even the risk of death at the service of these sentient, noble creatures. The rangers of Garamba National Park are truly the unsung heroes in this race against time. 

The Protectors debuted at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival Saturday night (Earth Day) in New York City. Following the VR short, Hillary Rodham Clinton joined a panel discussion moderated by Kathryn Bigelow. As Secretary of State, Clinton worked to bring the issue of global wildlife trafficking out of obscurity. Her family’s foundation has launched an initiative to combat elephant poaching.

Co-director Ismail also participated on the panel, along with Rachel Webber, EVP of Digital Product for National Geographic and Andrea Heydlauff, chief marketing officer of African Parks.

Elephant Poaching Statistics:

- An estimated 100 African elephants are killed each day by poachers seeking ivory, meat and body parts. (Source)
- As of 2016, there were still more African elephants being killed for ivory than are being born. (Source)
- It’s estimated only about 400,000 African elephants are remaining today. (Source)
- Some experts believe that at this current rate of poaching, elephants could be mostly extinct by the end of the next decade. (Source)

Tribeca Film Festival Announces Tribeca TV 2017 Lineup

16th ANNUAL TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SECOND ANNUAL TRIBECA TV PROGRAM FEATURING WORLD PREMIERES OF HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW SHOWS AND FAN FAVORITE RETURNING SERIES, AND A SLATE OF INDEPENDENT PILOTS

Premieres Include Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, NatGeo’s First Scripted Series Genius, USA Network’s The Sinner and Season Debuts of Audience Favorites Including Showtime’s Episode and Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Legendary Documentarian Ken Burns to Receive the Citizens Filmmaker Award and Present a Special Sneak Peek of His Upcoming Documentary The Vietnam War

For everything Tribeca, head over to https://tribecafilm.com and follow us: https://twitter.com/TribecaFilmFest https://instagram.com/tribeca

New York, NY [March 23, 2017] – The 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, today announced the lineup for the second annual television festival, Tribeca TV, featuring a mix of world premieres of some of the most talked-about new series, including The Handmaid’s Tale and Genius, season debuts of audience favorites such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Episodes, as well as documentary special previews, and indie pilots. Premiere screenings will be followed by dynamic conversations with some of the most creative and well-known actors, directors, writers, and producers in the business. Tribeca TV, which will run during the festival’s 16th edition, features 15 shows including five series premieres, four season premieres, three independent pilots, one feature documentary, and one very special sneak peek. The Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 19-30.

Tribeca TV debuted last year and launched a diverse selection of shows that went on to critical acclaim and commercial success, including HBO’s The Night Of and AMC’s The Night Manager. This year’s lineup includes series premieres of: Hulu’s highly anticipated The Handmaid’s Tale, followed by a conversation with the dynamic cast of Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Alexis Bledel, Samira Wiley, and Max Minghella; NatGeo’s first scripted series Genius about the fascinating life of Albert Einstein, followed by a conversation with executive producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, who also directs the first episode, and stars Emily Watson and Geoffrey Rush; USA’s crime thriller anthology series The Sinner, followed by a conversation with stars Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman, and director Antonio Campos; and There’s … Johnny!, from NBC’s new comedy service SeeSo, followed by a conversation with showrunners and cast including executive producers Paul Reiser and David Gordon Green, and star Tony Danza.

“Coming off of a very successful first year of Tribeca TV, we curated this year’s program to include an expanded, exceptional lineup of top-notch shows and dynamic storytellers both in front of and behind the camera,” said Cara Cusumano, Director of Programming at the Tribeca Film Festival. “As the TV landscape continues to evolve in exciting, cinematic directions, the festival creates a unique opportunity for audiences to discover together on a big screen what everyone else will eventually be talking about from their couches at home.”

Highlights also include season premieres of audience favorites including: season three premiere of the Netflix original series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, followed by a conversation with executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock and stars Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski and Carol Kane; the premiere of Showtime’sEpisodes’ final season, followed by a conversation between Matt LeBlanc and creators David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik; season three premiere of Hulu’s family comedyCasual, followed by a conversation with creator Zander Lehmann, as well as executive producers and cast members; and season three premiere of Comedy Central’s Another Period, followed by a conversation with creators, writers, and stars Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome.

Tribeca TV will also host a special event for CNN’s new series Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History, executive produced by Dwayne Johnson, which explores music as a driving force behind social change, with the premiere of the series’ 9/11 episode at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. SpikeTV will premiere a new installment of their feature documentary series I Am, an inside look at the life of Heath Ledger, as told by his inner circle. Additionally, the new independent variety show from the mastermind behindcollective: unconscious, The Eyeslicer will premiere at the Festival, bringing together the next generation of alternative Americans under one strange roof.

