Today’s the day! Submissions for the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival are officially OPEN, and we can’t wait to see the stories you’ve all worked so hard to tell. For two decades, we have given space to creatives from around the world to share their perspectives and ideas, and this year, our mission continues. The 2021 festival, slated for June 9 to 20, 2021, is sure to be extra special for filmmakers and fans alike, since we’ll be celebrating our 20th anniversary. We hope you’ll join us!

There are two ways to submit your project: through Tribeca’s Extranet or on FilmFreeway. The early deadline for submissions is October 21, 2020, with entry fees starting at $20. Need more time? Fear not! The final deadline isn’t until January 13, 2021, and we accept rough cut submissions across all categories. In fact, many of the projects submitted to us are works in progress, so don’t be afraid to show us what you’ve got so far!

Below is a breakdown of our submission categories and examples to help you feel inspired.

FEATURES

Requirements: Narrative or documentary films at least 40 minutes long that have not had any public screening, broadcast, distribution, or exhibition before January 1, 2020 and have not screened publicly in the New York region.

Examples:

• Nia DaCosta’s Little Woods, a small-town thriller about two sisters just trying to get by
• Alice Wu’s The Half of It, a high school dramedy about a triangle of teenage crushes
• Marshall Curry’s Racing Dreams, a must-see documentary about an offshoot of NASCAR

SHORTS

Requirements: Narrative, documentary, animated, and experiential films under 40 minutes long that have not had any public screening, broadcast, distribution, or exhibition before January 1, 2020 and have not screened publicly in the New York region.

Examples:

• Glen Keane and Kobe Bryant’s Dear Basketball, a poem by Bryant that comes to life like never before
• Carol Dysinger’s Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re A Girl), a look at the life of girls learning to read, write, and skateboard in Kabul, Afghanistan
• Marshall Curry’s The Neighbor’s Window, a true story about a woman whose life is never the same after two twentysomethings move in across the street

TRIBECA IMMERSIVE

Requirements: Must have an interactive element. Think VR, AR, mixed reality, 360° films, web projects, mobile apps, performance art, multi-media installations, and more.

Examples:

• Celine Tricart’s The Key, an interactive VR experience that takes you on a journey through memories and difficult choices
• Pete Billington and Jessica Yaffa Shamash’s Wolves in the Walls: It's All Over, a mission to discover what’s really hiding in your home
• Clyde Henry Productions and Felix & Paul Studios’ Gymnasia, a haunting step inside a lost childhood

TRIBECA NOW

Requirements: Episodic projects, narrative or documentary, created for broadcast television and/or streaming + web series that show potential for serial growth. Cannot have had public screening, broadcast, distribution, or exhibition before January 1, 2020.

Examples:

• Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld’s High Maintenance, a web series for anyone with New York in their hearts
• Brian Jordan Alvarez’s The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, a comedy series about the ins and outs of relationships, both romantic and platonic
• Vera Miao’s Two Sentence Horror Stories, a project that blends horror with a mother-daughter relationship

X AWARD

Requirements: Scripted and documentary work for film, TV, digital, episodic, social, and VR/AR funded with support of a brand in collaboration with artists or filmmakers. The project must tell a story; no commercial spots, please.

Examples:

• Greg Brunkalla’s Hearing Colors (with Samsung), a look at what happens when you gain the ability to hear colors
• Mohammad Gorjestani’s For Every Kind of Dream: "Yassin Falafel" (with Square), following Yassin Terou and his tireless pursuit of perfect falafel
• Errol Morris’ Face of Distracted Driving - Forrest (with AT&T), a heart-wrenching story about the dangers of texting and driving

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL FOR ONLINE PREMIERES

Plus, new for 2021, we’re thrilled to announce a virtual film festival specifically for feature and short work looking to make their online premiere — bringing the Tribeca experience and the best in independent film to online audiences.

Requirements: Submitted short and feature films cannot have had any public screening, broadcast, distribution, or exhibition before January 1, 2020 and must still retain their U.S. Online Premiere status.

For more details on eligibility requirements across categories, please read our full submissions page or email entries@tribecafilm.com with any questions. Good luck!