The Tribeca Film Festival has announced its 2017 lineup, and 12 of the 32 films screening in Competition sections are women-directed or co-directed, amounting to a respectable 38 percent. “As a cultural festival, it is Tribeca’s mission and heritage to elevate the voices of some of the most exciting artists and storytellers working in contemporary film,” a press announcement details. It’s refreshing — and unfortunately pretty rare — to see a fest recognize that many of those voices belong to women. This figure also represents an improvement from Tribeca’s Competition slate last year, which was 33 percent women-directed.
Three of 10 films in the U.S. Narrative Competition are women-helmed: Quinn Shephard’s “Blame,” a portrait of a teen outcast and her escalating flirtation with her drama teacher, Rachel Israel’s “Keep the Change,” a romance with a cast of of nonprofessional actors on the autism spectrum, and Liz W. Garcia’s “One Percent More Humid,” a tale of childhood friends dealing with a shared trauma.
The International Drama Competition also features 10 films, four of which are directed or co-directed by women, including Petra Volpe’s “The Divine Order,” a drama exploring the suffragette movement in Switzerland, and Elina Psykou’s “Son of Sofia,” the story of an 11-year-old who travels from Russia to live with his mother in Athens.
Five of the 12 films in the World Documentary Competition are helmed or co-helmed by women. Among the titles screening are Camilla Hall’s “Copwatch,” a portrait of an organization that records police activity as a means of deterring police brutality, and Lana Wilson’s “The Departure,” a profile of a Buddhist priest credited with saving the lives of countless suicidal people who is dealing with his own despair.
The Spotlight programs, which “focus on marquee filmmakers and star performers,” are unfortunately considerably less female-friendly than the Competition sections. Of the 31 films screening in the Narrative and Documentary categories, only four are directed by women: Sophie Brooks’ “The Boy Downstairs,” Sarah Adina Smith’s “Buster’s Mal Heart,” Trish Adlesic and Geeta Gandbhir’s “I Am Evidence,” and Anna Chai and Nari Kye’s “WASTED! The Story of Food Waste.”
The Midnight section, known as “the destination for late night audiences to discover the best in psychological thriller, horror, sci-fi, and cult cinema,” includes zero women-directed films in its six-film slate. While women directors are underrepresented in general, they are especially underrepresented in genre films. (So if you’re a horror fan, definitely consider checking out “XX,” a recently released horror anthology helmed exclusively by women. The film is in theaters now, and you can also watch it on VOD.)
In total, 82 feature-length films have been announced, and more titles will be revealed next week. The 16th annual Tribeca Film Fest will run from April 19–30. For tickets and more information, head over to the fest’s site.
Check out all of the women-directed and co-directed films in the lineup below. List adapted from Tribeca.
U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION
Blame, directed and written by Quinn Shephard. (USA) — World Premiere.
Abigail (Quinn Shephard) is an outcast who seeks solace in fantasy worlds. When high school drama teacher Jeremy (Chris Messina) casts her in Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible,’ Abigail’s confidence blooms. But soon her relationship with Jeremy begins to move beyond innocent flirtation, and it in turn fuels a vengeful jealousy that quickly spirals out of control and brings about a chain of events that draws parallels to Salem. With Nadia Alexander, Tate Donovan, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Tessa Albertson.
Keep the Change, directed and written by Rachel Israel. (USA) — World Premiere.
In a support group for adults living with autism, David — a smooth talker struggling to hide his disability — meets a woman with similar learning challenges, and they quickly forge an intimate bond. Starring a cast of nonprofessional actors on the autism spectrum, Keep the Change details an underrepresented community with authenticity, optimism and humor. With Brandon Polansky, Samantha Elisofon, Nicky Gottlieb, Will Deaver, Jessica Walter, Tibor Feldman.
One Percent More Humid, directed and written by Liz W. Garcia. (USA) — World Premiere.
Catherine (Julia Garner) and Iris (Juno Temple) are childhood friends home from college for a hot New England summer. As they attempt to enjoy parties and skinny-dipping and the usual vacation hijinks, a shared trauma in their past becomes increasingly difficult to suppress. As the wedge between the friends grows, they each pursue forbidden affairs to cope. With Alessandro Nivola, Maggie Siff, Philip Ettinger, Mamoudou Athie.
INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE COMPETITION
Representing 20 countries and four continents, Tribeca’s International Narrative Competition is a true global showcase of the best in world cinema today. These 10 international gems will compete for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
The Divine Order (Die göttliche Ordnung), directed and written by Petra Volpe. (Switzerland) — International Premiere.
Political leaders in Switzerland cited ‘Divine Order’ as the reason why women still did not have the right to vote as late as 1970. Director Petra Volpe explores this surprising history through the story of Nora, a quiet housewife from a quaint village searching for the fierce suffragette leader inside her. With Marie Leuenberger, Max Simonischek, Rachel Braunschweig, Sibylle Brunner, Marta Zoffoli, Bettina Sucky. In Swiss-German with subtitles.
Nobody’s Watching (Nadie Nos Mira), directed by Julia Solomonoff, written by Julia Solomonoff, Christina Lazaridi. (Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, USA, Spain) — World Premiere.
