The Tribeca Talks program will return to entertain and inspire audiences at the 18th annual Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, taking place from April 24th to May 5th. This year’s lineup will include intimate and once-in-a-lifetime conversations between groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed filmmakers, artists, entertainers, and icons.

This year's edition of Tribeca Talks: Directors Series feature some of the industry’s most renowned filmmakers, who will share stories and highlights from their illustrious careers. Longtime filmmaking partners Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro will come together for a conversation at the Beacon Theatre, where the duo will reflect on their decades-long working relationship, from 1973's Mean Streets to this year's The Irishman. This year’s series will also include a conversations with Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro and Oscar-nominated filmmaker David O. Russell; the latter will be joined by frequent collaborator Jennifer Lawrence.

The artists participating in this year's Tribeca Talks: Storytellers series are recognized for their innovation and desire to reshape the entertainment industry, straying from traditional roles and often working across multiple mediums. This accomplished group includes musician Questlove; comedian Sarah Silverman, in conversation with Mike Birbiglia; actor and writer Rashida Jones; actors Michael J. Fox and Denis Leary, who will come together for a one-on-one conversation; and author and VR pioneer Jaron Lanier. Tribeca Games will also present legendary video game creator Hideo Kojima and actor Norman Reedus for a special Tribeca Talks conversation to discuss their experience working together on the upcoming video game, Death Stranding. New this year is a Tribeca Talk featuring a conversation between multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah and writer-director Dee Rees about accelerating gender and racial equality behind the camera.

“Our Tribeca Talks have been so successful because they bring together cultural icons to discuss and debate a wide range of topics,” said Paula Weinstein, EVP of Tribeca Enterprises. “With each participant comes a different perspective and set of career experiences, which, when juxtaposed with those of the other participants and audience members, creates an exclusive experience. No two Tribeca Talks are the same.”

Movies Plus events will return to the Festival this year to showcase even more engaging films. The series gives audiences the opportunity to hear directly from the filmmakers about their projects through lively panels, discussions, and performances following the screenings. This year's films include It Takes a Lunatic (pictured below), Luce, Meeting Gorbachev, The Wrong Man, Serendipity, and Waldo on Weed.

Tribeca Talks: Master Classes, a series of free events that allow audiences to engage with seasoned members of the film industry, will return with new classes focusing on different aspects of the filmmaking process, breaking down their intricacies and discussing them in-depth. This year’s series will offer an inside look at film producing with esteemed Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Irwin Winkler. The series will also include a master class on The Art of Cinematic Sound presented by The DOLBY INSTITUTE and a class discussing the rise of New Online Work (N.O.W.) and the process of translating stories from the web to the screen.

"In programming this year’s Tribeca Talks program, we’ve focused on cultivating a series that gives our audiences the most in-depth and diverse festival experience possible, allowing them to gain insight from several industry greats in a variety of sectors,” said Cara Cusumano, Festival Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. “In a field that is seeing such rapid growth and change, we believe it is important to blend the Tribeca traditions with new and exciting innovations."

TRIBECA TALKS: DIRECTORS SERIES
In Partnership with Squarespace

Today’s most groundbreaking filmmakers discuss their career highlights.

Tribeca Talks: Directors Series — Martin Scorsese with Robert De Niro

Martin Scorsese is an Academy Award-winning director and one of the most influential and celebrated filmmakers working today. He has directed some of the mostly highly-regarded, critically-acclaimed films of all time, including Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Silence. He will sit down with Academy Award-winning actor and frequent collaborator Robert De Niro, whom he has directed in nine feature films, including his Academy Award-winning performance as boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. Scorsese has also directed documentaries, including the Peabody Award-winning No Direction Home: Bob Dylan and the Emmy Award-winning George Harrison: Living in the Material World. He was the executive producer on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, winning Emmy and DGA Awards for directing the pilot episode. This legendary duo will come together at the Beacon Theatre to reflect upon their illustrious decades of collaboration from Mean Streets to their upcoming film, The Irishman.

