2016 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Documentary Feature Film Selections & More

The 2016 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced the US Narrative, International Narrative, and Documentary Competition feature film selections, as well as Viewpoints, which recognizes fresh voices in international and American independent filmmaking. Separate sections were created for US Narrative and International Narrative feature films in competition. Fifty-five of the 101 feature-length titles were announced as part of the Festival's 15th edition, taking place April 13 - 24 at locations throughout downtown Manhattan.

The Festival announced that on April 14, the world premiere of Contemporary Color directed by Bill Ross and Turner Ross will open the World Documentary competition. The world premiere of Kicks, directed by Justin Tipping, will open the US Narrative competition. The world premiere of Madly, directed by Gael García Bernal, Mia Wasikowska, Sebastian Silva, Anurag Kashyap, Sion Sono, and Natasha Khan, will open the International Narrative Competition. Viewpoints will open with the world premiere of Nerdland directed by Chris Prynoski.

One third of the Festival's feature films are directed by women - the highest percentage in the Festival's history. Twelve female directors and screenwriters are eligible to receive the fourth annual Nora Ephron Prize, which recognizes women who embody the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer.

The 2016 film program includes feature films from 32 countries, including 77 World Premieres, eight International Premieres, six North American Premieres, four US Premieres, and five New York Premieres. A total of 130 directors will present feature works at the Festival, with 42 of these filmmakers making their feature directorial debuts. Eighteen of the directors are returning to the Festival with their new films. The film slate was chosen from a total of 6626 submissions.

"In our 15th year we wanted to deepen our support of American narrative filmmakers and have opened our competition to separately showcase the US and International films," said Genna Terranova, Festival Director. "We are very impressed by the films this year and inspired to see new voices transcending traditions and taking risks by telling their stories their own way. We are excited to share with audiences how the world of independent documentary and narrative filmmaking is thriving."

"With our new International Narrative Competition we are reinforcing our faith in cinema from around the world and BELIEF that Tribeca is a fantastic platform for filmmakers to share their vision. Over the ten days of the Festival these films will take our audiences on a cinematic adventure, and offer a wide range of perspective in both the stories they tell and the methods through which they're told," said Frederic Boyer, Artistic Director.

"The Festival has grown into a platform for discovery of new and distinct voices for both audiences and industry. Over 80% of the world premieres eligible for acquisition at last year's Festival were sold. We are energized by this year's filmmakers and films and look forward to introducing them to our Festival-going community, and premiering new work from several returning artists," said Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President of Tribeca Enterprises.

This year, ten US narratives, eight international narratives, and 12 documentary features making their North American, international, or world premieres will compete for cash prizes totaling $155,000, as well as artwork from the Artists Awards program, offering donated work from contemporary artists.

A partial list of films selected for the US Narrative Competition follows:

US Narrative Competition
Sponsored by AKA Hotel Residences
Launching in 2016, Tribeca introduces a new competitive section dedicated to American films and filmmakers. Largely made up of first-time directors, the inaugural US competition recognizes the extraordinary work emerging from independent communities. This freshman class of US competitors come from backgrounds as diverse as music (Robert Schwartzman, Dreamland), documentary (Ian Olds, The Fixer), webseries (Ingrid Jungermann, Women Who Kill), and stand-up comedy (Demetri Martin, Dean), but all possess the distinctive directorial vision that makes them a talent to watch. This new competition affirms Tribeca's commitment to discovering and bolstering US voices. The ten films will compete for the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

Opening Film
Kicks, directed by Justin Tipping, written by Justin Tipping and Josh Beirne-Golden. (USA) - World Premiere. When his hard-earned kicks get snatched by a local hood, fifteen-year old Brandon and his two best friends go on an ill-advised mission across the Bay Area to retrieve the stolen sneakers. Featuring a soundtrack packed with hip-hop classics, Justin Tipping's debut feature is an urban coming-of-age tale told with grit, humor, and surprising lyricism. With Jahking Guillory, Mahershala Ali, Kofi Siriboe, Christopher Jordan Wallace, Christopher Meyer. A Focus World release.

