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Tribeca Festival · 2020

Tribeca Festival 2020

Spotlight Documentary

Programme

19 films · 3 reviews

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The Art Of Political Murder

The shocking murder of human rights activist Bishop Juan Gerardi in the aftermath of the Guatemalan Civil War sets the ground for a powerful battle between justice and corruption.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Paul Taylor)

World premiere

Athlete A

The world of elite competitive gymnastics and the toxic culture within that allowed sexual abuse to go on for decades unchecked.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk)

World premiere

Banksy Most Wanted

Review preview for Banksy Most Wanted

If you're looking for a primer on the life and work of guerilla (and gorilla) street artist Banksy, then you could do a lot worse than take a look at this.

Amber Wilkinson · 3 out of 5
Banksy is a household name, but behind this name hides a multitude of stories, artworks, stunts, political statements and identities, leading to one of the art world’s biggest unanswered questions - who is Banksy?

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Seamus Haley, Aurélia Rouvier; Writer: Aurélia Rouvier, Seamus Haley)

Full review

World premiere

Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road

The Beach Boys’ lead songwriter takes a drive around Los Angeles with Rolling Stone editor and longtime friend Jason Fine in this nonlinear cinematic memoir.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Brent Wilson; Writer: Jason Fine, Brent Wilson; Stars: Nick Jonas, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, Jakob Dylan, Don Was, Taylor Hawkins, Gustavo Dudamel, Jim James, Bob Gaudio, Steven Page, Nick Jonas, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson)

World premiere

Helmut Newton: The Bad And The Beautiful

Portrait of the photographer.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Gero von Boehm; Stars: Charlotte Rampling, Catherine Deneuve, Isabella Rossellini, Grace Jones, Marianne Faithfull, Claudia Schiffer, Anna Wintour, Helmut Newton, Charlotte Rampling)

World premiere

Hydration

Documentary goes backstage and behind the scenes of Pharrell’s ground-breaking Something in the Water festival, using music to bring together his divided hometown of Virginia Beach.

(Year: 2020; Director: Mimi Valdés; Stars: Gwen Stefani, Tyler the Creator, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Jay-Z, SZA, Anderson .Paak, Missy Elliott, J Balvin, Timbaland, ASAP Ferg, Pusha T, Kawan Prather, Gwen Stefani, Tyler the Creator, Sean 'Diddy' Combs)

World premiere

Kubrick By Kubrick (Kubrik Par Kubrik)

Featuring a treasure trove of unearthed interview recordings from the director himself.

(Country: France; Year: 2020; Director: Gregory Monro; Writer: Gregory Monro)

World premiere

Larry Flynt For President

Documents controversial Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt’s unlikely bid for the White House after a gunman’s bullet left him partially paralyzed.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Nadia Szold; Writer: Nadia Szold)

World premiere

Not Going Quietly

Review preview for Not Going Quietly

Nicholas Bruckman's film follows Ady long enough that we see not just the impact upon him but the changes wrought in those around him.

Andrew Robertson · 3 out of 5
An intimate, inspiring look at activist and loving father Ady Barkan, diagnosed with ALS at age 32 and who, in spite of declining physical abilities, embarks on a nationwide campaign for healthcare reform.

(Year: 2020; Director: Nicholas Bruckman; Writer: Nicholas Bruckman, Amanda Roddy)

Full review

World premiere

Ottolenghi And The Cakes Of Versailles

Review preview for Ottolenghi And The Cakes Of Versailles

It's a lot to fit into 75 minutes and while there's plenty here that is interesting, it's a shame Gabbert didn't distil things down a bit more.

Amber Wilkinson · 3 out of 5
Follow celebrity chef Yotam Ottolenghi as he assembles a star-studded team of the world’s most innovative pastry chefs to put on a Versailles-themed culinary gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Laura Gabbert; Stars: Dominique Ansel, Sam Bompas, Dinara Kasko, Deborah Krohn, Ghaya Oliveira, Yotam Ottolenghi, Janice Wong)

Full review

World premiere

Rebuilding Paradise

On November 8, 2018, a spark flew in the Sierra Nevada foothills, igniting the most destructive wildfire in California history and decimating the town of Paradise. Unfolding during the year after the fire, this is the story of the Paradise community as they begin to rebuild their lives.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Ron Howard)

New York premiere

Ricky Powell: The Individualist

Documentary about the street photographer's rise to fame.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Josh Swade; Writer: Christopher McGlynn, Josh Swade)

World premiere

Somebody Up There Likes Me

Profile of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.

(Country: UK; Year: 2019; Director: Mike Figgis; Stars: Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)

North American premiere

Stockton on My Mind

Stanford graduate Michael Tubbs became the youngest and first African-American mayor of Stockton, California. This film follows him through his first term in office .

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Marc Levin; Writer: James Lester, Marc Levin)

World premiere

This Is Paris

Documentary about heiress Paris Hilton.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Alexandra Dean)

World premiere

Tough Love: The Lennox Lewis Documentary

The story of Lennox Lewis’ rise from humble beginnings in the East End of London to the top of the boxing world.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Rick Lazes, Seth Koch)

World premiere

Wojnarowicz

A collage-like, incisive look at the life of writer, painter and thinker David Wojnarowicz, whose powerful, unapologetic way of seeing the world gave voice to queer rights at a critical time in US history.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Chris McKim; Stars: Fran Lebowitz, Nan Goldin, Richard Kern, Peter Hujar, Kiki Smith, Fran Lebowitz, Nan Goldin, Richard Kern, Peter Hujar, Kiki Smith)

World premiere

Yung Lean: In My Head

When a Swedish teen rapper finds a rabid fanbase via the internet, international superstar Yung Lean is born. But as his fame grows, darkness settles in, blurring the line between reality and his own vivid imagination.

(Country: Sweden; Year: 2020; Director: Henrik S Burman)

World premiere

Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn

In 1989, a black youth was murdered in Brooklyn when he was misidentified as the boyfriend of a local white girl. The aftermath of Yusuf Hawkins’ death exploded into a social movement, exposing racial prejudices that continue to plague us today.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Muta'Ali)

World premiere