After giving up a successful soap opera career in his native Argentina for a chance to make it in New York, Nico finds himself staying afloat with odd jobs bartending and babysitting. In a moving depiction of the vibrant city,Nobody’s Watching questions who is watching and how we adjust ourselves accordingly. With Guillermo Pfening, Rafael Ferro, Paola Baldion, Elena Roger, Cristina Morrison, Kerri Sohn, Marco Antonio Caponi. In English, Spanish with subtitles.
Sambá, directed by Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas, written by Ettore D’Alessandro, Carolina Encarnacion. (Dominican Republic) — World Premiere.
Cisco has his back against the ropes. After spending 15 years in an American jail, he’s returned to the Dominican Republic yet is unable to get a job, a problem compounded by his mother’s ailing health and his younger brother’s delinquent habits. To make money, he’s resorted to illegal street fighting. But Cisco finds a possible salvation in Nichi, an Italian ex-boxer who sees dollar signs in Cisco’s gritty fighting skills. With Algenis Pérez Soto, Ettore D’Alessandro, Laura Gómez, Ricardo A. Toribio. In Spanish with subtitles.
Son of Sofia (O Gios tis Sofias), directed and written by Elina Psykou. (Bulgaria, France, Greece) — World Premiere.
Set during the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, 11-year-old Misha is travelling from Russia to live with his mother in Athens in the home of an elderly Greek man she works for. When he learns this man is actually his new father, Misha runs away but doesn’t have the stomach for life on the streets. Returning to his new home, he clings to the stories he grew up with, melding them with reality to create a dark urban fairytale. With Viktor Khomut, Valery Tcheplanowa, Thanasis Papageorgiou, Artemis Havalits, Christos Stergioglou, Iro Maltezou. In Greek, Russian with subtitles.
WORLD DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
In its 16 year history, Tribeca’s esteemed documentary competition has showcased discovery directors, future Oscar nominees, and legendary filmmakers. This year’s selection continues the tradition of spotlighting the best in nonfiction film with 12 stories of artists and activists, social justice and personal conflict, politics and romance, and so much more. These films will compete for Best Documentary Feature, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.
Bobbi Jene, directed by Elvira Lind, written by Elvira Lind, Adam Nielsen. (Denmark, Israel, USA) — World Premiere.
In her moving and cinematic documentary, Elvira Lind follows American dancer Bobbi Jene Smith as she makes the decision of a lifetime. Bobbi returns to the U.S., leaving behind a loving boyfriend and a successful 10-year run as a star dancer of the famous Israeli dance company Batsheva. Lind intimately portrays Bobbi’s rigorous creative process as she starts fresh in San Francisco, while still working to maintain a long-distance relationship.
Copwatch, directed by Camilla Hall. (USA) — World Premiere.
Copwatch is the true story of We Copwatch, an organization that films police activity as a non-violent form of protest and deterrent to police brutality. In her feature film debut, director Camilla Hall crafts an intriguing and timely profile of citizen-journalist-activists- including Ramsey Orta who filmed Eric Garner’s fatal arrest- who seek to disrupt the ever-present challenge of police violence.
The Departure, directed by Lana Wilson. (USA) — World Premiere.
Lana Wilson follows up her award-winning film, After Tiller, with this profile of Ittetsu Nemoto, a Buddhist priest renowned for saving the lives of countless suicidal people. But Nemoto, suffering from heart disease and supporting his wife and young son, risks his life carrying the heavy emotional load to support those who no longer want to live. When saving others takes such a toll, can he find the resiliency to save himself? In Japanese with subtitles.
The Reagan Show, directed by Pacho Velez and Sierra Pettengill, written by Josh Alexander, Pacho Velez. (USA) — World Premiere.
Constructed entirely through 1980s network news and videotapes created by the Reagan administration itself, Velez and Pettengill’s prescient documentary presents Ronald Reagan as the first made-for-TV president — a man whose experience as a performer and public relations expert made him a unique match for an emerging modern political landscape, and for his chief rival: charismatic Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
A Suitable Girl, directed by Smriti Mundhra and Sarita Khurana. (USA, India) — World Premiere.
Dipti, Amrita, Ritu and Seema are all young, modern women in India looking to get married — some desperately, some reluctantly. A Suitable Girl follows them over the course of four years as they juggle family, career and friends, intimately capturing their thoughts on arranged marriage, giving them a voice, and offering a unique perspective into the nuances of this institution. In English, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi with subtitles.
SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE
Supported by The Lincoln Motor Company
With a focus on marquee filmmakers and star performers, The Spotlight Narrative section is a launching pad for some of 2017’s most exciting new independent premieres for a wide audience of film lovers.
The Boy Downstairs, directed and written by Sophie Brooks. (USA) — World Premiere.
Zosia Mamet exhibits winsome charm as Diana, navigating the rite of passage of every single New Yorker: the search for an apartment. She seemingly finds a jewel of a home until realizing her downstairs neighbor is her ex whose heart she broke. Like a true New Yorker, she keeps the apartment. With Matthew Shear, Deirdre O’Connell, Sarah Ramos, Diana Irvine.
