Movies

Tribeca Festival Celebrates 24 Years and Breaks Submission Records

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For its 24th edition, the Tribeca Festival, initially established as an annual arts event in response to the 2002 film festival, returns. This trio-initiated celebration (by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff) was born out of the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, aiming to aid the recovery efforts of the Tribeca neighborhood in Lower Manhattan that suffered extensive damage.

The next year saw the Tribeca Festival more than double its audience, and this growth propelled it towards being an annual event. By 2021, the festival dropped “Film” from its title, broadening its scope to encompass video games and establishing a significant musical component as well.

Liam Crowley from ScreenRant had a chat with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal to delve into the inception of Tribeca Festival, the record-breaking 2025 edition, and the special anniversary screenings and discussions planned for both “Casino” and “Meet The Parents” this year.

Tribeca Festival Was In The Works Before The September 11 Attacks

“Then this happened. What about the festival now, for the community?”

The initial event at the Tribeca Festival was hastened because of the 9/11 incidents, however, the idea behind it had already been conceived before that fateful day.

De Niro stated that we had already begun our efforts prior to the 9/11 attacks, pondering what things might look like.

The discussion was casual, with no specific outcomes anticipated. However, the 9/11 incident occurred, and Jane suggested, ‘Perhaps we should cancel the festival now, for the sake of our community?’ We had organized other events in the past, such as dinners downtown, bus trips filled with people, exploring Chinatown and Little Italy from this region. Eventually, we decided to go ahead and mobilized others to set it up, and that was how it began.

It didn’t take long for momentum to snowball once De Niro and Rosenthal got the green light.

Rosenthal further stated, “The main focus was creating opportunities for our community and revitalizing downtown by offering a fresh experience. We thought if you could make a film in just three months, then we could certainly organize a festival within the same timeframe, even though we had no prior experience with sponsors or planning. Incredibly, the festival went ahead as planned. It started as a four-day event and has since expanded to a 10-day one. Here we are, celebrating our 24th year – it’s amazing how time flies!

Tribeca Festival 2025 Breaks Project Submission Record

“We have a really robust program…”

Over the years, the Tribeca Festival has experienced remarkable growth, with a staggering 13,451 film projects submitted for consideration in 2025, encompassing both feature-length and short films.

According to Rosenthal, the Tribeca festival’s exceptional team of programmers, headed by our festival director Cara Cusumano, and supported by a talented group, are diligently working to put together an outstanding lineup. He expressed his admiration for the selection committee. You can expect to discover emerging talents in our competitions. Our program is comprehensive, offering a fantastic opportunity to explore the diverse landscape of entertainment, encompassing not just mainstream but also the sphere of influencers and creatives as well.

At this year’s festival, two notable projects taking center stage are “Casino” and “Meet The Parents”. These two gems from Mr. De Niro’s career, each marking significant milestones with their 30th and 25th anniversaries respectively, will be screened. Regarding the anniversary showings at this year’s Tribeca Festival, De Niro expressed his delight saying, “It’s a special feeling to be able to share these films with everyone who has been part of them.

The casino film directed by Marty Scorsese, as well as ‘Meet the Parents’, with Ben Stiller – both directed by Jay Roach and written by John Hamburg. It’s fantastic to include these movies in our festival, making it an appealing choice for viewers.

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2025-06-05 21:52

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