2026 Festival Watch Guide: Getting Political

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BY THE EDITORS | MAY 22, 2026

2026 Festival Watch Guide: Getting Political

Unflinching examinations of the issues that matter.

You've heard the expression "the personal is political." Nowhere is that on fuller display than in our lineup this year, which features urgent subjects made human and accessible through masterful storytelling. AI, immigration, abortion, and climate change are some of the most hotly debated issues today — so, it stands to reason that they're also driving some of our most revelatory programs at the Festival.

A note from Rock the Vote:

Culture has the power to spark conversation, inspire action, and shape the future. For more than 30 years, Rock the Vote has worked at the intersection of culture and civic engagement to empower young people to make their voices heard.

Our future is shaped by the stories we watch, the music we listen to, and the voices we create space for. As Tribeca highlights films exploring politics and civic life, make sure you have a plan to make your voice heard. Visit rockthevote.org to check your voter registration, sign up for election reminders, and learn more about the power you have in deciding the direction of our future.

Playing POTUS

Spotlight+/Feature Documentary

From Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford to Maya Rudolph's Kamala Harris, Playing POTUS explores how comedians don't just parody leaders, they help define them. Featuring comedy legends and late-night insiders, this sharp, entertaining documentary reveals how presidential impressions became one of America's most influential, and surprisingly powerful, forms of political storytelling.

Directed by Josh Greenbaum | Featuring Dana Carvey, Will Ferrell, Maya Rudolph, Keegan-Michael Key, Alec Baldwin, and Kate McKinnon

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TikTok Never Dies

Spotlight Documentary

When TikTok faces a nationwide ban, three influencers fight for their livelihoods, their voices, and the First Amendment. As their efforts advance to the Supreme Court, questions swirl around the stakes, power, and control of the future of social media.

Directed by Hao Wu | Featuring Steven King, Chloe Joy Sexton, and Topher Townsend

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The Second Life of Freddie Nole

Shorts/Documentary

When Freddie Nole drives to meet a man walking out of prison, he's not just offering a ride, he's offering hope, dignity, and a path to permanent freedom. As this vérité road trip unfolds, we come to learn the remarkable story behind Freddie's mission, a staggering mistake that cost him 50 years of freedom but ultimately brings him right back to the prison door.

Directed by Dana Nachman

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Mario

Spotlight Documentary

Ronald Reagan's America sets the stage for Mario Cuomo, the son of Italian immigrants who rose to become Governor of New York and, in his defining 1984 DNC speech, offered a powerful vision of leadership rooted in compassion.

Directed by Peter Kunhardt, George Kunhardt, and Teddy Kunhardt

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The Baddest Speechwriter of All

Shorts

Now 95, Martin Luther King Jr.'s lawyer and speechwriter reflects on the personal cost and surprising truths of making history, offering an intimate insider's view of the Civil Rights Movement.

Directed by Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry | Featuring Dr. Clarence B Jones

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When the Revolution Doesn't Come

Shorts

Born into the Black Panther movement, we join the "cubs" as they wrestle, 50 years on, with the dichotomy of their extraordinary childhoods.

Directed by Aurora Brachman

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How to Feed a Dictator

Spotlight Documentary

Five private chefs to fearsome dictators all over the world share their experiences of the kitchens and circumstances that led them to these sometimes dangerous and often morally compromising workplaces. Based on the book by Witold Szablowski.

Directed by Andrew Neel

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4000 Days

Spotlight Documentary

4000 Days chronicles the agonizing public struggle of three families whose personal tragedies become part of a nationwide movement for change — and the center of a push for legislative reform around the dangers of hazing.

Directed by Daniel E Catullo III | Featuring Gary DeVercelly, Julie DeVercelly, Eric Oakes, Linda Oakes, TJ Burch, and Kim Burch

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Vanishing Tracks

Viewpoints/Feature Documentary

Under the Zagros Mountains outside Shiraz, a family of Iranian nomads and their reticent sons investigate the disappearance of 12 sheep while navigating their flock through the modern city of poets in this dreamy documentary.

Directed by Hamed Zolfaghari

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AI: Probably Nothing to Worry About

Spotlight Documentary

The definitive documentary on AI's origins, told by the people who built it. A thriller-paced reckoning with ambition, rivalry and the question that now haunts everyone: Will artificial intelligence save humanity or destroy it?

Directed by Nick Holt

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Just Look Up

Spotlight Documentary

This propulsive documentary follows Climate Defiance and founder Michael Greenberg's unabashedly disruptive protests, expressing their fervent and urgent demands for climate action in the spaces — and faces — of industry executives and politicians exacerbating the crisis.

Directed by Betsy Hershey and Emma Wall

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Paving the Way

Shorts

Set against the sweeping landscapes of the Flathead Indian Reservation, Indigenous youth transform new skateparks into sanctuaries of hope, resilience, and joy — one drop-in at a time.

Directed by Keelan Williams

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Miss Representation: Rise Up

Spotlight+/Feature Documentary

Filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom expands on her acclaimed 2011 documentary Miss Representation by examining the rising backlash against women's progress and the hostile landscape of technology designed to harass and, ultimately, silence women.

After the premiere: a conversation with Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dr. Safiya Noble, Nina Jankowicz, and Jim Steyer.

Directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom | Featuring Hillary Rodham Clinton, Safiya Noble, Frances Haugen, Reshma Saujani, Jameela Jamil, Jim Steyer, Gretchen Carlson, Nancy Pelosi, and Amy Klobuchar

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Hope

Shorts/Documentary

Narrated by Javi, the only family member able to cross the border, Hope revisits his parents' migration story and the difficult reality that keeps them from returning home.

Directed by Javier Cruz-Ginez | Featuring Javier Cruz-Aguirre, Juana Ginez-Hernandez, Lena Ginez, and Rosa Cruz

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Hollywood Does Abortion

Spotlight Documentary

Since the 1970s, depictions of abortion in film and television have both impacted and reflected shifting attitudes towards the procedure and those who choose it. In this incisive documentary, the pursuit of reproductive justice and the undeniable impact that the American entertainment industry has had on that fight takes center stage.

Directed by Barbara Attie, Janet Goldwater, and Mike Attie | Featuring Rachel Bloom, Gillian Robespierre, Zoanne Clack, Adrienne Barbeau, Tanya Saracho, Dana Stevens, and Lizz Winstead

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Storytellers - Sean Penn with Kaitlan Collins

Storytellers

Sean Penn is a three-time Academy Award®-winning actor, filmmaker and author. In January 2010, Penn established J/P HRO in the immediate aftermath of the catastrophic Haiti earthquake. The emergency relief nonprofit was renamed CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) and continues to bring immediate aid and recovery to underserved communities across the globe.

Kaitlan Collins anchors The Source with Kaitlan Collins airing weeknights at 9pm ET on CNN and is currently serving as CNN's Chief White House Correspondent.

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We have over 150 selections to explore at this year's Festival — from films and podcasts to talks and TV and more. Explore the full Festival Program Guide here.

BY THE EDITORS | MAY 22, 2026

2026 Festival Watch Guide: Getting Political

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