This year Tribeca TV will highlight the work of independent productions for the first time, as part of the Festival’s mission of creator discovery. These three original new pilots will premiere together during a special event followed by a conversation with the creators: Black Magic for White Boys, Lost & Found, and Manic.

Ken Burns will be honored for his unparalleled work as one of the most influential and celebrated historical documentarians with the Festival’s new Citizen Filmmaker Award. Following the presentation, audience members will screen a special sneak-peek created especially for Tribeca of The Vietnam War, the unprecedented 10-part, 18 hour documentary film series about the Vietnam War directed by Burns and Lynn Novick, which will air on PBS this fall. 

The TRIBECA TV Lineup:

With media support from Vulture the entertainment and culture site from New York Magazine

Another Period (Comedy Central) - Season 3 World Premiere

Executive Producers: Natasha Leggero, Riki Lindhome, Jeremy Konner, Debbie Liebling, Stuart Cornfeld, Mike Rosenstein, Ben Stiller.

Another Period tells the incredible story of the Bellacourt sisters, Lillian and Beatrice (played by Leggero and Lindhome). Defined by their family’s wealth, they care only about becoming super famous — which is a lot harder in 1902. The show follows the insanely decadent and outrageous life of the Bellacourt coterie. Before others claimed their fame, they were the one American family who epitomized all that was spoiled, shameless and stupid. The Bellacourts have more servants than relatives and days filled with money, sex, drugs…and more money.

After the episode: A conversation with creators, writers, and stars Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome, and cast members Paget Brewster and Brett Gelman.

Screening time: Wednesday, April 26, 6:15 PM, SVA-2

Casual (Hulu) - Season 3 World Premiere

Executive Producers: Zander Lehmann, Liz Tigelaar, Helen Estabrook, Jason Reitman.

Season 3 returns with everyone's favorite co-dependent siblings Valerie and Alex. They continue to live deep in each other’s emotional lives as they raise Valerie's daughter Laura. Following dramatic life changes at the end of the last season, Valerie and Alex are adjusting to a new normal while continuing to struggle to maintain boundaries with each other.

After the episode: A conversation with creator and executive producer Zander Lehmann, executive producers, Liz Tigelaar, Helen Estabrook, and cast members Michaela Watkins, Tommy Dewey, and Tara Lynne Barr. Moderated by editor for New York Magazine and Vulture, Stacey Wilson Hunt.

Screening time: Saturday, April 29, 6:15PM, SVA-2

Episodes (Showtime) - Final Season Premiere

Executive Producer: Jimmy Mulville.

Episodes, the award-winning, razor-sharp comedy about the insanity of making a television show, returns for its fifth and final season. Lauded English television writers Sean and Beverly Lincoln were lured to Hollywood to adapt their much-loved British boarding-school comedy, Lyman’s Boys. Their American network has mangled the show into Pucks!, a sitcom about a high school hockey coach starring Matt LeBlanc (played brilliantly by himself). After a dismal run, the sitcom was finally put out of its misery. Now Sean and Beverly struggle to create a successful new project in this country without completely losing their integrity, while Matt desperately attempts to revitalize his disappearing acting career.

After the episode: A conversation with creators David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, and cast member Matt LeBlanc. Moderated by editor for New York Magazine and Vulture,Stacey Wilson Hunt.

Screening time: Sunday, April 30, 5:30 PM, SVA-1

The Eyeslicer - New Series Premiere

Executive Producers: Dan Schoenbrun, Vanessa McDonnell.

The Eyeslicer is a new variety TV show that brings the next generation of alternative American filmmakers together under one strange roof. The hour-long show will slice, dice, and then mince your eyeballs into delicious ceviche. Each episode is a handcrafted mixtape, blending boundary-pushing short form work into a weird, wild, uninterrupted whole.The Eyeslicer premieres at Tribeca with the episode "Facial Reconstruction", featuring work from acclaimed indie filmmakers Lauren Wolkstein, Erin Vassilopoulos, Shaka King, Danny Madden, and Leah Shore.

After the episode: A conversation with co-creators Dan Schoenbrun and Vanessa McDonnell, and filmmakers Lauren Wolkstein, Erin Vassilopoulos, Shaka King, Danny Madden, and Leah Shore.

Screening time: Friday, April 28, 9:00 PM, SVA-2

Genius (National Geographic) - New Series World Premiere

Executive Producers: Ken Biller, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Gigi Pritzker, Sam Sokolow.

