The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, has unveiled its feature film lineup. 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, political and social films. This year there is a strong feature film selection that have Latinx or Latin American actors/subject matter or from relevant countries as well as Latinx/Latin American directors. The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 24 – May 5.  

The feature program includes 103 films from 124 filmmakers. The films selected in the three competition sections consist of 50% women directed films. The lineup includes 81 World Premieres, 3 International Premieres, 8 North American Premieres, 1 U.S. Premiere and 10 New York Premieres. This year’s program includes 42 first time filmmakers, with 19 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects. 40% of the feature films have one or more women directors, 29% of the feature films are directed by people of color and 13% of the feature films are by individuals who identify as LGBTQIA. The 2019 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 introduce Tribeca Critics’ Week, the first for a North American film festival, a section with a slate of 5 feature films curated by New York-based film critics.  Special for this year is the curated section ‘This Used To Be New York,’ reflecting quintessential New York cultural eras that shaped and have come to define the city today.  

Fifty-two narratives and 51 documentaries will debut throughout the 12-day festival. The Competition section features 12 Documentaries, 10 U.S. Narratives, and 10 International Narratives; 15 Spotlight Narratives, 16 Spotlight Documentaries; 5 Midnight, 17 Viewpoints selections; 5 Tribeca Critics’ Week, 3 This Used to Be New York, and 11 Movies Plus selections.

The films in competition will compete for cash prizes totaling $165,000, as well as artwork from the Art Awards program, offering work from acclaimed contemporary artists in select categories. For the 7th year, the Nora Ephron Award, presented by CHANEL, will award $25,000 to the female filmmaker in this year’s program who embodies the spirit and boldness of the late filmmaker.

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), Senior Programmer Lucy Mukerjee (features); Programmer Ben Thompson (shorts); and program advisors Paula Weinstein and Tammie Rosen, alongside a team of associate programmers.

Below are the details on each Latinx film scheduled for the Tribeca Film Festival.

Films:
Clementine, (US Narrative Competition; World Premiere), directed and written by Lara Jean Gallagher. Produced by Aimee Lynn Barneburg, Davis Priestley, Karina Ripper. (USA) – World Premiere. Reeling from a one-sided breakup, heartbroken Karen breaks into her ex’s lakehouse. There, she strikes up a complicated relationship with provocative younger woman Lana in this beautifully rendered psychological drama and sexual coming of age story. With Otmara Marrero, Sydney Sweeney, Will Brittain, Sonya Walger.

Dominican Dream, ( Spotlight Documentary; World Premiere), directed by Jonathan Hock. Produced by Phil Aromando, Alex Evans. (USA) – World Premiere. In the early 1990s, the future of basketball belonged to a young Dominican immigrant named Felipe Lopez. Featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age of 17, Lopez’s story is the ultimate profile of the American dream. An ESPN release. Also playing as part of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival.

The Gasoline Thieves (Huachicolero), ( International Narrative Competition; World Premiere), directed by Edgar Nito, written by Alfredo Mendoza, Edgar Nito. Produced by Victor Leycegui, Annick Mahnert, Joshua Sobel. (Mexico, Spain, UK, USA) – World Premiere. Propelled by a need for cash to impress a crush, 14-year-old Mexican farmhand Lalo finds himself dangerously in over his head after entering into the country’s underworld of illegal gasoline extraction. With Eduardo Banda, Pedro Joaquin, Regina Reynoso, Fernando Becerril, Pascacio López, Leonardo Alonso.

Initials SG (Iniciales SG), (US Narrative Competition; World Premiere), directed and written by Rania Attieh, Daniel Garcia. Produced by Ivan Eibuszyc, Shruti Ganguly, Georges Schoucair. (Argentina, Lebanon, USA) – World Premiere. An aging Argentine Serge Gainsbourg wannabe struggles with a career he can’t seem to get on track, an affair he doesn’t want, and a crime he didn’t mean to commit. With Diego Peretti, Julianne Nicholson, Daniel Fanego, Malena Sanchez, Francisco Lumerman.

A Taste of Sky, (Spotlight Documentary; World Premiere) directed by Michael Yuchen Lei. Produced by Andrew F. Renzi. (USA, Bolivia, Denmark) – World Premiere. A Taste of Sky delicately details the journey of two students from Gustu, the groundbreaking cooking school and fine-dining restaurant founded by Noma’s Claus Meyer in La Paz, Bolivia. With Kenzo Hirose, Claus Meyer, Maria Claudia Chura.

THIS IS NOT BERLIN (Dir. Hari Sama; Critics’ Week; NY Premiere)
This Is Not Berlin (Esto no es Berlín), directed by Hari Sama, written by Rodrigo Ordóñez, Hari Sama, Max Zunino. Produced by Ale García, Antonio Urdapilleta, Charlotte Lerchner, Hari Sama. (Mexico) – New York Premiere, Feature Narrative. As World Cup fever hits Mexico in 1986, two middle class teens discover an underground culture of experimentation with sex, drugs, and art. This Is Not Berlin is a film that crosses narrative and formal boundaries with the same thrilling abandon that its characters do emotional and experiential ones. With Xabiani Ponce de León, José Antonio Toledano, Ximena Romo, Mauro Sánchez Navarro, Américo Hollander, Klaudia García, Marina de Tavira, Hari Sama, Lumi Cavazos, Juan Carlos Remolina.

Latinx Directors:

• Juan Cabral (TWO/ONE; Viewpoints; World Premiere)
• David Charles Rodrigues (GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH;Movies Plus; World Premiere)
• Elena Gaby (I AM HUMAN;  Movies Plus; World Premiere)
• Daniel Garcia & Rania Attieh (INITIALS SG; US Narrative Competition; World Premiere)
• Edgar Nito (THE GASOLINE THIEVES; International Narrative Competition; World Premiere)
• Hari Sama (THIS IS NOT BERLIN; Critics’ Week; NY Premiere)

Passes and Tickets for the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival

Advance selection ticket packages are now on sale. All packages can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, 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 26 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 19.

Packages and passes are now available for purchase on the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival App, on:

• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tribeca-festival/id1208189515?mt=8
• Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tff2017.android