The 2023 Tribeca Festival unveiled the lineup for its Talks and Reunions, featuring conversations with iconic artists, critically-acclaimed directors, and multi-hyphenate entertainers.
The Storytellers Series includes Paul McCartney in conversation with Conan O’Brien for a podcast recording of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp in conversation with David Letterman; Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda in conversation with Academy Award-nominated actor Rosie Perez; Grammy-winner Chance the Rapper; Emmy, Tony, and Grammy-winner Billy Porter; and Academy Award-nominated actress and musician Hailee Steinfeld. Gov Ball x Tribeca also presents Grammy-nominated music producer Diplo.
The Directors Series features Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director David Fincher in conversation with Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderberg, as well as director Patty Jenkins in conversation with director and actress Katie Holmes.
At this year’s Reunions, Kevin Sullivan and Angela Bassett reunite to celebrate the 25th anniversary of How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Plus, Mario Van Peebles, Michael Michele, and Fab 5 Freddy return for New Jack City. Charlie Ahearn, Lee Quiñones, Fab 5 Freddy, and Grand Wizzard Theodore reunite for a special 40th anniversary celebration of Wild Style.
The third annual Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award will be awarded to Academy Award-winning actor, producer, author, and activist Jane Fonda. The award, an original drawing entitled Exodus #3 from artist Julie Mehretu, is being presented by Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys. Named for the famed actor, activist, and civil rights leader, who recently passed away at the age of 96, the award recognizes those who have used storytelling and the arts to enact change in their communities. Previous recipients are Stacey Abrams and Common. In addition to receiving the award, Fonda will discuss her legendary film career and life as an activist with Emmy-winning anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America” Robin Roberts.
Finally, this year’s Master Classes – a series of free events to engage and learn from film industry veterans on different aspects of the filmmaking process – includes a class on fact-checking with members of The New Yorker’s fact-checking department, a presentation on genre filmmaking with Mike Flanagan, and a class on the role of the talent representative.
Talks, Reunions, and Master Class lineups of 2023 Tribeca Festival.
2023 TRIBECA FESTIVAL STORYTELLERS
Paul McCartney in Conversation with Conan O’Brien for a podcast recording of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Born in Liverpool in 1942, Paul McCartney was raised in the city and educated at the Liverpool Institute. Since writing his first song at 14, McCartney has dreamed and dared to be different. He will be joined in conversation by Conan O’Brien. The pair will discuss McCartney’s new book 1964: Eyes of the Storm, which is being published on June 13. The book showcases 275 of McCartney’s rediscovered photos from his archive from the end of 1963 and beginning of 1964 when Beatlemania erupted. The conversation will be recorded for a future episode of O’Brien’s podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.”
John Mellencamp in Conversation with David Letterman
John Mellencamp is one of the most highly respected singer/songwriters of a generation. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award, The Woody Guthrie Award and Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Founders Award, and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He will be joined in conversation by David Letterman who can currently be seen hosting My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, a four-time Emmy-nominated interview show streaming on Netflix.
Lin-Manuel Miranda in Conversation with Rosie Perez
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winning songwriter, actor, director and producer. He is the creator and original star of Broadway’s Tony-winning HAMILTON and In the Heights. Miranda is the recipient of the 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award, the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors and the 2019 Portrait of a Nation Prize. He has received stars on both the Puerto Rico Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He will be joined in conversation by Academy Award-nominated actress Rosie Perez.
Chance the Rapper
Multi-Grammy award winner Chance the Rapper has built a multi-faceted career across music, film, television, and art. His new body of work, Star Line Gallery, has premiered at art institutions around the world including Art Basel and Los Angeles’ Museum Of Contemporary Art (MOCA).
Gov Ball x Tribeca Presents: Diplo
Born in Mississippi and raised in Florida, Diplo’s 20-year career began with his now-legendary Philly club night Hollertronix. The three-time Grammy-winner is also a member of the iconic Major Lazer, one third of LSD (with Sia and Labrinth), and half of Silk City with Mark Ronson.
Selected Shorts Live with Roxane Gay – Live taping and performances. The theme of this Live-from-Tribeca episode of the beloved program, Selected Shorts, is “Night at the Movies.” On Wednesday, June 14, the Tribeca Festival will partner with Selected Shorts at Symphony Space in New York City for an evening of short stories dedicated to the love affair between fiction and filmmaking. New York Times Bestselling author Roxane Gay will guest-host the show with other special guests.
Billy Porter
Billy Porter is an Emmy, Tony and Grammy award-winning actor, singer, director, producer, composer, and playwright, best known for FX’s Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated drama “Pose” and Broadway’s Kinky Boots.
Hailee Steinfeld
Academy Award-nominated actress, multi-platinum recording musician, and producer, Hailee Steinfeld remains a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry.
You Feeling This? with James Kim and JT Green (iHeartRadio and Overtones Media) – World premiere and performance. The anthology fiction podcast You Feeling This? will make its world premiere with a live performance of the show. The event will feature showrunner James Kim and composers Ryo Baum and Robert Garrova playing a live score to several episodes from the audio series. There will also be a discussion with JT Green and a musical performance from Katy Kirby. You Feeling This? is a fiction podcast mixtape about love, presented by iHeartRadio and Overtones Media.