Genius charts how Albert Einstein (Geoffrey Rush), an imaginative, rebellious patent clerk who struggled to land an academic post in his early years, went on to become the greatest scientific mind of the 20th century. The show explores his rise as he juggles his volatile, passionate and complex personal relationships. Based on Walter Isaacson’s acclaimed biography.

After the episode: A conversation with director and executive producer Ron Howard, executive producers Brian Grazer and Gigi Pritzker, showrunner Ken Biller, and cast members Geoffrey Rush, Johnny Flynn, Emily Watson, and Samantha Colley.

Screening time: Thursday, April 20, 6:00 PM, BMCC

The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu, MGM) - New Series World Premiere

Executive Producer: Bruce Miller.

Based on Margaret Atwood's acclaimed novel, The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of Gilead, a modern-day totalitarian society facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats women as property. As one of the few fertile women, Offred is forced into sexual servitude in a desperate attempt to repopulate the world. In a society where one wrong word could end her life, Offred has one goal: survive and find the daughter taken from her.

After the episode: A conversation with executive producers Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, and cast members Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley, Alexis Bledel, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O.T. Fagbenle, and Max Minghella. Moderated by writer for The New York Times Magazine, Jenna Wortham.

Screening time: Friday, April 21, 6:00 PM, BMCC

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I Am Heath Ledger (Spike TV) - World Premiere

Producer/Co-Director: Derik Murray. Co-Director: Adrian Buitenhuis.

Told through excerpts of his greatest performances, interviews with friends and family (including Ben Mendelsohn, Naomi Watts, Ang Lee, and Ben Harper), and the lens of his own camera, I Am Heath Ledger is an intimate celebration of the actor, artist, and icon. An artist of exceptional depth and courage, Ledger was equally talented behind the camera. This stirring documentary paints a rich portrait of one of the great artists of his generation.

Screening times:

Sunday, April 23, 5:00 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub

Monday, April 24, 6:45 PM, RGL-9

Wednesday, April 26, 8:00 PM, CIN-6

Thursday, April 27, 8:00 PM, CIN-6

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The Sinner (USA/Universal Cable Productions) - New Series World Premiere

Executive Producers: Derek Simonds, Jessica Biel, Michelle Purple, Charlie Gogolak.

A young mother is overcome by an inexplicable fit of rage and commits a startling act of violence. The event launches an inverted and utterly surprising crime thriller whose driving force is not the “who” or the “what,”—but the “why.” Soon the investigator finds himself obsessed with uncovering the woman's buried motive. From Universal Cable Productions, The Sinner is a riveting psychological thriller, with a pilot stylishly directed by acclaimed filmmaker Antonio Campos (Afterschool, Christine).

After the episode: A conversation with executive producer and director of the pilot Antonio Campos, executive producer Derek Simonds, executive producer and cast memberJessica Biel, and cast members Christopher Abbott and Bill Pullman.

Screening time: Tuesday, April 25, 6:15 PM, SVA-1

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Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History (CNN)

Executive Producers: Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Maro Chermayeff, Jeff Dupre.

Soundtracks explores seminal moments in history through the music that defines them. Featuring original interviews with legendary musicians as well as celebrated journalists, historians, and writers, the series reveals how music has been a driving force behind social change. In a Tribeca screening at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York, the show will explore how songs like Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” took on new and heightened meaning, as music took center stage for a country fighting to heal. Co-hosted by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

After the episode: A conversation with CNN anchor of New Day, Chris Cuomo, and professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, Jason King. Moderated by Executive Vice President and Deputy Director for Museum Programs at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Clifford Chanin.

Screening times: Tuesday, April 25, 7:00PM, 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Wednesday, April 26, 3:00 PM, SVA-2

After the episode: A conversation with executive producers Maro Chermayeff and Jeff Dupree

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There’s… Johnny! (Seeso) - New Series World Premiere

Executive Producers: Paul Reiser, David Steven Simon, David Gordon Green, Jeff Sotzing, Brian Volk-Weiss, Craig Knizek, Cisco Henson, Michael Pelmont, Matt Ochacher, Evan Shapiro, Kelsey Balance.

It's 1972, and everyone goes to bed together... with Johnny Carson, TV's biggest star. 19 year old Nebraskan Andy Klavin stumbles his way into a gig as a gofer at Carson's  "The Tonight Show" and into a world that will change his life. There's… Johnny! takes a fictional comedic trip back in time, to go behind the man in front of the curtain, and look at the lives and loves of the people who make all of America laugh.