• Event time: Sunday, April 28th at 2:00 PM, Beacon Theatre (Buy tickets now.)

Tribeca Talks: Directors Series — Guillermo del Toro

Among the most creative and visionary artists working today, Guillermo del Toro will discuss his prolific career turning horror, fairy tales, and the supernatural into world-class filmmaking. Del Toro earned widespread acclaim and multiple Academy Award wins for 2006 fantasy drama Pan’s Labyrinth. His 2018 film The Shape of Water won four Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture. His other work includes beloved genre such films as Cronos, Mimic, The Devil’s Backbone, Hellboy, Pacific Rim, and Crimson Peak. In this conversation, the auteur will give audiences an exclusive look into his creative process.

• Event time: Thursday, April 25th at 8:00 PM, BMCC

Tribeca Talks: Directors Series — David O. Russell with Jennifer Lawrence

David O. Russell is an acclaimed Oscar-nominated film writer, director, and producer known for his cinema of intense, tragi-comedic characters and worlds. Russell has earned immense acclaim and recognition throughout his career, most notably for his Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning films The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle. Russell will be joined in conversation by Academy Award-winning actor and frequent collaborator Jennifer Lawrence, who he has directed to three Golden Globe wins and three of her four Oscar nominations, including a Best Actress win for her role in Silver Linings Playbook. The duo will come together for a one-on-one conversation covering their remarkable creative relationship.

• Event time: Saturday, April 27th at 6:00 PM, BMCC

TRIBECA TALKS: STORYTELLERS
Sponsored by Montefiore

This series celebrates the illustrious careers of today’s most innovative creators, who have broken from traditional roles and pioneered their own forms of storytelling.

Tribeca Talks: Storytellers — Questlove

Questlove is an iconic drummer, DJ, producer, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and, as a member of The Roots, the unmistakable heartbeat of Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop group. He is the Musical Director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where his Roots crew serves as house band. Beyond that, this five-time Grammy Award-winning musician's indisputable reputation has landed him musical directing positions with everyone from D'Angelo and Eminem to Jay-Z. Join Questlove in conversation for a celebration of his boundless and eclectic career.

• Event time: Tuesday, April 30th at 8:30 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub

Tribeca Talks: Storytellers — Sarah Silverman with Mike Birbiglia

Sarah Silverman is a force in stand-up comedy, but this two-time Emmy Award winner works across a variety of mediums and has cemented herself as one of the most versatile talents today. Silverman’s many credits include the Emmy-nominated Hulu talk series I Love You, America and the acclaimed films I Smile Back and Battle of the Sexes. She has lent her voice to the Emmy Award-winning animated series Bob’s Burgers and the Wreck it Ralph films, and received widespread praise for her 2017 Netflix stand-up special A Speck of Dust. Silverman will be joined in conversation by fellow comedian, actor, and filmmaker Mike Birbiglia, best known for his indie breakout films Sleepwalk with Me and Don’t Think Twice—for which he was the writer, director, and star—as well as his guest role as Oscar Langstraat on the hit series Billions and his celebrated solo Broadway play The New One. Silverman and Birbiglia share a unique gift for transforming the deeply personal into the universal and will come together to discuss their creative processes as comedians, storytellers and performers.

• Event time: Monday, April 29th at 8:00 PM, BMCC

Tribeca Talks: Storytellers — Michael J. Fox with Denis Leary

Michael J. Fox is an acclaimed television and film actor known for his work on the beloved sitcom Family Ties and the classic Back to the Future trilogy. At 29, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, news the actor and icon shared publicly in 1998. In 2000, he established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to advance scientific progress toward a cure. In addition to his Parkinson’s advocacy, Fox is a New York Times bestselling author and his acting continues to earn him widespread recognition, including a Grammy, four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Emmy Awards, which includes a win for his guest appearance on Rescue Me, the critically-acclaimed drama created by and starring his longtime friend and fellow hockey lover, Denis Leary. Join these two spirited entertainers and friends for an illuminating and lighthearted conversation that will cover the breadth of Fox’s remarkable career.

