The arrival of summer means the Tribeca Festival. The film fest has always been a fun way to kick off festival season. This year’s edition has a number of great films that range from hard hitting action to insightful documentaries to amazing short film programs. Below is a list of the movies to keep on your radar.
Deep Cover (US Premiere)
Deep Cover is an action comedy that stars Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World trilogy) as an improv comedy director given a unique opportunity. With two of her students, she enters the darker parts of the London underground as hardened criminals. As they work to keep their covers, they find themselves caught in a gang war as their real lives bleed into their fabricated identities.
Dog of God (World Premiere)
At this year’s Academy Awards, Latavian film Flow won for Best Animated Feature. Dog of God is a darker offering that uses rotoscope animation and is rooted in the folklore of Latavia. Set in the 17th century, it is a tale of witchcraft and werewolves told in a style that is reminiscent of Ralph Bakshi cult classics.
Gonzo Girl (US Premiere)
Patricia Arquette makes her directorial debut with an adaptation of the 2015 book Gonzo Girl. Loosely inspired by the author’s experience working as the assistant for the father of gonzo journalism Hunter S. Thompson, the plot follows Alley’s (Camila Morrone, Daisy Jones and the Six) attempts to get Walker Reade (Willem Dafoe, Nosferatu) to complete his latest book. She just has to avoid getting caught up in his drug-soaked lifestyle.
People and Meat (World premiere)
Food is a huge part of Korean culture. It is an important part of family, a way to demonstrate love, and has long been essential television. Three new friends have reinvent themselves as the “dine and dash trio”. While their new hobby does renew their taste for life, it also forces the group to look at society that neglects seniors to the point where they are unable to afford meat.
Re-Creation (World Premiere)
In December 1996, Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered outside of her holiday home in West Cork, Ireland. British journalist Ian Bailey was investigated by Irish authorities, but never faced trial in Ireland. (He was tried and convicted in absentia by the French government.) The fiction-reality hybrid asks a simple question. What if Bailey had been brought to trial in Ireland?
The Shadow Scholars (NA Premiere)
What is the true value of education in today’s world? Director Eloise King’s latest film crosses three continents to try to answer the question. An Oxford professor heads to Kenya to conduct an investigation into an essay mill where struggling Kenyans toil away for hours writing papers for wealthy Western students. In the United States, a desperate student sells explicit pictures in order to pass a midterm exam. The documentary also explores academic fraud and the increasing use of AI.
The Sixth Borough (World Premiere)
In 1987, KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions explained what four of the five boroughs meant to hip-hop. While Long Island houses two of them, its impact on the genre is often overlooked. Though the suburban landscape is a stark contrast to the city, the struggles felt by Black families were the same. Using archival footage, The Sixth Borough showcases how important Long Island was to the evolution of hip-hop.
Videoheaven (NA Premiere)
In the 1980s, VHS tapes and VCRs captured the imaginations and attention of everyone. This led to the video store boom and a new demand for new and classic films. Ten years in the making, the documentary examines the change in how people viewed movies and what it means culturally.
The Tribeca Festival takes place from June 4, 2025 through June 15, 2025.
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