After the episode: A conversation with creator Paul Reiser, executive producers David Steven Simon and David Gordon Green, and cast members Tony Danza, Ian Nelson,and Jane Levy.

Screening time: Thursday April 27, 6:15 PM, SVA-2

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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix) - Season 3 World Premiere

Executive Producers: Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, Jeff Richmond, David Mine.

After living in a cult for fifteen years, Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) decides to reclaim her life and start over in New York City. Season 3 opens with Kimmy in an unfamiliar position with the Reverend back in her life. Meanwhile, Titus returns from his cruise and auditions for an exciting new role, and Lillian has to break up with her boyfriend Robert Durst.

After the episode: A conversation with co-creators and executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, and cast members Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski, and Carol Kane. Moderated by co-host of Morning Joe, Willie Geist.

Screening time: Friday, April 28, 6:00 PM, BMCC

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The Vietnam War (PBS) - Special Sneak Peek

Producers: Sarah Botstein, Ken Burns, Lynn Novick.

Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s ten-part, 18-hour documentary series tells the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never been told before. Featuring testimony from nearly 100 witnesses, including Americans who fought in the war, those who opposed it, and Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides. The Vietnam Waris an immersive, 360 degree narrative of a seminal period of history.

After the episode: A conversation with filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick.

Screening time: Friday, April 28, 5:30 PM, SVA-1

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Pilot Season

For the first time in 2017, Tribeca opened submissions to independently produced TV pilots. This showcase program represents the strongest new voices bringing their talents to the episodic space.

After the screening: Join us for a conversation with the creators.

Screening times: Sunday, April 23, 9:00PM, CIN-07

Monday, April 24, 4:45 PM, CIN-01

Friday, April 28, 10:45 PM, CIN-01

Saturday, April 29, 3:15 PM, RGL-01

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·         Black Magic for White Boys - World Premiere

Executive Producers: Jamie Block, Ronald Guttman. An aging magician is about to lose his small New York theater, but has a devilish plan to save it. A middle-aged man finds his sovereignty in jeopardy when he impregnates a woman he barely knows. A real estate mogul is frustrated that he can't raise the rent on this tenants. These characters converge in Tribeca alum Onur Tukel’s bizarre comic tale about testing boundaries, gentrification, and how old New York is fading away. With: Onur Tukel, Ronald Guttman, Jamie Block.

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·         Lost & Found - World Premiere

Executive Producers: Haroula Rose, Melonie Diaz.

Stella and Ian are separating. But for this modern LA couple, that’s nothing to be sad or ashamed about. They decide to host an “un-wedding” party to celebrate. As friends and family descend on their home for the occasion, secrets are revealed and loyalties tested in this comedy-drama about family, friendship, and marriage. With: Melonie Diaz, Will Janowitz, Jennifer LeFleur, Terence Nance, Avi Rothman, Laura Lee Botsacos, Abby Wathen, Nick Thurston, Haroula Rose, Ethan Gold.

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·         Manic - World Premiere

Executive Producers: Kimberley Browning, Kate Marks.

Aurora Carter, an Ivy League-bound, AP Exam enthusiast finds that her over-achieving obsessiveness lands her in a boarding school for kids with mental illnesses. Now she has a singular goal: prove she doesn’t belong with the rest of the freaks. Determined to fight the system, Aurora makes alliances with the other girls one by one and inspires them to take control of their lives. With: Shanice Williams, Dot-Marie Jones, Russell Andrews, Nicki Micheaux, VyVy Nguyen.

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Passes and tickets for the 2017 Festival

Single ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 28 and cost $21.00 for evening and weekend screenings, $12.00 for weekday matinee screenings, $40.00 for Tribeca Talks panels and special screenings, $30.00 for Tribeca TV, and $40.00 for Tribeca Immersive. Tickets can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378) or at the ticket outlet located at Cinepolis Chelsea (260 W. 23rd Street).

Also available for purchase now is The Hudson Pass, an all access pass to screenings and talks taking place at BMCC, Regal, Cinepolis Chelsea, and SVA as well as full access to all events at the Festival Hub at Spring Studios, which includes VR and immersive projects, special screenings with music performances, and access to the lounges.

The 2017 Festival will offer ticket discounts on general screenings and Tribeca Talks panels for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only.

