16 films to check out during the Tribeca Film Festival 2023.

By Douglas Davidson on June 1, 2023 • ( 0 )

For the second time, Elements of Madness will officially be covering the Tribeca Film Festival and we thought we’d offer up our recommendations of what to check out during the fest or what to keep an eye out for in wider distribution.

Great stories from the greatest storytellers. Mark your calendar for the 2023 Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX —taking place in New York City from June 7 through June 18, 2023.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

So much of what is considered "American" is based upon or originates from another culture or community. It's both the great thing about the United States and the thing that's the first to be forgotten in the quest for a national, well, anything. Going on a sonic journey to explore what a national anthem would sound like in a recontextualized way sounds fascinating.

Official Synopsis:

"The Star-Spangled Banner", written in 1814 using the melody of an old British tune, is a song that evokes a range of emotions from patriotic pride to cynicism and terror. But what would the national anthem sound like if it was based on American music? Anthem follows composer and pianist Kris Bowers and producer Dahi as they journey across the country to find out.

Screening in-person beginning June 11th.

A scene from ANTHEM. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Contributor Justin Waldman Recommends It:

Immediately reading this synopsis feels like someone loosely adapting The Shining, and that alone has my interest highly peaked. There is so much horror out there that finding something that can play on such a classic and do it well is rare, but Stewart Thorndike's movie certainly feels like it has everything going for it.

Official Synopsis:

For a group of friends in the Northeast, a weekend getaway at a snowy resort sounds like just what the doctor ordered. An opportunity to reconnect, relax, and recuperate among serene, snow-capped mountains and trees. But peace doesn't last long as the ghosts of guests past and relationships long buried come to light. Soon enough, their trip transforms into a psychological tailspin and bloody nightmare, as both long-deceased guests and the space itself come to life, and the group turn on each other in a race to stay alive.

Screening In-person beginning June 9th.

Gayle Rankin as Ruthie Nodd in BAD THINGS. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

To Millenials and Gen-Xers, video games were a thing we grew up on. We’re talking Magnavox Odyssey, ColecoVision, N.E.S.. These systems and the games that came with them helped define our adolescence. Studies have now shown that playing Tetris after experiencing trauma can help reduce PTSD symptoms and encourage healing. When the world shutdown for a few months in 2020, Animal Crossing became the game to play to help deal with the trauma and isolation. Is it any surprise that the challenge of a speedrun might serve as the backdrop for personal discovery? Not in the slightest.

Official Synopsis:

Video games and the community around them have meant everything to Narcissa Wright. Her quests to set speed run records in numerous game titles have allowed her to own competitions and stages across the globe. But as much as she loves the challenge of conquering virtual worlds, her biggest challenge will come from the community whose love and affection she yearns for as she comes out as transgender. Hell-bent on setting a new speedrunning world record in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Narcissa struggles to balance the volatile nature of internet fandom and the prospect of building a fulfilling life outside the confines of pixels and sprites.

Screening In-person and online.

A scene from BREAK THE GAME. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

By rite of marriage, I must declare, "Let's Go, Mets!" That is about as sports-y as I get, so my interest in Bucky F*cking Dent is purely out of curiosity to see what David Duchovny does in adapting his own novel. It doesn't hurt that it features Logan Marshall-Green (Upgrade) and Stephanie Beatriz (Encanto/Brooklyn Nine-Nine), two actors who constantly surprise.

Official Synopsis:

Ask any Red Sox fan about Bucky Dent and the response is always the same: a sigh and shake of the head as we dejectedly mutter, "Bucky fucking Dent." For those of us who live and die with the Olde Towne Teame, Bucky Dent is a very specific avatar of heartbreak: the quiet, unassuming kind of heartbreak that you silently dismiss until it's right in front of you, knocking a 1-1 pitch over the Green Monster in left.

Screening in-person beginning June 10th.

David Duchovny as Marty Fullilove in BUCKY F*CKING DENT. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

In our house, we enjoy a good Kevin Smith tale. We quote the Clerks animated series frequently, EoM Editor Crystal Davidson and I own View Askewniverse jerseys, and we own just about every film he's made in one format or another (save for a small few). Our fandom, however, doesn't exist without evaluation, as we recognize that there are problematic elements in his films, specifically his early works. Of them, Chasing Amy (1997) is perhaps the most problematic, even if it's still a genuinely sweet and romantic film. Discovering that a filmmaker, Sav Rodgers, intends to grapple with their own relationship to the film is something I’ve got to see.

