Yesterday, the Feature Films for the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival were announced in a MASSIVE press release that ran something like sixteen pages (seen HERE). In order to let you properly digest all of the films in each of the diverse categories, I’ve parsed them out into their own chapters on “The Chronicles”. Let’s take a look at the “Movies Plus” stuff.
MOVIES PLUS
A Tribeca tradition, Movies Plus offers audiences the unique opportunity to continue the experience of a film through buzzworthy conversations or performances after each special screening. Past Movies Plus experiences have included a full-fledged Broadway performance following Bathtubs Over Broadway (2018), Billie Joe Armstrong performing after Geezer (2016), Mary J. Blige performing after Mary J. Blige – The London Sessions (2015), a performance from Blue Note artists Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, and Kendrick Scott after Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes (2018), and a special talk after Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017).
Ask Dr. Ruth, directed by Ryan White. Produced by Rafael Marmor, Ryan White, Jessica Hargrove, Christopher Leggett. (USA) – New York Premiere, Feature Documentary. Plain-spoken and thickly accented, Dr. Ruth Westheimer became a household name in the 1980s by transforming the way Americans talk and think about sexuality. At 90, Dr. Ruth reflects on her life from Holocaust survivor to celebrity sex therapist. A Magnolia/Hulu release.
• After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with director Ryan White and subject Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Moderated by Columbia University Film Professor Annette Insdorf.
Earth Break: A Few Suggestions for Survival, with Additional Hints and Tips About How to Make Yourself More Comfortable During the Alien Apocalypse, directed by Aaron Katz. Produced by April Lamb. (USA) – World Premiere, Podcast. What’s a girl to do when life as she knows it is upturned by a devastating alien invasion? Maybe record an audio diary of her daily survival strategy in this post-apocalyptic podcast from filmmaker Aaron Katz with Jenny Slate.
• After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with director Aaron Katz and comedian, actor, and author Jenny Slate.
Gay Chorus Deep South, directed by David Charles Rodrigues, written by David Charles Rodrigues, Jeff Gilbert. Produced by Bud Johnston, Jesse Moss. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. To confront a resurgence of anti-LGBTQ laws, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus embarks on an unprecedented bus tour through the Deep South, celebrating music, challenging intolerance, and confronting their own dark coming out stories. With The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Dr. Tim Seelig, Ashlé, Jimmy White.
• After the Premiere Screening: A special performance by The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.
I AM HUMAN, directed, written, and produced by Taryn Southern, Elena Gaby. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. Advancements in neurotechnology are revolutionizing what it means to be human. Following three subjects who undergo brain interface treatment, I AM HUMAN examines the ethical quandaries in brain exploration and simulated cognitive evolution.
• After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with co-directors and producers Taryn Southern and Elena Gaby, neurotech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, and neurosurgeon at Toronto Western Hospital Dr. Andres Lozano. Moderated by the CEO of Futurism Alex Klokus.
Inna De Yard, directed and written by Peter Webber. Produced by Gaël Nouaille, Laurent Flahault, Laurent Baudens. (France, Belgium) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. A joyous portrait of a group of pioneering reggae musicians, Inna De Yard captures the ongoing relevance of reggae and its social values, and the music’s passion to revitalize an older generation while passing it on to younger listeners. With Ken Boothe, Kiddus, Winston McAnuff, Cedric Myton, Judy Mowatt.
• After the Premiere Screening: A special performance by reggae legend Ken Boothe.
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, directed by Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman. Produced by James Keach, Michele Farinola, Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. With one of the most memorably stunning voices that has ever hit the airwaves, Linda Ronstadt burst onto the 1960s folk rock music scene in her early twenties. A poignant bio-doc of a truly one-of-a-kind artist. With Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, Aaron Neville, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt. A CNN Films release.
• After the Premiere Screening: A special performance from nine-time Grammy winner and rock legend Sheryl Crow in celebration of Linda Ronstadt.
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, directed by Midge Costin, written by Bobette Buster. Produced by Bobette Buster, Karen Johnson, Midge Costin. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. From Apocalypse Now’s helicopters to Star Wars’ lightsabers, sound design is one of cinema’s most essential creative elements, yet also one of its most overlooked. Making Waves explores the impact of movie sound through insight from cinema’s biggest directors and their go-to sonic collaborators. With Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, Gary Rydstrom, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, Ryan Coogler.
• After the Premiere Screening: A master class conversation with sound designers and editors from the film including Oscar winners Ben Burtt and Gary Rydstrom. Presented by THE DOLBY INSTITUTE.
The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion, directed by Lisa Cortés, Farah X. Produced by Lisa Cortés. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. The story of how hip hop changed fashion, leading to the stratospheric and global rise of street wear. It is a journey of African American creativity and the limitless possibilities of a cultural movement on a global scale. With Misa Hylton, April Walker, Dapper Dan, Kerby Jean-Raymond.
• After the Premiere Screening: A special musical performance inspired by the film.
Slay the Dragon, directed and produced by Barak Goodman, Chris Durrance. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. It influences elections and sways outcomes—gerrymandering has become a hot-button political topic and symbol for everything broken about the American electoral process. But there are those on the front lines fighting to change the system.
• After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with directors Barak Goodman and Chris Durance, subject Katie Fahey, and Ari Berman, Senior Reporter at Mother Jones and author of Give Us the Ballot.
Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts, directed and written by Nick Zeig-Owens. Produced by David Silver. (USA) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. With razor-sharp wit and authentic country music chops, Trixie Mattel charmed audiences and judges as winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. But the grind of performing and the pressure of the title proves that heavy is the head that wears the tiara.
• After the Premiere Screening: a special performance by Drag Race All-Star Trixie Mattel.
XY Chelsea, directed by Tim Travers Hawkins, written by Mark Monroe. Produced by Julia Nottingham, Lucas Ochoa, Thomas Benski, Isabel Davis. (UK) – World Premiere, Feature Documentary. Following the shock commutation of her sentence, whistleblower and trans woman Chelsea Manning prepares to leave an all-male military prison in Kansas and transition to living life for the first time as a free woman. With Chelsea Manning, Nancy Hollander, Vince Ward, Chase Strange. A Showtime release.
• After the Premiere Screening: A conversation with film subject Chelsea Manning, producer Isabel Davis, and director Tim Hawkins.
*** end of list ***
Piercing Ken Thoughts: So that’s it from that massive announcement mailer. Stay tuned for more alerts from this massive media festival. I’ll likely be back posting more stuff as it hits my mailbox. What do you think of these films? Which ones are of most interest to you? Chime in down below as I am eager to hear. Tickets and details on how to attend can be learned on the official website linked below. To see the other films in the competition and more about the 2019 festival please click on THIS TAG.
Official Website: https://www.tribecafilm.com/