Packages and passes are now available for purchase on the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival App, on:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tribeca-2017/id1208189515?mt=8

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tff2017.android

Tickets for events at the Beacon Theatre and at Radio City Music Hall are available for purchase online only at www.ticketmaster.com

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About the Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival is a cultural event for the new age of storytelling that brings together visionaries across industries and diverse audiences. It celebrates the power of storytelling in a variety of forms – from film to TV, VR to online work, and music to gaming. As a platform for creative expression, independent filmmaking, and immersive entertainment, Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning filmmakers and creators, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new technology and ideas through premieres, exhibitions, talks, 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. With strong roots in independent film, the annual event has evolved into a destination for creativity, reimagines the cinematic experience, and explores how art can unite communities.

About the 2017 Partners

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, while expanding opportunities to diverse creators around the globe.  As one of the largest communications and entertainment companies, AT&T helps millions connect to their passions – no matter where they are.

The Tribeca Film Festival is pleased to announce its 2017 Signature Partners: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Bai Beverages, Bloomberg Philanthropies', Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), CHANEL, EFFEN® Vodka, ESPN, IWC Schaffhausen, The Lincoln Motor Company, National CineMedia, Nespresso, New York Magazine, Nexxus Salon Hair Care, Nutella, NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Spring Studios New York, and United Airlines.

Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards 2016 #TDIA2016

Disruptive Innovation Awards 2016 winners Nate Parker, Anthony Romero (with Edward Snowden), Hilde (9) and Isabel (12) Lysiak - on the TDIA2016 stage. Nate Parker also spoke to Art Shrian from myNewYorkeye, about being a storyteller.

Craig Hatkoff is an activist, philanthropist, mentor and true Disruptive Innovator. He took upon himself, along with his wonderful film-producer wife Jane Rosenthal and none-other-than Robert DeNiro, to do his best to recover city from the post 9/11 trauma. In 2002, they together started the Tribeca Film Festival, which has become one of the best showcase of entertainment, film, TV and new-media, not only in NYC but in entire country. And in 2010 they introduced the Disruptive Innovation Awards. Spearheaded by Craig Hatkoff in collaboration with renowned Harvard Business School Professor Clay Christensen and the Disruptor Foundation, the Tribeca Disruptive Innovations Awards aim to share insights into innovation to help solve some of the world’s most challenging problems. The awards celebrate innovators who have broken the mold to significantly impact industries and business models, creating significant change in humanitarian efforts, global conservation, social justice, education, media and community engagement.

The 6th annual Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards took place Friday as part of the 15th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival. This year's awards honored innovators from around the world who are making significant contributions to social justice, community engagement and environmental science - just in time for Earth day.

Honorees included Lin-Manual Miranda for his work bringing American History into the spotlight and encouraging access to theater for all income levels. Miranda accepted his award via video message.

Humanitarian and BIRTH OF A NATION filmmaker Nate Parker received the Theodore Parker Prize for social justice. In his emotional acceptance speech, Parker admitted that "being a disruptor is a lonely place," going on to explain that the role is not always an easy one.

The event also included special guest presenter Edward Snowden via robot from a top secret location, who presented Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU with his award. While Snowden remained mum on the 2016 presidential election, the duo encouraged more innovators to step forward and discussed the adversity they faced when no one believed them.

Lifetime achievement winner Dr. Richard Leakey announced to a standing ovation that next week, he will burn 120 tons of ivory, over $100 million US dollars, effectively removing the illegal commodity from the market.

The two intrepid sisters from Pennsylvania, Hilde (9) and Isabel (12) Lysiak, were recognized for their homegrown newspaper and bravery in the face of doubts because of their ages and gender. Hilde, in a video montage of their reporting, read the negative reactions posted to their social media and closed their acceptance speech with a plee for adults never to doubt them or tell them they are too young to accomplish their dreams.

The entire list of winners and details can be found at the links below:

• http://www.mynewyorkeye.com/awards-and-festivals-news/2016-tribeca-film-festival-and-disruptor-foundation-announce-honorees-for-seventh-annual-disruptive-innovation-awards
• http://www.tribecadisruptiveinnovationawards.com/

Conversation with Ingrid Jungermann - WOMEN WHO KILL #Tribeca2016

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Ingrid Jungermann is one of the most talented storytellers I have met. She’s a writer, director and an actress, “all-in-one”. And she’s a very honest, intelligent and inspiring person as well. Her wonderful film WOMEN WHO KILL, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2016, in New York City. The film is an evolved-adaptation of her WGA-nominated web-series ‘F to 7th’. It’s definitely a must watch film for all film lovers. I had an opportunity to talk to her, and it was just a great conversation. Read below, and you'll agree for yourself.