• Event time: Tuesday, April 30th at 6:00 PM, BMCC

Tribeca Talks: Storytellers — Jaron Lanier

Jaron Lanier, a celebrated writer, computer scientist, musician, is frequently cited for his pioneering work in virtual reality. He is known for charting a humanistic approach to technology appreciation and criticism, writing books like Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, consulting on films such as Minority Report and The Circle, and creating music with Philip Glass and T Bone Burnett. Lanier takes a singular approach to the intersection between technology and the arts, evidenced by his significant creative output. In this enticing talk, he will discuss his dynamic and prolific career while illustrating the powerful connection between science, music, and storytelling.

• Event time: Saturday, April 27th at 2:00 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub

Tribeca Talks: Storytellers — Rashida Jones

Versatile actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and Harvard graduate Rashida Jones will be in conversation to discuss an eminent and accomplished career that spans across a variety of mediums. She co-wrote and starred in the indie breakout film Celeste and Jesse Forever, and received widespread acclaim for her sophomore directorial effort, Quincy—an intimate portrait of her father and music legend Quincy Jones. She is the executive producer of the TNT hit series Claws and currently stars on the TBS series Angie Tribeca.

• Event time: Wednesday, May 1st at 6:00 PM, BMCC

Tribeca Talks: Prune Nourry and Serendipity

Artist Prune Nourry has spent her working life exploring issues around the human body. At the tender age of 31, Prune is diagnosed with breast cancer and she starts documenting her treatment and its effect on her own body, turning her medical odyssey into an epic artistic adventure—and feature documentary film Serendipity—discovering new meaning in her body of work and its curious relationship to her illness. Join us for a multisensory evening of film, food, and conversation that explores the many themes of Prune’s work and opens up a dialogue about narrative medicine.

• After the Screening: A conversation with director and artist Prune Nourry, Columbia University professor and author Rita Charon, and more. Afterwards, join us for drinks and bites inspired by the work of Prune Nourry.
• Event Time: Friday, May 3rd at 8:00 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub

Tribeca Games Presents: Hideo Kojima with Norman Reedus

World-renowned auteur game creator Hideo Kojima, widely considered the father of the stealth genre, has been hard at work on the highly anticipated PlayStation4 title Death Stranding. Little is known about this mysterious new project, and speculation from fans and industry alike have created a deafening excitement. To discuss his boundary-pushing new game, Kojima will be joined by the star of Death Stranding, Norman Reedus, best known for his star performances in The Boondock Saints and the acclaimed AMC phenomenon The Walking Dead. Together, they will discuss pushing the boundaries of the video game medium and their latest collaboration. This exclusive conversation will be moderated by game journalist Geoff Keighley, whose work and creation of The Game Awards has furthered the appreciation and understanding of the video game industry.
Death Stranding is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. Created and developed by Kojima Productions. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

• Event time: Thursday, April 25th at 6:00 PM, BMCC

TRIBECA TALKS: MASTER CLASSES
Supported by The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

Tribeca Talks: Master Classes features in-depth conversations focusing on a specific sector of the filmmaking process.

Tribeca Talks: Master Class — The Art of Cinematic Sound

Following the world premiere screening of Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, three of the industry’s most decorated sound design legends will come together in conversation to discuss the art and craft of their art form. Walter Murch (pictured above) created indelible soundscapes for such masterpieces as The Godfather, The Conversation, and The English Patient, winning three Academy Awards in the process, including one for his work on Apocalypse Now, where he first coined the term “sound designer.” Ben Burtt transported audiences to a galaxy far, far away, winning Academy Awards for his masterful work on such films as Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Gary Rydstrom created visionary soundscapes for such cherished films as Jurassic Park, Toy Story, Titanic, and Saving Private Ryan, and has won a total of seven Academy Awards and two Career Achievement Awards. Join these distinguished sound designers as they speak about their creative processes and illuminate how their work has evolved the craft of sound in film. Moderated by the Director of the Dolby Institute, Glenn Kiser.

