How to Choose Festival Films and Events

Dive into the heart of the Tribeca Festival with our expert guide to the 2025 selection categories as the program is announced.

The 2025 Festival Program will be announced this spring. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to see the lineup and purchase a Festival Pass or Ticket Package to reserve your seats before everyone else.

Opening Night Gala

Hold onto your seats, this night can’t be missed! Join celebrities and film industry insiders in celebrating the 2025 debut of the historic Tribeca Festival at the Opening Night Gala and screening.

Closing Night Gala

Close the curtains on another wonderful year of Tribeca programming! Celebrate another year of Tribeca programming alongside your favorite celebrities and industry leaders at the Closing Gala and screening.

U.S. Narrative Competition

Discover breakout independent voices from around the country as these extraordinary world premieres compete for honors in Tribeca's U.S. Narrative Competition.

International Narrative Competition

The New York-based Festival breaks its geographical boundaries with the International Narrative Competition, welcoming filmmakers from abroad to join a global platform for contemporary world cinema.

Documentary Competition

Experience the cinema of reality with these remarkable non-fiction premieres sure to make waves in the coming year.

Spotlight Narrative

A launching pad for the most buzzworthy new films, Tribeca’s Spotlight section brings audiences anticipated premieres from acclaimed filmmakers and star performers.

Spotlight Documentary

Both onscreen and behind the camera, Spotlight Documentary films represent the biggest names in nonfiction premiering high-profile new work.

Spotlight+

Tribeca's unique Spotlight+ events bring the film experience off the screen with live conversations and performances after each screening.

Viewpoints

Tribeca’s home for distinct points of view and bold directorial visions, Viewpoints discovers the most boundary-pushing, rule-breaking new voices in independent film.

Midnight

Surprising, shocking, frightening, and thrilling, Escape From Tribeca is the destination for the best in horror and more for late-night audiences.

Escape From Tribeca

Mind-bending premieres, spine-chilling classics, and Godzilla-sized dance parties make for an unforgettable escape tailor-made for adventurous movie lovers craving the extraordinary.

Retrospective Screenings

Experience iconic cinema back on the big screen for a new generation of audience! Enjoy a screening of a film the way it was meant to be seen, followed by a panel with the director, producer, and cast.

Shorts

Stories come in all shapes and sizes. Discover captivating, creative, and imaginative storytelling in short-form narrative, documentary, and animation.

TV

The best of the small screen on the silver screen! This Tribeca Festival experiences the most talked about returning and new television shows before they air at home, plus conversations with casts and creative teams.

Now (Indie Episodic)

Meet a diverse and exciting group of storytellers and discover independent episodic narratives and documentaries, including short and long-form pilots and series.

Audio Storytelling

Tribeca’s Audio Storytelling program celebrates groundbreaking contributions to the world of audio, with a mix of premieres, talks, live podcast recordings, and other special events.

Tribeca Talks

Get inspired by industry heavyweights through must-see conversations at Tribeca Talks, a series that explores the business of entertainment.

Tribeca Games

Experience the forefront of storytelling in games and celebrate the convergence of games, entertainment, and culture at Tribeca through special events featuring luminaries of the games industry and first-time playable demos of Tribeca Games selections.

Tribeca Immersive

Tribeca Immersive showcases cutting-edge virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality experiences from top artists. Experience the boundaries of storytelling pushed through technology and emotionally engaging stories in two categories.

Music Lounge

Kick back or enjoy shows, musical performances, and after-parties with your favorite artists at the Tribeca Music Lounge.