Art Shrian – Congratulations on your wonderful film, and it’s world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival. You’re a brilliant writer, director, actor, “all-in-one”. So, what inspires you to be a storyteller?

Ingrid Jungermann – I think it really started as a kid, me being the youngest of 3 siblings, with single mom. As the youngest of 3, you are lucky enough to just be an observer, and you’re kind of the one without the voice. While you may get more attention and people think what you say is cute, people do not take you that seriously. And coming from that, and being innately drawn to any kind of arts, I started writing at a very young age. I started to realize that, through writing I could have a voice. I could process things that were happening in my life. So I learned it as a coping mechanism, and a way to be heard.

A.S – What’s your message to other people who want to be storytellers?

I.J – For me specially, female filmmakers, people of color, socio economic challenges are all important subjects. Sometimes in this diversity conversation, poor people are not talked about. Making a film is not a poor person’s art form, unfortunately. That perspective is really lacking. I would say to people, who feel like there’s no opportunity, everyone is telling them to not do the thing they want to do, there’s no other point. I don’t see another reason to live a life, without doing the thing that you love. That makes no sense to me. It sucks some time, a lot of times. But I do not see any reason, why you would ever take the tiny amount of time we have, and do something you don’t love.

A.S – Wow, that’s very inspiring and moving. Thanks… So, how has been your journey? From working in Taco Bell, to Blockbuster, to selling Swarovski crystals, to being a filmmaker in New York; it’s quite a journey. How do you feel?

I.J – I don’t know if I’m a person who’s able to live in the moment, unfortunately. I struggle with that for my whole life. I feel like, I have some blinders on. I might keep those on, just because I want to do the work. And I think you constantly have to be able to tap into who you are, and be honest with yourself. Of course I appreciate it all, I feel amazing. But I also feel that this is what I wanted. I took the steps to get here. I kind of weirdly, expect it. But also realize, that it could be fleeing. And it’s going to take 10 harder steps to get to next place. I’m not sure I’m answering your question. I probably can answer that in 3 months from now (laughs).

A.S – I think I understand. You set new goals, and you’re always focused and working hard to just keep moving towards that.

The subject of the film is quite interesting. The general Hollywood perception or perspective about woman filmmakers could be quite narrow. But you make an amazing comedy/drama/thriller. What inspired you?

I.J – I think the perspective in Hollywood has mostly been masculine, by males. Like every other industry, men run entertainment too. Things are slowly changing, which is really exciting. But I have always been, sort of drawn to both sides of myself, masculine & feminine. If we are talking about a masculine film, not gender wise, since both male & female can be masculine, is like horror or even comedy. But there’s this exciting thing happening, where this great group of talented women filmmakers, are making horror or comedy or all kind of genre. They were finally given the opportunity, to embrace our masculine perspective, along with the feminine. And if people started to think more on the lines of perspective, in terms of masculine and feminine, rather than male and female, then that will open up the world little bit more. This applies across the board, even in life, if we didn’t separate it so much into male & female.

But that said, I’m very excited for what’s happening right now, because if it hadn’t been for all the female filmmakers before us, making those films they were “supposed to be making”, we wouldn’t have had opportunity to change things a little bit, and leave our stamp on films, that otherwise are not supposed to be “female films”. I’m thankful to all those women before me!

A.S – Very true. And it’s changing a lot with wonderful shows like Jessica Jones or others, where women TV/filmmakers are making these wonderful shows.

What was the most challenging and most fun part of being a writer, director and an actor for the film?

I.J – The most challenging is not being able to be at 2 places at once. So you have to give up some control of your vision. And it’s really challenging, since you start to feel, am I failing as a director if I’m not in control every moment. In the same way, that’s very freeing, because you have to trust your team - my first AD Eric LaFranchi, my DP Rob Leitzell, my PD Olga Miasnikova, my producer Alex Scharfman, my entire team and there artists. So, where it made me uncomfortable to have to let go, luckily I was lifted by the people who knew my vision, and they wanted to communicate it. So communicating your vision early on is very important, when you are in your own movie. Prep is very important, being very clear as to what you want, what you’re trying to get constantly is very important.

A.S – So where do you see yourself heading? Woody Allen of women?

I.J – My initial response is, no. I really want to sink my teeth into writing-directing, and see how far and deep I can go with that. There are many-many things that I haven’t even tapped into. And many things I want to learn. And acting, while it’s incredible, it’s keeping me from exploring other things I want to explore. I would love to be in other people’s films, but I don’t think I’ll be a lead in my own. I could be supporting character. But if I want to grow as a filmmaker, I think I need to focus.