• Event time: Monday, April 29th at 5:00 PM, SVA-02

Tribeca Talks: Master Class — Irwin Winkler on the Art and Craft of Producing

With a career spanning over five decades, Academy Award-winning producer and director Irwin Winkler is one of the most prolific and decorated producers working in the industry today. His incalculable contributions to cinema include his work on such films as Rocky, Raging Bull, The Right Stuff, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, Creed, Silence, and the upcoming The Irishman. He has received numerous honors, including the Commandeur des Arts et Lettres and the Producers Guild of America’s 2017 David O. Selznick Achievement Award. For this master class discussion, Winkler will walk audiences through his process of getting a movie made, define what it really means to be a great producer, and illuminate the innumerable ways in which producing is integral to the filmmaking process.

• Event time: Friday, May 3 at 3:30 PM, SVA-2

Tribeca Talks: Master Class — The Journey of Digital Storytelling to TV: A Discussion with HBO Talent

Source material for television series has changed over the past decade. As the media landscape continues to shift, the model of stories that are created solely from original concepts or adapted from literature has become increasingly open to interpretation. Today, we see networks like HBO finding a diverse array of unique voices from the ever-expanding sphere of media. Web series and podcasts have become exciting areas from which to build a fleshed-out series. Join HBO talent who hail from the digital storytelling space as they discuss the process of transitioning their series to the small screen.

• Event time: Saturday, May 4th at 3:30 PM, SVA-1

TRIBECA TALKS: Queen Latifah with Dee Rees
with the premiere of the Queen Collective shorts
Sponsored by P&G

Queen Latifah is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning musician, actor, label president, author, and entrepreneur. The first hip-hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Latifah has had immeasurable success in music and acting; she has received Grammy, Emmy, and Golden Globe Awards for work, as well as an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Mama Morton in Chicago. The trailblazing, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and director Dee Rees, who directed Latifah to a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in the HBO film Bessie, will join Latifah in conversation to discuss her extraordinary and multifaceted career. Together, these two remarkable storytellers will cover Latifah’s creative journey from musician to actor to entrepreneur, and how she is using her influence to mentor and uplift diverse female filmmakers in order to accelerate gender and racial equality behind the camera

Following the talk will be the debut of The Queen Collective short documentaries. The Queen Collective is a program developed in partnership with Procter & Gamble, Queen Latifah, Flavor Unit Entertainment, and Tribeca Studios, aimed at accelerating gender and racial equality behind the camera. Created by diverse young women, these short films inspire positive social change and embody Procter and Gamble’s commitment to supporting gender and racial equity, on-screen and behind the scenes. The films are:

Ballet After Dark, directed by B. Monét. (USA) — World Premiere, Short Documentary. Ballet After Dark tells the story a young woman who found the strength to survive after an attack. She created an organization that is helping sexual abuse and domestic violence survivors find healing after trauma through dance therapy.

If There Is Light (pictured above), directed by Haley Elizabeth Anderson. (USA) — World Premiere, Short Documentary. Fourteen-year-old Janiyah Blackmon wrestles with her new life in New York City as her mom tries to move her family out of the shelter system and into a stable home. With Janiyah Blackmon, McKayla Blackmon, Jakena Blackmon.

• Event time: Friday, April 26th at 5:30 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub

MOVIES PLUS

A Tribeca tradition, Movies Plus offers audiences the unique opportunity to continue the experience of a film through buzz-worthy conversations and must-see performances after each special screening.

It Takes a Lunatic, directed and produced by Billy Lyons. (USA, UK, Germany) — World Premiere, Feature Documentary. A tribute to the life and legacy of influential acting teacher Wynn Handman, whose American Place Theater helped launched the off Broadway scene, as well as the careers of students from Richard Gere and Michael Douglas to Sam Shepard. With Michael Douglas, Richard Gere, Susan Lucci, Eric Bogosian, John Leguizamo, Woodie King, Jr.

