The 2017 Tribeca film festival has unveiled its final slate of feature films, including a back to back screening of “The Godfather” and “The Godfather, Part II”, followed by a reunion of the director and cast.
Celebrating the 45th anniversary of “The Godfather,” the reunion wll feature director Francis Ford Coppola along with actors Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, and Robert De Niro.
A series of galas and special screenings have also been announced for the festival’s 2017 edition, including: the documentary “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: The Bad Boy Story” from Sean “Diddy” Combs'; the World Premiere of James Ponsoldt‘s “The Circle,” starring Tom Hanks and Emma Watson; the World Premiere of “Mike and the Mad Dog”; the documentary “House of Z,” which follows fashion superstar Zac Posen; and “The Public Image is Rotten,” a documentary about Sex Pistols’ lead singer Johnny Lydon (AKA Johnny Rotten).
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Tribeca 2017 will also feature a 25th anniversary sing-along screening of Disney’s “Aladdin”; the 25th anniversary of “Reservoir Dogs,” followed by a conversation with director Quentin Tarantino and members of the cast; and the 15th anniversary of “Bowling for Columbine,” followed by a discussion with director Michael Moore.
The Tribeca Film Festival takes places April 19 to April 30.
See the full list of newly-announced screenings below.
CLOSING NIGHT
The Godfather & The Godfather: Part II
After the Movie: A 45th anniversary conversation with Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, and Robert De Niro.
GALAS
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: The Bad Boy Story (World Premiere)
Director: Daniel Kaufman.
A raw and exclusive look behind the scenes at the history and legacy of Bad Boy through a complex portrait of the label’s mastermind, Sean “Diddy” Combs aka Puff Daddy, as he tries to reunite his Bad Boy Family in the course of a frantic three-week rehearsal period. This Live Nation Productions documentary finds him reuniting with the biggest names from Bad Boy’s history for a wildly successful pair of concerts at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center. With Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e, Lil’ Kim, Faith Evans, Total.
The Circle (World Premiere)
Director: James Ponsoldt
Writers: James Ponsoldt and Dave Eggers.
When Mae (Emma Watson) is hired to work for the world’s largest and most powerful tech and social media company, she sees it as an opportunity of a lifetime. As she rises through the ranks, she is encouraged by the company’s founder, Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks), to engage in a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics and ultimately her personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment, and every decision she makes begin to affect the lives and future of her friends, family and that of humanity. With Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Ellar Coltrane, Patton Oswalt, Glenne Headly, Bill Paxton. An STXfilms release.
TRIBECA/ESPN SPORTS FILM FESTIVAL GALA
Sponsored by Mohegan Sun
Mike and the Mad Dog (World Premiere)
Director: Daniel H. Forer.
Dive into the inner workings of one of the sports world’s most unlikely partnerships: Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, the voices that launched a thousand sports radio imitators. The hosts, their colleagues, and a who’s-who of sports heavyweights tell the story of their surprise rise to stardom and 19 years as the iconic voices of New York sports. An ESPN Films release.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Blues Planet: Triptych (World Premiere)
Director/Writer: Wyland.
“Blues Planet: Triptych” explores the Gulf Oil Spill disaster and its aftermath through environmental artist Wyland who, along with 30 of today’s pre-eminent artists, recorded a new genre of global blues on the catastrophe’s anniversary.
After the Movie: Taj Mahal and the Wyland Blues Planet Ban will perform.
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (World Premiere)
Director/Writer: Alexandra Dean.
Known for her unmatched beauty, Hedy Lamarr’s fans never knew she also possessed a beautiful mind. Immigrating to Hollywood in the 1940s, Lamarr acted by day and sketched inventions by night, even devising a “secret communication system” for the Allies to beat the Nazis. Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story reveals how Lamarr gave her patent away to the Army, receiving no credit for her engineering innovations, even as she was immortalized as a legend of the silver screen. Executive produced by Susan Sarandon. With Mel Brooks, Diane Kruger, Peter Bogdanovich, Denise Loder DeLuca, Anthony Loder, Richard Rhodes.
After the Movie: Tribeca Film Institute and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will host an exclusive panel with director Alexandra Dean and prominent women in both entertainment and STEM, focusing on how both groups have been historically underrepresented in their respective fields.
