Co-founded by Robert De Niro in 2002 to help revitalize downtown as the smoke cleared from 9/11’s devastation, this year’s Tribeca Film Festival represents a must-do edition thanks to both its breadth of programming—which extends way beyond just cinematic storytelling—starpower, and “De Niro Con” to celebrate the iconic actor’s 80th birthday and body of work. The latter includes a career-spanning 300+ item and multimedia exhibition dedicated to De Niro and, during its final two days, De Niro-centric screenings, talks, and experiences.

Of course, TFF is also brimming with buzzy new feature films and retrospectives plus TV series, music, audio storytelling, and even immersive games, making it seem almost like SXSW gone northeast. It’s a bit overhwelming in the best way, so to help you navigate the program and how to attend, here’s our Grandlife Guide.

How and Where to Fest and Other Helpful Hacks

Single tickets and passes are both available for the festival’s line-up. The former range from VIP all access for the entire festival (including De Niro Con and a cocktail reception hosted by the man!) to matinee screenings-only to all-inclusive 1 or 2-day, and several offerings dedicated to just De Niro Con related programming.

Advance tickets to single screenings are also available—there are 103 features including 80+ world premieres, by both established names and fresh first time talents—and in cases where they’ve sold out, you can roll the dice and show up about an hour in advance to try and snag a last minute “rush ticket,” although do note that only credit and debit cards are accepted and not all venues offer rush seating so be sure to check online in advance.

This year’s venue map extends from downtown all the way to the Upper West Side. They include OKX Theater at BMCC TPAC, The Indeed Theater at Spring Studios, Village East by Angelika, AMC 19th Street East 6, SVA Theater, Pier 57, the Beacon Theatre and AMC Lincoln Square IMAX. Given the map’s spread, be sure to study your screenings and events schedule and locations and allow ample travel time in between. 

Hot Tickets

Diane von Furstenburg: Woman In Charge

A world premiere, TFF’s opening night selection profiles the fashion world icon, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor whose trailblazing career and extraordinary life truly launched with a wrap dress during the 1970s. Co-directors Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton anchor their documentary around the mounting of a retrospective museum exhibition, plus interviews with peers and friends like NYC wit Fran Lebowitz, Oprah Winfrey, Marc Jacobs, and Hilary Clinton.

June 5th @ 7pm; June 6th @ 8:45pm; June 15th @ 11:30am

Mean Streets with Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese and Nas 

Tribeca Festival will bring the Mean Streets 50th anniversary screening and conversation with Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese, moderated by hip hop artist Nas, to the Beacon Theatre on Saturday, June 15. Nas is also set to introduce a screening of the hip hop drama Beat Street in its 40th anniversary on June 14th at the Village East by Angelika, 8pm. 

June 15th @ 2pm

Brats

The clique of young 1980s actors famously known as the “Brat Pack”—best known for their roles in iconic John Hughes films like The Breakfast Club—reunites in this documentary by former member turned writer/director Andrew McCarthy. As McCarthy travels across the country to catch up with Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Jon Cryer, and others, we hear their reflections on the era and how being Brat Packers ultimately impacted their lives. The June 7th premiere will be followed with a panel featuring McCarthy and other Packers.

June 7th @ 8pm; June 8th @ 3pm; June 10th @ 2:15pm

 

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The Weekend

Nigerian director Daniel Oriahi’s Midnight section highlight—it’s worth noting that over ⅓ of this year’s features are from BIPOC directors—serves up horror and dread when a young woman, Nikya, finally meets her fiance’s family, which may or may not have a sinister secret or two. Fans of the “possibly horrifying in-laws” genre—e.g. Get Out—are in for a treat!

June 9th @9:15pm; 11th @9pm; 15th @9:15pm

Director Series: Gus Van Sant with Vito Schnabel 

The festival will feature a lineup of talks with filmmakers including a conversation between director Gus Van Sant and art dealer Vito Schnabel at the Indeed Theater at Spring Studios. Van Sant recently directed Vito Schnabel in Ryan Murphy’s series Feud: Capote vs the Swans. 

June 6th @ 6pm

You can browse the full schedule and purchase tickets—here.  

WORDS Lawrence Ferber 

IMAGERY Still from the film Mean Streets courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival