FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL® ANNOUNCES SHORT FILM SELECTIONS

Michael Rapaport’s Juliette Lewis short doc Hard Lovin' Woman to open the Festival Hub screening program followed by Juliette and the Licks performance

NEW YORK, NY– March 9, 2016 –The 15th annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced its lineup of 72 selected short films, 45 are world premieres and 53 are in competition at the Festival. The selected shorts were curated from a record number of 3553 submissions and will be presented in eleven programs made up of six narrative, four documentary, and one animation curated by longtime Festival supporter Whoopi Goldberg. The 2016 Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 13 – 24.

“Short-form storytelling has always been an integral part of Tribeca’s programming,” said Sharon Badal, Vice President of Filmmaker Relations and Shorts Programming. “Short films are where new talent is discovered and new ways of telling stories emerge. Creative content and consumer viewing habits are changing and short films are perfect for this growing audience. We’re thrilled to be able to champion these films, and equally excited to provide an opportunity for audiences to see them at the festival.”

A special evening of short films with a musical performance will serve as the Festival Hub film program opener on April 15 where Michael Rapaport will debut his short documentary Hard Lovin' Woman which explores the sacrifices acclaimed actress, Juliette Lewis, makes to pursue her first love, music. The rock band, Juliette and the Licks, will perform following the screening. It will be preceded by the short on artist Bradley Theodore, Becoming: Bradley Theodore, directed by Matt Pizzano.

TFF has several first-time short programs this year: a music-driven documentary selection (Rock and a Hard Place), Sci-Fi (Warped Speed), and a program of stories from the west coast (California Dreaming).
A program celebrating powerful sports stories (Sports Shorts) has also been created as a new addition to the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival sponsored by Mohegan Sun. These new sections join the traditional programs from years past including global truths (First Impressions), profound life lessons from the US and abroad (Learning Curve), documentary shorts addressing historical and timely issues (Past Imperfect), and international studies (Pressure Points). The popular New York shorts return in two programs - one documentary (New York Then) and one narrative (New York Now) both of which are comprised entirely of world premieres.

Rounding out the programming, Whoopi Goldberg, a friend of TFF since its inception 15 years ago who has served as a member of the esteemed jury for the Festival, curates an animated shorts programs aptly titled Whoopi’s Shorts. These animated gems are directed by both established and emerging talent from around the world. These shorts, showcasing imaginative storytelling and captivating craft, will all screen at the Tribeca Festival Hub on April 17.

Several TFF Alumni directors return as part of the short film program including Dan Krauss (Oscar Nominated for his last Tribeca Short The Death of Kevin Carter and winner of Tribeca Best Documentary for The Kill Team) premieres the short Extremis, André Øvredal (2010 mockumentary Trollhunter) brings The Tunnel and writer/director Neil LaBute (2013 feature film Some Velvet Morning and short BFF) this year brings his short The Mulberry Bush. Other alumni include Jason Bergh, Daniel Cloud Campos, Patrick Creadon, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Tim Harris, Parker Hill, Claudia Huezo, Evan Ari Kelman, Ralph Laucella, Tobias Louie, Matthew Manson, Jonas Odell, Dana O’Keefe, Bill Plympton, Adam Rackoff, Michael D. Ratner, Christina Shane, David Shane and Paul Stone.

This year’s selection features exceptional talent on both sides of the camera. Meryl Streep narrated the short documentary, Auschwitz. Danny DeVito directs his daughter Lucy in the short Curmudgeons produced by his son Jake. Matthew Modine, also a TFF Alumni, directs his daughter Ruby, Ed Asner, Kevin Nealon and Elizabeth Perkins in the short Super Sex. The short Starring Austin Pendleton directed by Gene Gallerano and David H. Holmes features Austin Pendleton, Meryl Streep, Olympia Dukakis, Ethan Hawke, and Natalie Portman. Sandra Oh stars in The Scarecrow, Michael Cera and Andrea Riseborough star in That Dog, and Zosia Mamet, Jane Krakowski and Steve Buscemi star in Mildred and The Dying Parlor. Director Patrick Osborne, who won the 2015 Oscar for Best Animated Short Feast, will make his Festival debut this year with his short Pearl.

This year’s shorts program represents work from 23 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo Mexico, The Netherlands, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Venezuela and the United States.

Recipients of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Best Narrative Short and Best Documentary Short Awards will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Annual Academy Awards® provided the film complies with the Academy rules. Since 2004 (with the exception of 2007) the Tribeca Film Festival invited a short that went on to nomination and/or win in one of these two categories. Last year’s Festival winner for Best Documentary Short, Body Team 12, qualified it for nomination, and was one of the five nominees for this year’s Academy Award® for the Best Documentary Short.

Tribeca Film Festival Shorts Program:

Festival Hub Opening Night:
Performance by Juliette Lewis and the Licks following the screening.

California Dreaming
Tribeca becomes bicoastal with our first program of stories about an L.A. kind of life.

First Impressions
Looks are deceiving as we traverse the globe in search of the truth.

Learning Curve
Poignant or profound life lessons are embodied in these shorts from here and abroad.

New York Now
Home-grown New York shorts rooted firmly in the present.

New York Then
These documentary shorts include both human stories and New York’s past.

Past Imperfect
These documentary shorts address historical and timely issues with clarity, creativity and contemplation.

Pressure Points
The weight of the world rests heavily on the shoulders of these international characters.

Rock and a Hard Place
In this music-driven documentary shorts program we start out gently and ramp up to high-energy rock & roll.

Warped Speed
We tip our hat to the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek with our very first sci-fi shorts program that will definitely beam you up.

All the people equipped with the chip can see your new appearance and you can see theirs. But, the chip is only active for 12h a day... In French with subtitles.

Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival SPORTS SHORTS
Sponsored by Mohegan Sun
Skaters, ballers, and boxers populate this nonfiction program that celebrates the power of a great sports story.

Whoopi’s Shorts
This animated shorts program, curated by Whoopi Goldberg, showcases imaginative storytelling and captivating craft from around the world. This program is suggested for those 14 and older.

2016 Awards for the Shorts Program

Awards in the Shorts program are given out for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short; and the Student Visionary Award; all films in competition sections are eligible.

About the Tribeca Festival Hub

The Tribeca Festival Hub is located at 50 Varick Street. For 10 days, the Festival Hub is abuzz with activity that engages the senses, providing a hands-on opportunity to experience the best in storytelling and what happens when it collides with the latest technology. From groundbreaking virtual reality to inspiring films, tv and talks with the best storytellers in the world and can’t-be-missed interactive installations, festival goers converge on the hub to be inspired. The Festival Hub Pass is currently on sale, tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets

Passes and tickets for the 2016 Festival
Passes, including the Hudson and Festival Hub Passes, are on sale now at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets. The Festival Hub Pass provides access for one to all public events at the Festival Hub at Spring Studios throughout the Festival, including interactive and virtual reality installations, the Virtual Arcade, Tribeca Storyscapes and DEFCON exhibits, Interactive Day and Imagination Day, select Tribeca Talks events, special screenings, live music and performances, as well as Pass Holder Lounges with food and drinks. It also provides access to the Disruptive Innovation Awards, two screening vouchers redeemable for evening/weekend or matinee-priced tickets, discounted rates on festival screening tickets, and an invitation to a Tribeca Film Festival Filmmaker Party. The Festival Hub Pass costs $550.

The Hudson Pass provides access for one to all public events at the Festival Hub, as well as Pass Holder Lounges with food, and drinks. It also provides access to all evening/weekend and matinee screenings, all Tribeca Talks, the Disruptive Innovation Awards, and a Tribeca Film Festival Filmmaker Party. The Hudson Pass costs $1,250.

Advance selection ticket packages are now on sale. All advance selection packages can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single tickets cost $20.00 for evening and weekend screenings, $10.00 for weekday matinee screenings, and $40.00 for Tribeca Talks panels and special screenings. Single ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 29 and can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, located at Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (260 W. 23rd Street), and Brookfield Place (250 Vesey Street). The 2016 Festival will offer ticket discounts on general screenings and Tribeca Talks panels for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only.

About the Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival, now in its 15th year, brings together visionaries across industries and diverse audiences to celebrate the power of storytelling. A platform for independent filmmaking, creative expression and immersive entertainment, Tribeca supports emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning filmmakers, curates innovative and interactive experiences, and introduces new technology and ideas through panels, premieres, exhibitions, and live performance.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Tribeca has evolved from an annual event to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan to a gathering place for filmmakers, artists, innovators, and the global creative community. Through programs that embrace storytelling in all of its expansive forms – from film and music to video games and online work, TFF reimagines the cinematic experience and explores how art can unite communities.

About the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Sponsors
As Presenting Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, AT&T is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of filmmaking through access and innovation – aiming to make this the most interactive film and storytelling festival in the country, where visitors experience the Festival in ways they never imagined. As one of the largest communications and entertainment companies, AT&T helps millions connect with entertainment, mobile, high speed Internet and voice services – virtually everywhere.

The Tribeca Film Festival is pleased to announce its Signature Sponsors: #ActuallySheCan by Allergan, Accenture, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Bai Beverages, Bira 91, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), CHANEL, DEAN & DELUCA, EFFEN® Vodka, ESPN, Hendrick’s Gin, IBM, Infor, IWC Schaffhausen, The Lincoln Motor Company, NBC 4 New York, NCM Media Networks, New York Magazine, Samsung, Spring Studios New York, Thompson Hotels, and United Airlines.

IMAGES FOR PRESS: Film stills for the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival are available at www.image.net. If you are not an image.net media user yet, please register using referral code 2604. If you have any issues or your need is time sensitive please contact blin@TribecaFilmFestival.org

TFF Press credentials:
Credentialing for the 15th Festival is now open through March 3rd, 2016:
https://secure.sportssystems.com/events2/?eventKey=2d9e547a-f005-4ad4-bf9a-91f190842566

PRESS CONTACTS:
TFF/Rubenstein Communications:
Tahra Grant, Vice President, (212) 843-9213, tgrant@rubenstein.com

TFF/Tribeca:
Tammie Rosen, SVP of Communications, (212) 941-2003, trosen@tribecaenterprises.com

Twitter: @Tribeca
Instagram: @tribeca
Facebook: Like facebook.com/Tribeca
Snapchat: TribecaFilmFest
Hashtag: #Tribeca2016

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