• After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with acting teacher, artistic director and film subject Wynn Handman, actors Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas, and director Billy Lyons
• Event Time: Friday, May 3rd at 8 PM, BMCC

Luce, directed by Julius Onah, written by JC Lee, Julius Onah. Produced by John Baker, Julius Onah, Andrew Yang. (USA) — New York Premiere. After writing an inflammatory essay, a high school overachiever finds himself on a collision course with his adoptive parents and an overbearing teacher. A complex drama boasting an amazing ensemble cast, Luce sears the screen. With Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tim Roth, Norbert Leo Butz, Andrea Bang and Marsha Stephanie Blake. A NEON and Topic release.

• After the Premiere Screening: Join us in honoring the virtuosic ensemble cast of Luce with a conversation led by actors Naomi Watts, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Andrea Bang, and Marsha Stephanie Blake, and director Julius Onah, discussing their expansive careers and the roles and experiences that led each cast member to Luce.
• Event Time: Sunday, April 28th at 7:30 PM, BMCC

Meeting Gorbachev, directed and written by Werner Herzog, André Singer. Produced by Lucki Stipetic, Svetlana Palmer. (UK, USA) — New York Premiere, Feature Documentary. Profiling one of the most influential figures of 20th-century history, legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog candidly sits down with Mikhail Gorbachev for a revealing look at the life and legacy of the final leader of the Soviet Union. An Orchard release.

• After the Premiere Screening: Director Werner Herzog will be in conversation with his frequent collaborator and Professor of Classical Studies at Boston University Herb Golder.
• Event Time: Friday, April 26th at 6:00 PM, Village East Cinema

Waldo On Weed, directed and written by Tommy Avallone. Produced by Lee Leshen, Derrick Kunzer, Raymond Esposito, Josh Bender. (USA) — World Premiere, Feature Documentary. When Brian and Danielle Dwyer’s son, Waldo, is diagnosed with cancer, they proceed with a controversial—and illegal—treatment plan consisting of one of the most divisive substances in our country: cannabis. With Waldo James Mysterious Dwyer, Brian Dwyer, Danielle Dwyer, Matt Rize, Mike Wert, Larry Anderson, Senator Daylin Leach, Senator Mike Folmer, Dr. Staci Gruber, Dr. Charles Pollack.

• After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with medical marijuana expert Doctor Junella Chin, patient Lily Derwin, subject Danielle Dwyer, and Senator Daylin Leach. Moderated by actor, comedian, and author Whoopi Goldberg.
• Event Time: Friday, May 3rd at 8:30 PM, SVA 2

The Wrong Man, directed by Ross Golan, John Hwan. Produced by Jaren Shelton, Ross Golan and John Hwang. (USA) — World Premiere, Feature Documentary. From multi-platinum songwriter Ross Golan, The Wrong Man is an animated concept film that uses Golan’s poetic lyrics and haunting melodies to tell a tragic story of love gone terribly wrong.

• After the Screening: A conversation with director and acclaimed songwriter Ross Golan; Jason Flom; CEO of Lava Records and board member of the Innocence Project; and more.
• Event Time: Saturday, April 27th at 11:00 AM, Tribeca Festival Hub

Passes and Tickets for the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival

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

Also available for purchase now is The Hudson Pass, an all-access pass to screenings and talks taking place at BMCC, Regal Battery Park Stadium, Village East Cinema, and SVA theaters as well as full access to all events at the Festival Hub at Spring Studios, which includes VR and Immersive projects, Movies Plus screenings, and access to festival lounges.

Single tickets cost $24.00 for evening and weekend screenings, $12.00 for weekday matinee screenings, $30.00 for Tribeca TV and Movies Plus screenings, $40.00 for Tribeca Talks panels, and $40.00 for Tribeca Immersive. Single ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 26th and can be purchased online through our film guide or through the call center.

Tickets for events at the Beacon Theatre are available for purchase online starting today, March 19th. You can find more information here.

Passes can be purchased now on the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival App, available on iTunes and Google Play.