Always Shine, directed by Sophia Takal, written by Lawrence Michael Levine. (USA) - World Premiere. This twisty psychological drama about obsession, fame, and femininity follows two friends, both actresses (Mackenzie Davis and Caitlin FitzGerald), on a trip to Big Sur, to reconnect with one another. Once alone, the women's suppressed jealousies and deep-seated resentments begin to rise, causing them to lose their grasp on not only the true nature of their relationship, but also their identities. With Lawrence Michael Levine, Alex Koch, Jane Adams

AWOL, directed by Deb Shoval, written by Deb Shoval and Karolina Waclawiak. (USA) - World Premiere. Joey (Lola Kirke) is a young woman in search of direction in her small town. A visit to an army recruiting office appears to provide a path, but when she meets and falls in love with Rayna (Breeda Wool) that path diverges in ways that neither woman anticipates. Building on the award-winning short of the same name, director Deb Shoval crafts a clear-eyed love story, and an impressive feature film debut.

Dean, directed and written by Demetri Martin. (USA) - World Premiere. In comedian Demetri Martin's funny and heartfelt directorial debut, Martin plays an illustrator who falls hard for an LA woman (Gillian Jacobs) while trying to prevent his father (Kevin Kline) from selling the family home in the wake of his mother's death. With Rory Scovel, Ginger Gonzaga, Reid Scott, Mary Steenburgen, Christine Woods, Beck Bennett, Briga Heelan

Dreamland, directed by Robert Schwartzman, written by Benjamin Font and Robert Schwartzman. (USA) - World Premiere. Robert Schwartzman makes his directorial debut with this comedy about the cost of reaching your dreams. Part-time pianist Monty Fagan (Johnny Simmons) begins a May-December romance that upends his home life. A set of perfectly cast co-stars push or manipulate Monty along the way: Amy Landecker, Frankie Shaw, Alan Ruck, Beverly D'Angelo, along with Robert's older brother Jason Schwartzman, and their mother Talia Shire.

The Fixer, directed by Ian Olds, written by Paul Felten and Ian Olds. (USA) - World Premiere. After an exiled Afghan journalist (Dominic Rains) arrives in a small town in Northern California, he lands a menial job as a crime reporter for the local newspaper. RESTLESS in his new position, he teams up with an eccentric local (James Franco) to investigate the town's peculiar subculture only to find things quickly taking a dangerous turn. With Melissa Leo, Rachel Brosnahan, Tim Kniffin, Thomas Jay Ryan

Folk Hero & Funny Guy, directed and written by Jeff Grace. (USA) - World Premiere. Alex Karpovsky and Wyatt Russell co-headline as two artistically inclined childhood friends, a comedian and a folk-rocker respectively, who set out on a tour together in hopes of regaining their "mojo" and finding love in the process. Jeff Grace's debut film offers a fresh perspective on male friendship and a music infused spin on the classic road-trip buddy comedy. With Meredith Hagner, Michael Ian Black, Hannah Simone, Heather Morris, Melanie Lynskey, David Cross

Live Cargo, directed by Logan Sandler, written by Logan Sandler and Thymaya Payne. (USA, Bahamas) - World Premiere. Nadine (Dree Hemingway) and Lewis (Keith Stanfield) move to a small Bahamian island hoping to restore their relationship in the wake of a tragedy, only to find the picturesque island torn in two: on one side a dangerous human trafficker and on the other an aging patriarch, struggling to maintain order. With Leonard Earl Howze, Sam Dillon, Robert Wisdom

The Ticket, directed by Ido Fluk, written by Ido Fluk and Sharon Mashishi. (USA) - World Premiere. When a blind man inexplicably regains his vision, he becomes possessed by a drive for a better life-a nicer home, a higher paying job-leaving little room for the people who were part of his old life. Dan Stevens, Malin Åkerman, Oliver Platt, and Kerry Bishé star in this haunting parable of desire, perception, and ambition.

Women Who Kill, directed and written by Ingrid Jungermann. (USA) - World Premiere. Morgan and Jean work well together as true crime podcasters because they didn't work well, at all, as a couple. When Morgan strikes up a new relationship with the mysterious Simone, their shared interest turns into suspicion, paranoia, and fear. Ingrid Jungermann's whip smart feature debut is an adept and wry comedy on modern romance's hollow results, set in an LGBTQ Brooklyn. With Ingrid Jungermann, Ann Carr, Sheila Vand, Shannon O'Neill, Annette O'Toole, Grace Rex

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