A.S – Your next project is a Sci-Fi? How did that come up?

I.J – I started the story with Stewart Thorndike. She’s a huge inspiration to me, and she’s of that up & coming crop I was talking about. We were very collaborative for little while. She inspired me and we talked about and developed the story together for this film. I said, I want to do a female fight club movie; she suggested that we should set this in Barnard College. So this is like a privileged female fight club thing. When I was in comedy, I was always drawn to dark comedy. She comes from horror sci-fi world. So together we came up with this idea. I wrote the script, and she has been a major inspiration in creating that world for that film. It’s in development stage. And right now I’m focusing on a TV project, adapting my web-series ‘F to 7th’ into a TV show.

A.S – Last question, how do you feel about being a filmmaker in and from New York?

I.J – Is there any other city to be a filmmaker? (laughs). I want to be here. People that we are surrounded by, inspire me. I have been to LA a few times, and I’m not drawn in. I think it’s beautiful; there are very talented people there. There’s a cool indie filmmaker thing happening. But New York is my home, and the people here are the smartest, coolest and most neurotic bunch, that I’m drawn to. I feel right here!

WOMEN WHO KILL – Synopsis

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Commitment phobic Morgan and her ex-girlfriend Jean are locally famous true crime podcasters obsessed with female serial killers. There’s a chance they may still have feelings for each other, but co-dependence takes a back seat when Morgan meets the mysterious Simone during her Food Coop shift. Blinded by infatuation, Morgan quickly signs up for the relationship, ignoring warnings from friends that her new love interest is practically a stranger.

When Jean shows Morgan proof that Simone may not be who she says she is, Morgan accuses Jean of trying to ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to her. But as she and Simone move into commitment territory, Morgan starts to notice red flags -- maybe Jean was right and Simone isn’t as perfect as Morgan’s made her out to be.

Morgan and Jean investigate Simone as if she were a subject of their podcast, they uncover disturbing clues -- a death at the Food Coop, a missing friend, a murder weapon -- leading them to suspect her not only of mystery, but of murder. In the end, Morgan has to examine all the evidence in front of her: Is she just afraid of what it means to be in a relationship or is her life actually in danger?

• Checkout the film at Tribeca Film Festival below:

https://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/women-who-kill-2016

• More about the film:

http://www.wwkmovie.com/

Imagination Day - Tribeca Film Festival

Every breakthrough is born in the imagination

The 2016 Tribeca Festival® Hub hosts some of the most influential, provocative, and groundbreaking creative minds for an all-day summit on what happens when our wildest dreams become reality and what that reality will be in the not-so-distant future. Experience the wonder and inspiration of new technologies, as tech's thought leaders reveal what is just beyond the horizon.

2016 AGENDA

10amDoors open

10:30amOpening Remarks: Jason Kelly, New York Bureau Chief of Bloomberg

10:45am Bryan Johnson, OS Fund: Tools of Creation: Reorienting Humanity's Identity and Aspirations

11:20am Jon Iwata, IBM: From Metropolis to Her — Artificial Intelligence in Film and the Real World

11:55am Dr. James Canton, Institute for Global Futures: The Extreme Future of Medicine: From Prediction to Longevity

Medicine is being transformed by radical technologies that will offer a new era of prevention, prediction and longevity. Discover the future of how digital health, mobile, big data, artificial intelligence, robotics, genetics, nanotech, neuroscience, synthetic biology and smart drugs will offer health and human performance enhancement.

12:30pmMeredith Perry, uBeam: World Without Wires

Meredith Perry, founder and CEO of uBeam will talk about the potential for truly wireless power and the impact this technology will have on the world. In this session, Meredith will share how she founded uBeam in her college dorm room and discuss the impact it will have on our daily lives by wirelessly powering everything from smartphones to lightbulbs to hearing aids. Find out how close we are to living in a world without wires, and what that world might look like

1:05pm - 1:50pm Lunch Break

1:50pm VR Headsets (need to be in your seats to get one)

2:20pm Felix Lajeunesse & Paul Raphael, Felix & Paul Studios: Inside Story: A Journey Into Virtual Reality

An immersive virtual reality experience as a talk by the masters of virtual reality. See the most evocative worlds and feel the story as VR channels empathy. See it, feel it, how they do it, and the future of the technology and creativity

3:15pm Philip Rosedale, High Fidelity: The Final Medium: Humans in the Machine

Is it possible that Virtual Reality in its maturity may allow us to communicate and be creative in ways that are more sublime than even our greatest real-life experiences? As computers become ever more powerful, might our virtual worlds grow to become larger and more unknowable that our own planet? An examination of how the growth of VR technology may give us something more disruptive and unpredictable than the Internet.

