Tribeca Film Festival 2018: Everything you need to know
Those tootsies might still be hurting from Berlinale, and you may well be getting the bunion rings out in prep for SXSW festival, but just be warned Tribeca 2018 is a little over a month away (April 18 to 29 to be exact.) We here at Film Daily like to make sure you’re informed & prepared, which is why today we’re focusing on the happenings of this year’s New York-based event. You can thank us later. ? The buzziest buzzes to have come out of the buzz mill are heavily centered around female directors. Tribeca’s feature program includes 96 films from 103 filmmakers. This involves 75 world premieres, 5 international premieres, 9 North American premieres, 3 U.S. premieres, and 4 New York premieres from 27 countries. Nothing too out of the ordinary, right? However, what’s set mouths wagging is that 46% of the entries are directed by women, the highest percentage in the festival’s history. These include Desiree Akhavan’s LGBTQI feat The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Marianna Palka’s Egg, Sebastián Lelio’s Disobedience, and Karen Gillan’s directorial debut The Party’s Just Beginning. Executive vice president of Tribeca Enterprises, Paula Weinstein, announced, “We are proud to present a lineup that celebrates American diversity and welcomes new international voices in a time of cultural and social activism.” We just hope this “activism” isn’t related to the red carpet displays at this year’s awards season. Side note: Wearing black, gold, or furry slippers doesn’t actually solve systemic sexual harassment (but that’s an entirely different story.) Anyway, here are our picks of the movies that you don’t want to miss at 2018’s Tribeca film festival:
Centerpiece
Directed by Drake Doremus (Like Crazy) and written by Richard Greenberg (Desert Saints), this sci-fi feature is set in the future where new technology can simulate the feeling of true love. However, two colleagues (Rashida Jones & Ewan McGregor) seek a connection that’s real. World premiere at Tribeca 2018 as centerpiece; sci-fi romance with Ewan McGregor and Rashida Jones.
Closing Night
Liz Garbus’s docuseries follows The New York Times’s coverage of the Trump administration’s first year. Rub those hands together people, because this is gonna be a fly-on-the-wall series like you’ve never seen before. Aired as Showtime docuseries following premiere.
U.S. Narrative Competition
This directorial debut from Eva Vives follows Nina Geld (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) – a funny & provocative standup comedian whose career is taking off, but whose personal life is a total disaster. When a new job opportunity coincides with a romantic one, she is forced to face the intersection of her life and her art. U.S. Narrative Competition entry; directorial debut of Eva Vives starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Ghostbox Cowboy
Nope, it’s not the name of a pretentious indie band. Ghostbox Cowboy is actually a new flick from writer-director-cinematographer John Maringouin (Big River Man). In this darkly comedic morality tale, tech entrepreneur Jimmy Van Horn (played by one half of the Zellner brothers, David) travels to China armed with an invention and a buttload of confidence, only to learn that being American is not enough to succeed.
Maine
Written & directed by Matthew Brown (In the Treetops), Maine focuses on a married woman’s journey of self-discovery when she becomes sidetracked on an expedition by a lone hiker. Stars Pete Burris (Outcast), Laia Costa (Victoria), and Thomas Mann (Some Freaks).
Documentary Competition
There’s a lot of talent involved in this doc. Written & directed by Marco Proserpio and narrated by none other than Iggy Pop, The Man Who Stole Banksy looks at the work by anonymous artist Banksy as it’s taken down in Palestine and sold off to high bidders. Narrated by Iggy Pop; received 6.2 IMDb rating and theatrical distribution.
Phantom Cowboys
Not to be mistaken with Ghostbox Cowboys, this documentary by Daniel Patrick Carbone (Hide Your Smiling Faces) spans nearly a decade, offering a meditation on youth, tradition, and the evolving hopes & dreams of young adults in the forgotten industrial towns across America.
The Rachel Divide
For this insightful documentary, director Laura Brownson filmed Rachel Dolezal – the “transracial” activist who caused a media storm when she was outed as a white woman (despite the fact she was living as the black president of the NAACP.) Capturing the intimate life story of the damaged character, the film also explores how Dolezal still provokes negative reactions from millions who see her as the ultimate example of white privilege. Premiered at Tribeca; released on Netflix in 2018.
Tribeca's Evolving Diversity Initiatives
The 46 percent female-directed slate in 2018 marked a record at the time and prompted the festival to formalize support structures that continue today. Through Her Lens supplies funding and mentorship to emerging women and non-binary filmmakers. Advisors include Jane Fonda, Patty Jenkins, and others who help shape the selection and development pipeline.
Post-Festival Releases and Distribution
Several titles that screened in 2018 moved quickly into wider release. The Rachel Divide reached Netflix subscribers within months of its premiere. The Fourth Estate expanded into a Showtime docuseries, giving the Liz Garbus project a sustained audience after its closing-night slot.
Audience and Attendance Context
The 2018 edition drew substantial crowds across its downtown venues. Estimated attendance exceeded 140,000 for 564 screenings and related programming, underscoring Tribeca’s reach as both a public event and an industry marketplace.
Long-Term Impact on Festival Programming
The 2018 record has been eclipsed in later years as the festival refined its selection criteria. The 2023 edition featured a majority of features directed by women. The 2026 program continued the emphasis on diverse and BIPOC storytelling across its 118 features.
Notable Premieres Reception
Post-premiere coverage and distribution varied across the slate. All About Nina attracted critical attention for Eva Vives’s debut and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s lead performance. The Man Who Stole Banksy secured theatrical release and modest box office after its Tribeca debut.