2023 TRIBECA FESTIVAL DIRECTORS SERIES
David Fincher in conversation with Steven Soderberg
David Fincher directs movies, television, commercials, and music videos. He will be joined in conversation by Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh.
Patty Jenkins in conversation with Katie Holmes
Patty Jenkins is an award-winning director, writer and producer best known for directing the blockbuster Wonder Woman and her debut Oscar-winning feature Monster. She was the first woman to direct a film with a budget over 100 million, the first to direct a film budget over 200 million, and she currently holds the title as the director of the highest-grossing live-action film directed by a woman and the highest paid female director in history. She will be joined in conversation by director and actress Katie Holmes.
2023 TRIBECA FESTIVAL REUNIONS
Wild Style, (United States). Universally hailed as the classic hip hop movie, Wild Style tells the story of Zoro, played by the graffiti legend Lee Quiñones, in his subway art romance with the graffiti queen Sandra “Lady Pink” Fabara. Fab Five Freddy, who helped Charlie Ahearn create Wild Style from its inception, stars as the smooth impresario Phade. Following the outlaw artists through the train yards to the clubs, Wild Style climaxes at a massive outdoor jam, definitely the most famous hip hop party in history! Directed, written and produced by Charlie Ahearn. With Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, Fab 5 Freddy, Patti Astor, Andrew Witten, Busy Bee, Grand Wizzard Theodore.
After the Movie: A panel with Charlie Ahearn, Lee Quiñones, Fab 5 Freddy, and Grand Wizzard Theodore, moderated by Pitchfork staff writer Alphonse Pierre.
Free from Desire (Paradiso Media) – World Premiere. Growing up in Paris, Aline’s lack of interest in sex as a teenager alienated them from peers. Today, they recount what life was like before discovering their own asexuality. (Created by Aline Laurent-Mayard, Emi Norris, Lorenzo Benedetti, Louis Daboussy, and Benoit Dunaigre.)
How Stella Got Her Groove Back, (United States). Through good times and bad, Stella (Angela Bassett) and Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) have always had each other. Now, Stella’s so busy building a life that she’s forgotten to really live. But Delilah is about to change all that. What starts as a quick trip to Jamaica, ends as an exhilarating voyage of self discovery as Stella learns to open her heart and find love – even if it’s with a man 20 years her junior. Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan. Written by Terry McMillan, Ron Bass. Produced by Deborah Schindler. With Angela Bassett, Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg, Regina King. A 20th Century Fox release.
After the Movie: A panel with Kevin Sullivan and Angela Bassett, moderated by Torell Shavone Taylor.
New Jack City, (United States). Wesley Snipes stars in this hard-edged film based on a frightening true world as Nino Brown, an American success story – with a twist. He’s young, handsome, smart, rich, successful, and prominent in his community. But Nino Brown is a big-time drug baron. Determined to end the remorseless evil of Nino’s drug empire, two street-smart policemen will stop at nothing to destroy his organization. Directed by Mario Van Peebles. Written by Thomas Lee Wright, Barry Michael Cooper. Produced by George Jackson, Doug McHenry. With Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson. A Warner Brothers release.
After the Movie: A panel with Mario Van Peebles, Michael Michele, and Fab 5 Freddy.
THE HARRY BELAFONTE VOICES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD
Jane Fonda is a two-time Academy Award-winning actor, producer, author, activist, and fitness guru with a career spanning over 50 years. Her body of work includes over 45 films as well as advocacy on behalf of political causes such as women’s rights, Native Americans, and the environment. She is a seven-time Golden Globe winner and was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2021, Stanley Kubrick Excellence in Film Award as part of BAFTA’s Britannia Awards in 2019, AFI Life Achievement Award winner in 2014, and Honorary Palme d’Or honoree in 2007. Fonda also continues to lead the charge on Fire Drill Fridays in partnership with Greenpeace USA, and launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC last year. The award will be presented by Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys. Fonda will be joined in conversation by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts.
2023 MASTER CLASSES
Master Class – Fact Checking with The New Yorker
In a moment when news can be called fake with impunity, the work of the fact checker in the media has never been more critical. This master class with members of The New Yorker’s renowned fact-checking department dives deep into the responsibility of a fact checker, how they approach their role in the reporting and editorial process, and the importance of always getting to the truth.
Master Class – Genre Filmmaking with Mike Flanagan
With films and series like Gerald’s Game and The Haunting of Hill House to his credit, producer, writer, and director Mike Flanagan has taken relationship-driven terror to new heights of artistic and commercial success. In a conversation with author Justina Ireland, learn from Flanagan what scares and moves today’s audiences and why these ancient and primal stories are fresher and more relevant than ever.
Master Class: The Dream Team – Careers in Talent Representation
Discover the unique career paths to the value-added role of Talent Representative with our distinguished panel of agents, managers, attorneys, and publicists. This conversation is about getting in the room to have a seat at the table while building a community of savvy negotiators to help talent realize their dreams. Moderated by Diverse Representation Founder, Jaia Thomas.