As always, the 15th annual Tribeca Film Festival brings a highly-anticipated roster of worldwide films and industry professionals to New York City, drawing in 300 million people. Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal’s 12-day festival (April 13-24) has expanded to Tribeca Festival Hub, which aims to bridge innovative technology in art, film, and music industries.
Of this year’s 101 films from 32 countries, here are six must-watch films to catch between Tribeca Talks and Innovation Week events. (Synopses provided by Tribeca.)
A real-life bizarre, ongoing, mystery for the contemporary Sherlock Holmes: (But first, catch up on the story behind Banksy here.)
The Banksy Job Directed and written by Ian Roderick Gray and Dylan Harvey (U.K.), this world premiering documentary is simultaneously hilarious, wild, and bizarre. The crazy world of street art and the peculiar relationships between the artists—in particular, Banksy, and the artist known as AK47. An art world, mystery caper, The Banksy Job adds another whacky layer to the Banksy story that can’t be missed.
An adapted novel for the adventurous–explore relationships both on a global and personal level:
A Hologram for the King In Tom Tykwer’s wryly comic adaptation of Dave Eggers’ novel, Tom Hanks stars as a struggling American businessman who travels to Saudi Arabia to sell a new technology to the King, only to be challenged by endless Middle Eastern bureaucracy, a perpetually absent monarch, and a suspicious growth on his back. With Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Ben Whishaw, and Tom Skerritt.
A piece of comedic history for Rock and Roll disciples, history buffs, and everyone in between:
Elvis & Nixon Directed by Liza Johnson, written by Joey Sagal, Hanala Sagal, and Cary Elwes, this world premiere starts in 1970, a few days before Christmas. Elvis Presley showed up on the White House lawn seeking to be deputized into the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs by the President himself. Elvis & Nixon, starring Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey respectively, imagines the comical details of this outlandish historical encounter. Featuring supporting performances from Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Knoxville, Colin Hanks, Evan Peters, and Sky Ferreira.
A special screening for EDM lovers, and just about anyone that aspires to do anything:
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead From producers Matthew Weaver, Matt Colon, Happy Walters and David Gelb (Jiro Dreams of Sushi, TFF 2011), I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead is an energetic, heart-pumping documentary about one of the most eminent DJs working today: Steve Aoki. In the lead-up to Aoki’s biggest show of his career, the doc examines the driving force behind his passion: Rocky Aoki, daredevil showman, Benihana founder, and Steve’s absent father. Following the film, there will be a conversation and performance with Steve Aoki at The Beacon Theatre.
A rollercoaster of emotions for love experts and amateurs alike:
Madly Directed and written by Gael García Bernal, Mia Wasikowska, Sebastian Silva, Anurag Kashyap, Sion Sono, and Natasha Khan, Madly is an international anthology of short films exploring love in all its permutations. Directed by some of the most vibrant filmmakers working today, the six stories in Madly portray contemporary love in all its glorious, sad, ecstatic, empowering, and erotic manifestations, with Radhika Apte, Satyadeep Misra, Adarsh Gourav, Kathryn Beck, Lex Santos, Mariko Tsutsui, Yuki Sakurai, Ami Tomite, Justina Bustos, Pablo Seijo, Tamsin Topolski.
An oldie but goodie for those nostalgic for a classic:
Taxi Driver Directed by Martin Scorsese, this psychological thriller was shot in the streets of New York four decades ago. This 1976 film will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special screening followed by a talk with Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, and writer Paul Schrader, moderated by Kent Jones. It was nominated for four Academy Awards including best picture for Michael and Julia Phillips, best actor for De Niro and supporting actress for Foster.
Click here to get your tickets and here for more information.
