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Tribeca Festival · 2023

Tribeca Festival 2023

Documentary Competition

Programme

12 films · 4 reviews

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Between The Rains

Review preview for Between The Rains

There’s a lack of depth in general.

Amber Wilkinson · 3 out of 5
A coming-of-age documentary following a young member of a formerly nomadic northern Kenyan community as they deal with the environmental and psychological effects of climate change.

(Country: Kenya; Year: 2023; Director: Andrew H Brown, Moses Thuranira)

Full review

World premiere

Breaking The News

Follows the determined efforts of women and nonbinary journalists launching a news “start-up” to foreground voices omitted from mainstream news.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Chelsea Hernandez, Heather Courtney, Princess A Hairston)

World premiere

The Gullspång Miracle

Review preview for The Gullspång Miracle

Although the structure is offbeat, and the muscular scoring from Jonas Colstrup (The Square) emphasises the emotional rollercoaster, Fredriksson’s film remains empathetic to all concerned.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
A pair of sisters' encounter with a woman who looks like their dead sibling proves to be just the start of a whale of a tale.

(Country: Sweden, Norway, Denmark; Year: 2023; Director: Maria Fredriksson)

Full review See: Maria Fredriksson on her roller coaster of a ride documentary The Gullspång Miracle

World premiere

The Lionheart

The on-track death of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon shook motorsports to its core. Ten years later, Wheldon’s sons Sebastian and Oliver follow in their father’s footsteps, working through their grief behind the wheel at 200mph.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Laura Brownson)

World premiere

Maestra

Documentary follows women from different backgrounds as they compete in the first all-women competition for conducting.

(Country: US, France, Poland, Greece; Year: 2023; Director: Maggie Contreras)

World premiere

Q

The filmmaker explores her mother Hiba’s devotion to an all-female, secretive religious order in Syria.

(Country: Lebanon, United States; Year: 2023; Director: Jude Chehab)

World premiere

Richland

Portrait of a nuclear company town that embraces its origins and divisive past, all while reflecting on its future.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Irene Lusztig)

World premiere

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

Examines the life of actor Rock Hudson, from his public "ladies' man" persona to his private life as a gay man.

(Country: US, UK, New Zealand; Year: 2023; Director: Stephen Kijak)

World premiere

Rule Of Two Walls

Review preview for Rule Of Two Walls

As the film progresses, and these artists and filmmakers articulate their response to the conflict both verbally and through their work, Gutnik also interrogates the importance of culture when it comes to establishing and preserving nationhood.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Explores the war in Ukraine through the lens of artists living and creating in the midst of unprecedented conflict.

(Country: Ukraine; Year: 2023; Director: David Gutnik)

Full review See: David Gutnik in conversation on Rule Of Two Walls, Lyana Mytsko, Olha Beskhmelnytsina, Liev Schreiber and Ukraine

World premiere

Stylebender

Documentary about MMA champion Israel Adesanya.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2023; Director: Zoe McIntosh)

World premiere

Take Care Of Maya

Review preview for Take Care Of Maya

If you have personally struggled with issues of this kind, you’ll find Take Care Of Maya hard to watch, but it is an important watch.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
When Jack and Beata Kowalski are wrongfully accused of child abuse after their 10-year-old daughter Maya visits the ER, a nightmare unfolds.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Henry Roosevelt; Stars: Jack Kowalski, Maya Kowalski, Anthony Kirkpatrick)

Full review

World premiere

Transition

Follows Australian filmmaker Jordan Bryon as he undergoes transition while embedded with Taliban forces.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Jordan Bryon, Monica Villamizar)

World premiere