Reel Film Biz
On Sunday, July 20th, the African American Film Critics Association and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation hosted the 5th Annual Next Gen Panel at the Meryl Streep Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. The panel of young stars on the rise is DaVinchi, Taylor, Ernest Kingsley Jr., Myles Truitt, who all have a bright future ahead.
On Sunday, June 29th, the African American Film Critics Association, in partnership with the Grammy Museum, celebrated Black Music Month with a conversation with Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton and moderated by Nekesa Moody.
As he discussed starting out DJing as a 15-year-old and how his mom worked two jobs and bought his DJ equipment and how he DJd in college, what stood out to me was his love and devotion to his family, his mother, kids, and brother and his commitment to help those coming behind him in the music business. He is a true mentor.
A prolific producer and songwriter, “Big Tank” is known for many successful musical projects, including music composer for The Chi, BMF, The Game, My Wife and Kids, Boondocks, Greenleaf, and much more.
On Thursday, Juneteenth, the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and American Cinematheque paid special tribute to celebrated Mara Brock Akil,
The sit-down discussion took place at American Cinematheque’s AERO Theater in Santa Monica, before a packed and engaged audience. Her film career includes With Honors, Sparkle, The Start Up, Stamped from the Beginning.
Mara’s television career includes: The Sinbad Show, Keep the Faith", South Central, Dave's World, Moesha, The Jamie Foxx Show, Girlfriends, The Game", Leading Women, Cougar Town, Being Mary Jane, Reed Between the Lines Love Is Yes, "The Vineyard"
And her latest television project on Netflix series Forever that she is executive producing. Mara has won a host of awards NAACP Image Awards, National Association of Television Program Executives, Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, NAMIC Vision, and SHINE Awards.
This year’s Tribeca Festival podcast lineup brings masterful interviewers together with a who’s who of guests
The official lineup for Audio Storytelling at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, is here! From June 4 - 15, some of the biggest names in Hollywood will sit down with esteemed journalists and podcasters to discuss everything from Ponzi schemes to career retrospectives to the importance of public radio.
These are one-of-a-kind live events for one night only… you’ll want to listen in. Check out what’s on below.
Talk Easy with Sam Rockwell
Saturday, June 14 @ 5:00 PM, SVA Theatre
The Interview with Sandra Oh
Thursday, June 12 @ 6:00 PM, Indeed Theater at Spring Studios
Join New York Times Opinion host Lulu Garcia-Navarro and special guest Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve) at the Tribeca Festival for the first-ever live episode of The Interview, a podcast from The New York Times featuring in-depth conversations with the world’s most fascinating people across culture, politics, business, sports and beyond.
Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story with Sebastian Maniscalco & Jamie-Lynn-Sigler
June 13 @ 5:00 PM, OKX Theatre at BMCC TPAC
Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story, an Apple Original podcast, explores the rise and fall of Charles Ponzi, a broke immigrant in Boston who became one of America’s most infamous men — practically overnight. In just nine months, he upended the world of finance and etched his name into history by perfecting one of the most notorious scams ever: the Ponzi scheme.
Join us for this live show and World Premiere with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Maya Lau and Will Malnati.
Death Sex & Money with Allison Williams
June 11 @ 8:30 PM, SVA Theatre
Anna Sale is back for a brand new live-from-Tribeca episode of Slate’s beloved podcast, Death, Sex & Money. Known for her thoughtful and empathetic interviews, Anna will sit down with award-winning actor Allison Williams (Get Out, Girls, M3GAN) to talk about her career and explore the complexities that come with growing up in the spotlight.
This American Life with Ira Glass and Ira Madison III: Excellence in Audio Journalism Gala
June 10 @ 8:00PM, The Indeed Theater at Spring Studios
The Tribeca Festival recognizes the vital impact of audio journalism and celebrates an exemplum of Excellence in Audio Journalism. This year, Tribeca will honor the iconic podcast and landmark public radio show, This American Life, created and hosted by Ira Glass.
Glass will co-host this special episode with podcaster and author Ira Madison III as part of the Opening Night event for the Festival’s Audio Storytelling program. Join both Iras live on a tour through highlights of This American Life’s 30 years on the air.
The Memory Palace with Carrie Coon and Lili Taylor
June 13 @ 8:30 PM, SVA Theatre
For sixteen years, Nate DiMeo has been telling singular stories about America's past on the beloved podcast The Memory Palace. Now, he’s bringing these stories of our collective past to life in The Memory Palace: True Short Stories of the Past, from Random House. And for one-night-only, acclaimed actors Carrie Coon (The White Lotus) and Lili Taylor (Say Anything) will join DiMeo to read excerpts in this special live show at the Tribeca Festival.
Free Festival Programming
You don’t have to spend a dime to get high-level insights from industry pros at this year’s Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX. That’s right – we’re also offering free panels and programming all Festival long. Connect with storytellers from every aspect of production and get all the tips, tricks, and insider info you need to take your project to the next level.
Here are just a few of the free events we’ll be running June 4 - 15 at Tribeca Festival 2025:
Authenticity On and Off Screen: Telling Stories That Inspire
June 6 @ 12:00 PM, AT&T Untold Stories Lounge
Discover how to bring your full self into your work—and why it matters. In this candid fireside chat with Rachel Brosnahan and Matthew Lopez, you’ll gain insight into how bilingual, bi-cultural, and boundary-breaking narratives can resonate across audiences, challenge outdated molds, and open doors for the next generation of creators from two acclaimed actor-producers who have lived it firsthand.
Game Changers from the Field to the Frame
June 7 @ 11:00 AM, AT&T Untold Stories Lounge
Join producer and director Shirley Williams in conversation with US Paralympian Scout Bassett for a discussion on the power of connection, community, and mentorship in fostering and amplifying stories — both on and off the field.
Follow the Funding with Documentary Producers
June 8 @ 1:00 PM, AT&T Untold Stories Lounge
In our third installment of a conversation series co-hosted by the Documentary Producers' Alliance (DPA), we will tackle the topic of funding with producers from this year’s Festival official selections, touching on both the complexities of finding funding and what you are actually funding.
Building New York's Creative Future
June 9 @ 12:30 PM, Indeed Lounge
So much of how the future is decided and defined is by the voices of the community that inherit it. And it takes work to build and cultivate community. Join us as we chat with these amazing local organizations that are doing the work of building up the creative community here in New York City and beyond.
Giving the Lion a Pen: The Power of Funding
June 14 @ 12:30 PM, Indeed Lounge
The old proverb goes, "Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter". It is time to give the lion a pen, and the way to do that is with funding. Join us for a discussion about the importance of funding and providing resources for stories from the African diaspora with some of the organizations doing the work.
Fireside Chat on Costume Design with Jeriana San Juan and Kasia Walicka-Maimone
June 14 @ 2:00 PM, AT&T Untold Stories Lounge
Sit down with Emmy and Guild-nominated costume designer Jeriana San Juan and 2025 Tribeca selection The Gilded Age’s Kasia Walicka-Maimone for a discussion about the art of costume design and how costuming can elevate your next project.
Our slate of free programming will help you take your career to the next level and tell your story in the best way possible. But wait… there’s more!
Calling all emerging entertainment creators! For the third year, Canva and Tribeca are partnering to empower independent writers, directors, and producers. The program launches June 10 at Tribeca Festival with an in-person workshop featuring Oscar-nominated cinematographer Lawrence Sher. Virtual workshops throughout the summer will build essential design skills. The program concludes with five $20,000 Kickstart Awards and support from Tribeca Studios to help creators further develop their work.
Click here link to register and learn more!