Columbia Filmmakers Take Over 2025 Tribeca Lineup
Columbia filmmakers feature up and down the lineup of this year’s Tribeca Festival, which runs from June 4 to 15 at venues across Manhattan. Formerly known as the Tribeca Film Festival before broadening its mandate in 2021, the multi-format festival celebrates a diverse catalogue of storytellers from across the globe. This year’s Columbia entries number in the double digits, with affiliates screening features, documentaries, and shorts over six categories.
In Spotlight Documentary, the festival’s mainstage for nonfiction, Columbia has three films in play. The list includes The Inquisitor, which explores the life and career of Barbara Jordan, who in 1972 became the first Southern Black woman to join Congress. The feature is directed and produced by Angela Tucker ’08, and executive produced by former adjunct professor Jameka Autry.
Also on the documentary docket is Bodyguard of Lies, a reckoning with the U.S. government’s handling of the 20-year war in Afghanistan and its deception of the American public. The film was executive produced by Adjunct Assistant Professor Richard Perello.
Last but not least is Holding Liat, produced by Justin A. Gonçalves ’20. It tells the story of Israeli-American Liat Atzili, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, and details her family’s stateside battle for her release.
Screening in Spotlight Narrative, a launchpad for some of the festival’s high profile premieres, is After This Death, edited by Film student Kali Kahn. The thriller follows a woman reeling after an affair with the frontman of an underground band is upended by his sudden disappearance.
Included in the festival’s Viewpoints selection, which celebrates “boundary-pushing, rule-breaking” independents, is Our Hero, Balthazar, executive produced by Anna-Nora Bernstein ’16. The satire follows an NYC teen who tries to impress his crush by going viral as a gun control advocate, and ends up traveling to Texas to confront a potential school shooter.
The U.S. Narrative Competition, which presents world premieres vying for festival honors, is showcasing a trio of Columbia projects. First up is Rosemead, a project that features no less than six Columbia filmmakers. The film is the true story of a Chinese immigrant working to navigate her son’s growing obsession with mass shootings. The drama was produced by Co-Concentration Head of Creative Producing Mynette Louie with a screenplay by Marilyn Fu ’03. Tony Yang ’20 served as co-producer and Alex Peace-Power ’17 as line producer. Cheryl Wang ’22 worked as the music supervisor for the film, and Samantha Lori Glass ’23 supported the team as the Production Secretary.
Also in competition is Ride or Die, the story of an unexpected reunion with a high school crush that sends the two women on a high stakes road trip. The romantic thriller was written, directed, and produced by Josalynn Smith ’19.
The third in competition is Bird in Hand, about a woman visiting her mother back home under the pretense of making wedding arrangements, only to surprise everyone with her actual plans. The comedy was produced by Sam Bisbee (CC ’90).
And last but not least in the competition category is Lemonade Blessing, a propulsive comedy feature about a devout Catholic schoolboy who falls head over hells for a devious girl named Lilith, a rebel with a hatred of her strict religious upbringing who pushes his morals and faith to the brink. Barnard alum Taryn Gates '20 co-produced and acted in the film.
And playing in this year’s Spotlight+ category, which includes special events programming following each screening, is the documentary Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, written, directed, and produced by Elegance Bratton (GS ’14). The film, which had its premiere at Sundance earlier this year, tells the story of Vince Lawrence and the creation of a new sound that would change the world of music. The New York Premiere will be followed by a house music dance party featuring three DJs from the film.
Nobu, a documentary that traces sushi chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s life from childhood into his career as a restaurant mogul, will also be screening in the Spotlight+ category. The film was associate produced by Daniel Slottje '20. Nobu’s first screening will be accompanied by a Q&A with director Matt Tyrnauer, Chef Nobu and Robert DeNiro.
Columbia is also celebrating three narrative entries in the festival’s Shorts program. Kisses and Bullets, written and directed by Faranak Sahafian '24 and produced by Yoko Kohmoto ’23, follows the connection of two Iranian women protesting for change.
āyí [sic], the story of an undocumented housekeeper in Flushing, was written, directed, and edited by Film student Jiayi Li.
And finally Poreless, a comedy about a queer Muslim beauty-entrepreneur in a pitching contest à la Shark Tank, was written, directed, produced, and edited by former adjunct professor Harris Doran.
”We believe that storytelling is a force—one that connects us, challenges us, and inspires us to reimagine what’s possible,” said Festival Director Cara Cusumano. “These films are a powerful reflection of the world we live in—and the world we want to shape.”
Submissions for this year’s feature program set a festival record, with 13,541 features vying for just 118 final slots, nine of which went to Columbia filmmakers. This year’s shorts program also set a record for submissions, with 93 final selections.
The Festival also features a showcase of new talent called the Tribeca Creators Market. Two pairs of Columbia grads were selected to pitch their projects to a curated audience of industry professionals: Wes Andre Goodrich ’23 and Patrick Nichols ’22 will pitch their work in this exclusive event, as will Mauro Mueller’ 13 and David Figueroa Garcia ’13 alongside their collaborator Leslie Holleran. In a statement, Tribeca said, “A pillar of Tribeca’s commitment to supporting storytellers in all stages of their careers, the Creators Market puts a strong emphasis on diversity and forms of storytelling, providing industry with a group of fresh and provocative voices.”
See this year’s full film lineup here.