Chris Gethard: Career Suicide (World Premiere)
Director: Kimberly Senior
Writer: Chris Gethard.
In this deeply personal and profoundly funny one man show, comedian Chris Gethard dives deep into his own personal struggles with mental health issues. He will have you laughing at stories of Barb his therapist one minute, then revealing incredibly personal experiences the next, using comedy to lend insight in a way that only humor can. An HBO release.
After the Movie: A conversation with comedian/actor/writer Chris Gethard and fellow comedians.
Dare to be Different (World Premiere)
Director: Ellen Goldfarb
Writer; Jay Reiss.
Featuring interviews and rare footage of U2, Blondie, Duran Duran, Joan Jett, The Cure, Billy Idol, and Depeche Mode, Dare to Be Different is a nostalgic look at WLIR 92.7, the radio station that introduced these bands to a US audience. Director Ellen Goldfarb tells the story of the rise and fall of this institution, and the birth of the punk and new wave communities. With Joan Jett, Debbie Harry, Billy Idol, and others.
After the movie: A live music tribute to WLIR from A Flock of Seagulls, The English Beat, and The Alarm.
The Exception (US Premiere)
Director: David Leveaux
Writer: Simon Burke
A riveting World War II thriller, The Exception follows German soldier Stefan Brandt, tasked with investigating exiled German Monarch Kaiser Wilhelm II, only to find himself drawn into an unexpected and passionate romance with mysterious housemaid Mieke. When Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, comes for an unexpected visit, secrets are revealed, allegiances tested, and Brandt is forced to make the ultimate choice between honoring his country and following his heart. With Christopher Plummer, Jai Courtney, Lily James, Janet McTeer, Eddie Marsan, Ben Daniels. A DirecTV/A24 release.
After the movie: A conversation with director David Leveaux and actor Christopher Plummer.
From The Ashes (World Premiere)
Director: Michael Bonfiglio
From the Ashes captures Americans in communities across the country as they wrestle with the legacy of the coal industry and what its future should be under the Trump Administration. From Appalachia to the West’s Powder River Basin, the film goes beyond the rhetoric of the “war on coal” to present compelling and often heartbreaking stories about what’s at stake for our economy, health, and climate. From the Ashes invites audiences to learn more about an industry on the edge and what it means for their lives.
Before the movie: Special introduction by three-term Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg.
After the movie: A conversation with director Michael Bonfiglio and special guests to discuss the state of the American coal industry.
House of Z (World Premiere)
Director: Sandy Chronopoulos
Writers: Sandy Chronopoulos, Sherien Barsoum
Zac Posen rocketed to fashion stardom at a young age with his unique design aesthetic and charismatic presence, becoming one the most recognizable faces in the business today. But like any journey to great success it hasn’t come without cost. Sandy Chronopoulos’ film looks past the glamor of the red carpet and the runway to shine a light on the trials and tribulations of running one of the country’s most successful fashion houses. With Naomi Campbell, Sean Diddy Combs aka Puff Daddy, André Leon Talley, Paz de la Huerta.
After the movie: A conversation with director Sandy Chronopoulos and the film’s subject Zac Posen.
Intent to Destroy (World Premiere)
Director: Joe Berlinger
Writers: Joe Berlinger, Cy Christiansen
Embedding himself on the epic film set of Terry George’s The Promise (starring Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale), Academy Award®-nominated director Joe Berlinger takes an unwavering look at the Armenian genocide after a century of denial by the Turkish government and its strategic allies. A cinematic window into the historical and emotional web of responsibility.
After the movie: A conversation with director/screenwriter Joe Berlinger, poet and nonfiction writer Peter Balakian, composer Serj Tankian, and producer Eric Esrailian.
Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait (World Premiere)
Director/Writer: Pappi Corsicato
A titan of painting and filmmaking, Julian Schnabel’s art is among the most important work of the late 20th and early 21st century. Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait captures the artist in the studio and at home, incorporates archival footage and private home videos, and interviews family and friends to build a complex image of the man and his work. With Al Pacino, Willem Dafoe, Bono, Emmanuelle Seigner, Vito Schnabel. A Cohen Media release.
After the movie: A conversation with director Pappi Corsicato and the film’s subject Julian Schnabel.
