The 2013 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by American Express®, is happy to announce its lineup of 60 short films, 30 of which are world premieres (a record number for the Festival), and a special screening.

This year’s program is curated from more than 2870 submissions and includes films from 19 countries. The 2013 shorts program will be presented in 8 thematic programs—5 narrative categories, 2 documentary categories and 1 experimental category. One documentary section, “History Lesson,” consists entirely of world premieres- a first for the Festival.

The lineup features powerful performances by a range of emerging and established talent such as Lauren Ambrose, Kevin Corrigan, Elle Fanning, Nastassja Kinski, Julian Sands, and Elijah Wood. Shawn Christensen, Academy Award-winning director of Curfew, returns to TFF with Grandma’s Not a Toaster. Besides Christensen, the 2013 shorts program is proud to welcome  a number of returning filmmakers including Keir Burrows, Matthew Bonifacio, David Darg, Gerardo Herrero, Myles Kane, Josh Koury, Bryn Mooser, Michael Scalisi, Ryan Spindell and Jonathan VanBallenberghe.

Character Witness

These documentaries present first-person perspectives that ponder events affecting life, death and in-between.

• Recollections, Directed and written by Nathanael Carton, (Japan), New York Premiere
• Grave Goods, Directed and written by Leslie Tai, (USA), World Premiere
• When The Song Dies, Directed by Jamie Chambers, (Scotland), North American Premiere
• Wilt Chamberlain: Borscht Belt Bellhop, Directed by Caroline Laskow and Ian Rosenberg, (USA), World Premiere
• Lapse: Confessions of a Slot Machine Junkie, Directed and written by Jonathan VanBallenberghe, (USA), World Premiere
• We Will Live Again, Directed by Josh Koury and Myles Kane, (USA), World Premiere
• The Rider and the Storm, Directed and written by David Darg and Bryn Mooser, (USA), World Premiere

Deadbolt

Robots and vampires and werewolves, oh my, roam these short films as we call for a lockdown with our late-night genre program.

• The Girl with the Mechanical Maiden, Directed and written by Andrew Legge, (Ireland), New York Premiere
• Yardbird, Directed by Michael Spiccia, written by Julius Avery, (Australia), New York Premiere
• The Exit Room, Directed and written by Todd Wiseman Jr, (USA), World Premiere
• AB-, Directed and written by Daniel Klein, (USA), World Premiere
• Peanut Butter & Jelly, Directed and written by David Winkfield, (USA), World Premiere
• Honeymoon Suite (蜜月套房), Directed by Zao Wang, written by Zao Wang and Tom Toro, (China), World Premiere
• Delicacy, Directed by Jason Mann, written by Frieda Luk and Jason Mann, (USA), New York Premiere
• The Root Of The Problem, Directed and written by Ryan Spindell and Mark E. Davidson, (USA), New York Premiere

The End Is Near

The Mayans were wrong. We’re still here, but endings both apocalyptic and personal confront the characters in these short films.

• The Acrobat, Directed and written by Gerardo Herrero, (Spain), New York Premiere
• Murk Light (ضوء دامس), Directed by Yasir Al-Yasiri, written by Mohammed A. Al Hammadi, (Iraq), North American Premiere
• Snow in Paradise, Directed by Justine Simei-Barton and Nikki Si’ulepa, written by Nikki Si’ulepa, (New Zealand), New York Premiere
• Grace, Directed and written by Keir Burrows, (U.K.), International Premiere
• Grandma's Not a Toaster, Directed by Andrew Napier, written by Shawn Christensen, (USA), World Premiere
• Epilogue, Directed and written by Dylan Allen, (USA), World Premiere

History Lessons

The past is brought into the present through these personal and social documentaries offering a wide range of insights on shaping our world.

• A Short Film About Guns, Directed by Minos Papas, (Cyprus), (U.K.), (USA), World Premiere
• Reporting on The Times: The New York Times and The Holocaust, Directed by Emily Harrold, (USA),World Premiere
• Coach, Directed by Bess Kargman, (USA), World Premiere
• Royal American, Directed and written by Michael Scalisi, (USA), World Premiere
• Who Shot Rock & Roll: The Film, Directed by Steven Kochones, (USA), World Premiere

Let There Be Light: The Cycles of Life

This selection of experimental short films showcases the profound artistic influence of light.