Buster’s Mal Heart, directed and written by Sarah Adina Smith. (USA) — New York Premiere.
A fugitive hotly pursued by rangers reviews the pathway to his present circumstances and finds conflicting stories. A spellbinding Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) brings impressive range to Sarah Adina Smith’s sophomore feature: a twisting, mind-bending thriller in which the typical rules don’t apply, least of all to a man who cannot be certain of anything he’s done. With DJ Qualls, Kate Lyn Sheil, Sukha Belle Potter, Lin Shaye. A Well Go USA release.
SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY
I Am Evidence, directed by Trish Adlesic and Geeta Gandbhir. (USA) — World Premiere.
Every year in cities around the United States, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of rape kits are left untested in police storage facilities. Produced by Mariska Hargitay, I Am Evidence exposes this shocking reality, bringing attention to the way in which police have historically processed sexual assault cases. Through an exploration of survivors’ accounts, the film sheds light on these disturbing statistics, and shows what can be achieved when evidence — and the individuals it represents — are treated with the respect we all deserve. An HBO Documentary Film release.
WASTED! The Story of Food Waste, directed by Anna Chai and Nari Kye. (USA) — World Premiere.
Each year, $218 billion — or 1.3 billion tons — of food is thrown out. With nearly a billion people worldwide facing starvation, food conservation is a more urgent issue than ever before. Executive produced by Anthony Bourdain, Chai and Kye’s fast-paced and forward-thinking food doc takes viewers on a tour of inventive new ideas for recycling waste and maximizing sustainability from innovative chefs like Massimo Bottura, Dan Barber and Danny Bowien, who turn scraps into feasts before our eyes. Earth Day Screening
VIEWPOINTS
Encompassing documentaries, narratives, and hybrid work, American and international films, first time filmmakers and Oscar nominees, Viewpoints is Tribeca’s home for bold directorial visions, underrepresented perspectives, and innovative style.
The Family I Had, directed by Katie Green and Carlye Rubin, written by Tina Grapenthin, Katie Green, Carlye Rubin. (USA) — World Premiere, Documentary.
In The Family I Had, a mother recalls how her seemingly brilliant teenage son came to shatter their idyllic family through one horribly violent and shocking act. Now, left to pick up the pieces, the survivors test the boundaries of their newly defined reality in this moving true crime exploration of the nature and limits of familial love.
The Farthest, directed and written by Emer Reynolds. (Ireland) — International Premiere, Documentary.
On the 40th anniversary of Voyager’s eleven-billion-mile flight (and counting), experience a comprehensive behind-the-scenes account from those who built and nurtured this unprecedented deep space achievement. Emer Reynolds creates a vivid celebration of curiosity and exploration for the most audacious project in human history, and one of humankind’s greatest successes.
Flames, directed and written by Zefrey Throwell and Josephine Decker. (USA) — World Premiere.
Filmed over five years, Flames follows real-life couple Josephine Decker and Zefrey Throwell from the white-hot passion of first love to the heartbreak of breaking up. But for these two filmmakers, the end of the relationship wasn’t the end of the story. As they continue filming, reconstructing what happened and where it went wrong, lines begin to blur between what was real and what was “the film” — if there’s even a difference anymore. With Hollis Witherspoon, Michael Melamedoff, Joe Swanberg, Matthew Levy.
The Last Animals, directed by Kate Brooks, written by Kate Brooks and Mark Monroe. (USA) — World Premiere, Documentary.
Photojournalist Kate Brooks turns her lens from war zones to a new kind of genocide in this sweeping and sobering film. As the single-digit population of the Northern White Rhino ticks closer to extinction, Brooks exposes the epidemic of highly effective poachers and trafficking syndicates, and the heroic efforts of conservationists, park rangers, and scientists to protect these majestic creatures. In Czech, English, French, Lingala with subtitles. Earth Day Screening
My Art, directed and written by Laurie Simmons. (USA) — North American Premiere, Narrative.
For cultured artist Ellie (Laurie Simmons), age really isn’t anything but a number. Unhappy with where her career has gone, the single New York City socialite flees upstate to recharge her creative spark away from the big city’s various distractions. There, she attracts the romantic interests of three men and figures out what she wants from life — even though she’s 65 years old. With Lena Dunham, Robert Clohessy, John Rothman, Josh Safdie, Parker Posey, Blair Brown, Barbara Sukowa.
The Wedding Plan (Laavor et HaKir), directed and written by Rama Burshtein. (Israel) — New York Premiere, Narrative.
Spirited bride-to-be Michal is dumped by her fiancé a month before their wedding. Undeterred, she keeps her wedding date, leaving it to fate to provide a suitable groom. With invitations sent, venue booked, and the clock counting down to the big day, Michal goes to increasingly elaborate lengths in her search for Mr. Right, in writer-director Rama Burshtein’s (Fill the Void) funny and poignant romantic comedy. With Noa Kooler, Amos Tamam, Oz Zehavi. In Hebrew with subtitles. A Roadside Attractions release.