Paris Can Wait (New York premiere)
Director/Writer: Eleanor Coppola
Long married to a successful but inattentive film producer, Anne is at a crossroads in her life. Enter Jacques, a French bon vivant, who offers to drive Anne from Cannes to Paris. What begins as an innocent favor quickly turns into an unexpectedly wandering road trip filled with fine cuisine and looming romance. Eleanor Coppola’s elegant journey takes us to the heart of a woman surprised to find long-buried memories resurface and unforeseen attraction arise. With Diane Lane, Alec Baldwin, Arnaud Viard. A Sony Pictures Classics release.
After the movie: A food and film experience inspired by Paris Can Wait.
The Public Image is Rotten (World Premiere)
Director: Tabbert Fiiller
Within months of the demise of the Sex Pistols in 1978, lead singer Johnny Rotten (aka John Lydon) formed post-punk outfit Public Image Ltd., an innovative and influential band which has accumulated a legion of fans since its founding. In this incisive, entertaining doc, Lydon opens up the book on his decades as a music provocateur, while past and present band members fill in the gaps and add their perspectives. With Thurston Moore, Flea, Adam Horovitz, Moby.
After the movie: A conversation with director Tabbert Fiiller and the film’s subject John Lydon a.k.a. Johnny Rotten.
The Third Industrial Revolution (World Premiere)
Directors: Oliver Ressler, Eddy Moretti
The global economy is in crisis. Economists warn that we face 20 more years of declining productivity, slow growth, rising unemployment, and steep inequality. And now, climate change is ravaging the planet. Where do we go from here? Economic theorist Jeremy Rifkin outlines a journey into the Third Industrial Revolution — a new era of sustainable development, accompanied by vast new economic opportunities in a smart green digital global economy.
“After the Movie: A conversation with director Eddy Moretti and economic and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin.”
Warning: This Drug May Kill You (World Premiere)
Director: Perri Peltz.
Warning: This Drug May Kill You takes an unflinching look at the devastating effects of opioid addiction in the U.S., profiling four families whose lives have been decimated by addictions that all began with legitimate prescriptions to dangerous painkillers. Through the personal and emotional stories of people on the front lines of this epidemic, this film is an eye-opening look at a terrifying epidemic that is devastating communities across this country, and the toll it has taken on its victims and their families. An HBO Documentary release.
After the Movie: A conversation with Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Dr. Andrew Kolodny, Co-Director of Opioid Policy Research Collaborative Brandeis University, Gail Cole, film subject and co-founder, Hope and Healing After an Addiction Death, and producer Sascha Weiss. Moderated by the film’s director Perri Peltz.
RETROSPECTIVES
Aladdin
Director: Ron Clements and John Musker
Writers: Ron Clements & John Musker and Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio.
Disney’s beloved animated masterpiece will make your heart race and your spirit soar. Experience the laughter, adventure and Academy Award-winning music (1992: Best Music, Original Song, “A Whole New World,” Original Score) on the big screen at Tribeca’s 25th anniversary celebration for the whole family. With Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried.
Before the Movie: Join Brad Kane, the singing voice of Aladdin, for a special 25th anniversary performance of a soundtrack favorite before the screening.
Bowling for Columbine
Director: Michael Moore.
In 2002, Michael Moore explored the roots of America’s relationships with guns and the firearms industry following the devastating mass shooting at Columbine High School. The film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary. In the current moment of frequent mass shootings and ongoing legislative battles, 15 years after the film’s release, Moore’s confrontational documentary remains relevant as ever.
After the Movie: On the 15th anniversary of the documentary, and on the exact day of the massacre 18 years ago, a conversation with director Michael Moore and others on the timeliness of the film today.
Reservoir Dogs
Director/Writer: Quentin Tarantino.
They were perfect strangers, assembled to pull off the perfect crime. Then their simple robbery explodes into a bloody ambush and the ruthless killers realize one of them is a police informant. But which one? Twenty-five years ago, auteur filmmaker Quentin Tarantino reinvigorated cinema with his singular voice in his canonical feature Reservoir Dogs. He has generously provided a 35mm print from his archive for this special 25th anniversary screening. With Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Edward Bunker, Quentin Tarantino.
After the Movie: A 25th anniversary conversation with director Quentin Tarantino and cast from the film.