3:50pmDerek Belch, STRIVR Labs: Virtual Reality in Sports: Immersive Performance Training and Immersive Entertainment

Just as sports have become one of the last television events that people actually watch, many folks in the VR industry are betting that sports content will be a driving in helping drive mass adoption of headsets sales and content consumption. STRIVR founder and CEO Derek Belch will share the company's experience working with more than a dozen NFL and collegiate football teams over the past year, while also creating and staffing several major VR fan engagement experiences. Belch will share the positives and negatives of sports-focused VR.

4:15pm Sir Richard Branson & Jason Hirschhorn: Daring to Dream

From starting his own airline to ballooning around the world and shooting for the stars, Sir Richard Branson has never shied away from a challenge either in business or personally. He discusses his penchant for dreaming what could be possible and the gut instinct that drives his endeavors

4:55pm Katherine Oliver: Advisor to Bloomberg Philanthropies and Principal of Media and Technology at Bloomberg Associates

5:05 - 5:25pmBreak

5:30pmScreening: Don't Look Down

7:00pm Q&A Sir Richard Branson

Event Description

WHEN

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM (EDT) - Add to Calendar

WHERE

Spring Studios - 50 Varick Street , New York, NY 10013 - View Map

For more details check the link below:
https://tribecafilm.com/festival/imagination

TAXI DRIVER TO HAVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT THE 15th ANNUAL TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

Director Martin Scorsese to join stars Robert De Niro,  Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, and writer Paul Schrader for post-screening conversation

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, announced today that Martin Scorsese’s powerful psychological thriller Taxi Driver will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on April 21 at the 15th edition of the Festival. Starring Robert DeNiro, Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, and Cybill Shepherd, Directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader and produced by Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips, the 1976 film was nominated for four Academy Awards®, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Robert De Niro; and two Golden Globes. One of TIME Magazines “all-TIME 100 Movies,” Taxi Driver was called “a brilliant nightmare,” by the Chicago Sun-Times and praised by the Village Voice as “a phenomenon from another day and age.”

Following the anniversary screening at the Beacon Theatre, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, and Paul Schrader will take part in a special conversation moderated by Kent Jones. Tickets will be available beginning March 24 at 10am EST by visiting beacontheatre.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 866-858-0008. The evening is sponsored by Infor. The Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 13-24.

“Taxi Driver is one of the most brilliantly disturbing movies ever made, and why I chose to go into film. It's had an indelible impact on pop culture, and its performances rank among the most memorable in cinema,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder,Tribeca Film Festival, and Executive Chair, Tribeca Enterprises. “It's a great honor to have the original cast at the Festival and to present this masterpiece to a new generation.”

"It’s odd to think that four decades have passed since we shot Taxi Driver on the streets of a very different New York City. It was made in a surge of energy, starting with Paul’s one-of-a-kind script, and I was working with an extraordinary group of artistic collaborators as anyone could ever hope for—Jodie, who was 13 years old at the time, and Bob gave the picture something precious, dangerous, and altogether remarkable. I’m honored to take part in the celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival,” said Martin Scorsese.

“It’s a great honor for TFF to revisit Taxi Driver. I’m very proud to have worked on this film with Marty, Jodie, Harvey, Cybill, Paul, Michael and Julia as well as the extraordinary cast and crew. I remain equally proud today," said Robert De Niro, Festival co-founder.  

An alienated and quiet loner, taxi driver Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) works the night shift in Manhattan.  After failing to land a date with Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a beautiful campaign aide for presidential candidate Palentine (Leonard Harris), an encounter with a 12- year old prostitute, Iris (Jodie Foster), and her pimp, Sport (Harvey Keitel), convinces Travis that the world is a rotten place.  And as his frustration mounts, he assembles a cache of guns and then learns how to use them…with deadly accuracy.

Sony Pictures digitally restored and re-mastered Taxi Driver to 4K from the original negative, which was shown in a limited theatrical release.  Taxi Driver is currently available on Blu-ray and digital from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Visit www.tribecafilm.com/festival for more information about TFF’s 2016 programs and the full line-up of films.

CONNECT WITH TRIBECA:

Facebook: Facebook.com/Tribeca, Twitter: @Tribeca, Instagram: @Tribeca, Snapchat: TribecaFilmFest, Hashtag: #Tribeca2016