Official Synopsis:

In Chasing Chasing Amy, filmmaker Sav Rodgers takes a journey of self-discovery while making a documentary about Kevin Smith's Chasing Amy and its polarizing reputation among LGBTQ+ people.

The feature documentary explores the transformational impact of the ‘90s rom-com on a 12 year old queer kid from Kansas, coming of age and to terms with his identity. For young Sav Rodgers, the Kevin Smith cult classic became a life raft. As Rodgers examines the film and its making as a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cinema, he finds himself at a complicated crossroads.

Screening in-person and online.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

Stories of self-discovery come in all shapes and genres and remain an important form of cinema. Why? Because self-discovery is not one-size-fits-all, with some being accompanied by moments of hilarity or drama or the strange or the horrific. If there's one constant over the years, despite cultural differences, it's the struggle for autonomy and personal independence as a rite of passage. Director Anna Roller's tale sounds like a fascinating one.

Official Synopsis:

Three German teenagers—Ira, Malin, and Ka—have just graduated from high school. As it is a rite of passage for teenagers everywhere, the trio decides to commemorate this milestone with a road trip. Once settled in Italy, the trio embarks in search of adventure. On the road, they pick up an intriguing backpacker, Zoe, who tags along on their journey. But when they stumble across an abandoned village, the quartet starts to experiment with the limits of their newly found freedom, away from the expectations of their parents and teachers.

Screening in-person beginning June 9th.

A scene from DEAD GIRLS DANCING. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

As someone who really enjoyed seeing Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater on-screen together in 2018's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I’m curious to see what the actors do when working together behind the camera. That the film also includes Ed Harris (The Truman Show), Vanessa Hudgens (tick, tick…BOOM!), Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story: Freak Show), and Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) is only a plus.

Official Synopsis:

Life in a small town is always hard, but what about a small town that's about to be hit with a once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm? That's what the citizens of Owl, North Dakota are about to experience in the winter of 1984. This snowstorm – and the leadup to it – brings together three very different people: nostalgic football fan Horace (Ed Harris), newbie teacher Julia (Lily Rabe), and depressed quarterback Mitch (August Blanco Rosenstein).

Screening in-person beginning June 8th.

L-R: Henry Golding and Lily Rabe in DOWNTOWN OWL. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Contributor Justin Waldman Recommends It:

If you ignore literally everything about the production/cast of this film, it seems like it could be a pseudo sequel to Mass (2021), which is one of the most devastating films I’ve ever seen. However when you add in Judy Greer (Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3) and Alexander Skarsgård (Infinity Pool), Alison Pill (Snowpiercer) and Tracy Letts (Ford v. Ferrari), being directed by Michael Shannon (The Night Before), the odds of capturing sheer lightning in a bottle excels beyond possibility and is almost guaranteed to become reality. This film is bound to destroy its audience and speak massively on current events.

Official Synopsis:

Michael Shannon directs an adaptation of Brett Neveu's 2002 play about a mother coping with the fallout after her son murders three of his high school classmates. Janice (Judy Greer) is struggling; she moves through life as if in a haze, unable to let go of her anger and frustration. While her husband (Alexander Skarsgård) has found refuge at a new church, Janice finds it hard to seek solace in her faith despite her pastor's pleas to heal her wounds by meeting with the mothers of her son's victims. As Janice ponders what that meeting could achieve for her and her community, Eric LaRue asks audiences to witness the frayed emotional ripples that violent acts can engender.

Screening in-person beginning June 10th.

Judy Greer as Janice in Eric LaRue. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Contributor Justin Waldman Recommends It:

Chelsea Peretti (Game Night) being writer, producer, and first-time director in a comedy that features an incredible cast cannot be missed. There is so much promise and intrigue within this project, that it peaks the curiosity immensely. With similar vibes to Mike Birbiglia's Don't Think Twice, this surely cannot be missed.