TRIBECA/ESPN SPORTS FILM FESTIVAL
Features:
Chuck (US Premiere)
Director: Philippe Falardeau
Writers: Jeff Feuerzeig, Jerry Stahl
“Chuck” is the true story of Chuck Wepner (Liev Schreiber), the man who inspired the billion-dollar film series Rocky–a liquor salesman from New Jersey who went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali. Wepner suffered numerous losses, knockouts, and broken noses in his ten years in the ring, and lived an epic life of drugs, booze, and wild women outside of it. With Elisabeth Moss, Ron Perlman, Naomi Watts, Jim Gaffigan, Michael Rapaport. An IFC Films release.
Mike and the Mad Dog (World Premiere)
Writer: Daniel H. Forer
Dive into the inner workings of one of the sports world’s most unlikely partnerships: Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, the voices that launched a thousand sports radio imitators. The hosts, their colleagues, and a who’s-who of sports heavyweights tell the story of their surprise rise to stardom and 19 years as the iconic voices of New York sports. An ESPN Films release.
No Stone Unturned (World Premiere)
Director: Alex Gibney
In 1994, six men were gunned down and five wounded in a pub while watching a World Cup soccer match in Loughinisland, Northern Ireland. With a police investigation that was perfunctory at best, the case remained unsolved. In this non-fiction murder mystery, Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney reopens the original case to investigate why no culprit was ever brought to justice.
Sambá (World Premiere)
Directors: Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas
Writers: Ettore D’Alessandro, Carolina Encarnacion.
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.
Year of the Scab (World Premiere)
Director: John Dorsey
During the 1987 NFL strike, teams scrambled to assemble temporary replacements to fill in for their boycotting players. The Washington Redskins were notable for their “scabs,” a collection of cast-offs who nonetheless rode a surprising wave of momentum against all odds. “Year of the Scab” revisits this ultimate underdog story and the men whose ordinary lives were interrupted. Those so-called “scabs” helped break the strike and bring their team to victory, only to struggle for their place in the sports history books.
An ESPN Films release.
Shorts:
The Amazing Adventures of Wally and the Worm (New York Premiere)
Director: Colin Hanks
When Dennis Rodman hurts his knee with four weeks to go in the Chicago Bulls ’96-’97 NBA championship season, young assistant trainer Wally Blasé is assigned to oversee his rehab, and the two forge a close friendship over 10 wild days of fast living recounted by director Colin Hanks through animation and first-person confessions. Short Program: Sports Shorts
Bump & Spike (World Premiere)
Director: Michael Jacobs
The spectacular rise and fall of the International Professional Volleyball Association, which existed between 1975-1980 complete with “party lifestyle,” rocking arena matches and stars on the court and in the stands, is chronicled in this Michael Jacobs-directed film. Short Program: Sports Shorts
The Counterfeiter (World Premiere)
Director: Brian Biegel
Featuring actual wiretapped phone calls and surveillance video, this film explores how the FBI brought down the largest counterfeit operation in U.S. history during the summer of 1998, thanks to the help of some major league baseball players. Short Program: Sports Shorts
Resurface (New York Premiere)
Directors: Josh Izenberg, Wynn Padula
Struggling with trauma and depression after his military service, Iraq war veteran Bobby Lane wants to cross surfing off his bucket list before taking his life. Short Program: Surf’s Up
Revolution in the Ring (World Premiere)
Director: Jason Sklaver
The story of Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson, who in 1962 chose to stay in his home country rather than defect, this film examines through the lens of Cuban-American politics how his life and the life of the Cuban people were dramatically altered by the embargo. In English, Spanish with subtitles. Short Program: Sports Shorts
Run Mama Run (World Premiere)
Director: Daniele Anastasion
Run Mama Run is an examination of motherhood and athleticism through the eyes of Sarah Brown, an elite track athlete who will continue to train through pregnancy and postpartum with help of her trainer and husband Darren Brown. Short Program: Sports Shorts
Under an Arctic Sky (World Premiere)
Director: Chris Burkard
Writers: Ben Weiland, Chris Burkard.
A group of surfers along with photographer Chris Burkard journey to Iceland’s north coast in search of perfect waves during the largest storm to make landfall in 25 years. Short Program: Surf’s Up
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