• Sight, Directed and written by Thirza Cuthand, (Canada), U.S. Premiere
• Star Light No.5 Bis, Directed and written by Cécile Fontaine, (France), North American Premiere
• Depart, Directed by Blake Williams, (Canada), U.S. Premiere
• Lunatic, Directed and written by Aasa Ersmark, (Sweden), International Premiere
• Parallel North (Parallèle Nord), Directed and written by Félix Dufour-Laperrière, (Canada), World Premiere
• Hermeneutics, Directed by Alexei Dmitriev, (Russia), New York Premiere
• Light Plate, Directed and written by Josh Gibson, (Italy), (USA), New York Premiere
• The Moon Has Its Reasons, Directed and written by Lewis Klahr, (U.K.), North American Premiere
• Corn Mother, Directed and written by Taylor Dunne, (USA), New York Premiere
• The Last Time, Directed and written by Candy Kugel, (USA), World Premiere
• Two Islands, Directed and written by Jan Ijäs, (Finland), North American Premiere
• Dead World Order, Directed by Dana Levy, (France), International Premiere
• Look Inside The Ghost Machine, Directed and written by Peter Lichter, (Hungary), North American Premiere

Skin Deep

We expose our more sensitive side to delve into issues of self-image and self-discovery.

• Likeness, Directed and written by Rodrigo Prieto, (USA), World Premiere
• Eating Lunch (Äta Lunch), Directed and written by Sanna Lenken, (Sweden), International Premiere
• Wings, Directed and written by José Villalobos, (USA), (Spain), International Premiere
• The River, Directed and written by Sam Handel, (USA), New York Premiere
• The Cup Reader (Qariat il Finjan), Directed and written by Suha Araj, (Occupied Palestinian Territory), World Premiere
• Ina Litovski, Directed by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette and André Turpin, written by André Turpin and Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, (Canada), U.S. Premiere
• The Nightshift Belongs to the Stars (Il Turno di Notte lo Fanno le Stelle), Directed by Edoardo Ponti, written by Erri De Luca, (Italy), North American Premiere

Unlimited Ride

This year our New York shorts program takes you on a journey through Manhattan and into the boroughs to meet some unique individuals trying to survive in the city we call home.

• ZZZZZZZ, Directed and written by Tarik Karam, (USA), World Premiere
• Close Your Eyes, Directed and written by Sonia Malfa, (USA), World Premiere
• ICE, Directed and written by Anthony Tarsitano, (USA), World Premiere
• Atlantic Avenue, Directed and written by Laure de Clermont, (France), International Premiere
• Playdate, Directed by David Shane, Written by and Scott Organ, (USA), World Premiere
• Fortune House, Directed by Matthew Bonifacio, written by Bob Linton, (USA), World Premiere
• Space Cadet, Directed by Paul Riccio, written by Michael Gambino, (USA), World Premiere

Worst Day Ever

If you are having a bad day, we are betting that these short films will make you feel a wee bit better about things.

• The Hounds (Les Meutes), Directed and written by Manuel Shapira, (France), North American Premiere
• What's Left, What's Lost, Directed and written by Katie Rose, (USA), World Premiere
• Life Doesn't Frighten Me, Directed and written by Stephen Dunn, (Canada), New York Premiere
• RPG OKC, Directed and written by Emily Carmichael, (USA), World Premiere
• Setup, Punch., Directed and written by David Schlussel, (USA), World Premiere
• Fear of Flying, Directed and written by Conor Finnegan, (Ireland), New York Premiere
• Fool's Day, Directed by Cody Blue Snider, written by Cody Blue Snider and Shane Snider, (USA), World Premiere

Special Screening

• The Battle of amfAR, Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, written by Sharon Wood.  (USA), New York Premiere, Documentary.

In the darkest days of the AIDS pandemic, two women from very different walks of life unite to take a stand. Two-time Academy Award®-winner Rob Epstein and his longtime collaborator Jeffrey Friedman, the creative forces behind The Celluloid Closet, tell the story of the extraordinary moment when Dr. Mathilde Krim and Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor launched the country’s first AIDS research foundation. The fight against HIV/AIDS would never be the same. An HBO Documentary Films release.

• After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with special guests Dr. Mathilde Krim, Elizabeth Taylor’s daughter-in-law Aileen Getty, global health consultant and activist Regan Hofmann and amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost to discuss the exciting strides medicine has taken in AIDS research development. Moderated by amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole.

Awards

The recipients of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Best Narrative Short award and Best Documentary Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

Works selected for the 2013 TFF shorts slate are eligible to compete for combined cash and value-in-kind prizes totaling more than $10,000 for Best Narrative Short and Best Documentary Short, sponsored by Persol, and the Student Visionary Award.

Check out more of the Slate

TFF 2013: World Narrative Competition
TFF 2013: World Documentary Competition
TFF 2013: Viewpoints
TFF 2013: Spotlight
TFF 2013: Midnight

Packages and passes are on sale now for American Express® cardholders and will go on sale to the general public on Monday, March 11 at 11am:  Learn more about TFF 2013 Ticket Packages.

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