Official Synopsis:

With First Time Female Director, Chelsea Peretti wears all the hats. Making her directorial debut, the comedian is also on hand as writer and producer, and she leads a hilarious, star-studded cast as Sam, a playwright working for a small local theater in Glendale. When the theater's director is fired for inappropriate behavior, Sam is thrust into the leadership role, where she quickly discovers that being a director may be a lot more challenging than she originally thought. Wanting to stage her dream production, a rural drama set in the South, Sam finds a bevy of issues (including a recalcitrant cast) awaiting her and threatening her latest work.

Screening in-person beginning June 12th.

Chelsea Peretti as Sam in FIRST TIME FEMALE DIRECTOR. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

The film as a whole feels incredibly loaded as it incorporates the tension of Israeli-Palestinian strife, reproductive issues, and futurism with the potential for any one word, look, or gesture to cause it all to collapse. My hope is that the film raises questions about all three areas with solid propositions for the audience to consider regarding each one.

Official Synopsis:

At 42, Dr. Bloch (Reymonde Amsellem), a profiler, wants a child. A future. Her only way is to find a surrogate mother. At the same time, her groundbreaking algorithm designed to identify individuals planning to carry out terror attacks fails and a young Palestinian woman (Samar Qupty) assassinates the Israeli minister of Space and Tourism. In order to ‘fix the bugs’ in her algorithm, Nurit faces the assassin in person. The sessions between these two brilliant women raise questions about their past, while the sessions between Bloch and the potential surrogate (Dar Zuzovsky) challenge Bloch's decision about her future.

Screening in-person beginning June 10th.

Why EoM Contributor Justin Waldman Recommends It:

The world is turbulent enough. Imagine dedicating your life to bettering it and going to space to accomplish this, only for politics to become more important in the advancement of humanity. It seems wild, a little crazy, all while being all too plausible. This certainly has the makings of being a sleeper hit.

Official Synopsis:

Ariana DeBose takes over Tribeca in a rollicking sci-fi space thriller. Orbiting the planet aboard the International Space Station, two crews of scientists conduct research towards the betterment of humanity. Soon, however, international tensions on Earth escalate in unpredictable ways. With little information relayed from command centers, the teams find themselves reeling as they receive the same orders: take control of the station at any cost.

Screening in-person beginning June 12th.

Ariana DeBose in I.S.S.. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Contributor Justin Waldman Recommends It:

There is something always intriguing about a dark comedy that allows the members of its cast to break free of their typical, more comedic roles. While the subject matter of murder certainly doesn't lend itself to comedy in the hands of John Slattery's (God's Pocket) directing, with Jon Hamm (Confess, Fletch) and Tina Fey (Mean Girls) taking lead, there is the strong possibility of this being a sleeper hit.

Official Synopsis:

When two women with the same name are murdered days apart, small-town police chief Jordan Sanders (John Hamm) finds himself wading through an unlikely collection of cheating husbands, lonely hearts, nosy neighbors and contract killers in an effort to put the pieces of the case, and his life, together. The film is inspired by actual events.

Screening in-person and online.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

In my household, Dan Rather signified credibility regarding the news. These days, as journalists are constantly under fire for trying to do their jobs with integrity and ethics, Rather is still the guiding light for many. Being able to explore his life and career in a documentary sounds extraordinary.

Official Synopsis:

Frank Marshall's incisive documentary is a long-overdue tribute to an icon of journalism, a late-in-life Twitter superstar, a father, husband, and a voice of reason, compassion, and brilliance: Dan Rather. To older generations, his name may be synonymous with quality journalism and stalwart diplomacy, but to younger audience members unfamiliar with his career, Rather provides the opportunity to travel back in time through his remarkable experiences and sharp-witted commentary.

Screening in-person beginning June 9th.

Dan Rather in RATHER. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Contributor Justin Waldman Recommends It:

It simply does not matter if you follow comic books, follow comic book movies, or follow anything related to comics. Unless you have lived under a rock and are unphased by popular culture, the name Stan Lee at least rings familiar. This could be a look behind the curtain, with unseen personal footage, at one of the most prominent figures in the comic world.

Official Synopsis:

When you think of artists that have pushed the art of comic books forward, you think of Stan Lee. When the Marvel Comics visionary passed away in November 2018, he left behind a storied legacy and some of the most iconic characters of popular culture. He also left behind a trove of personal footage and recorded recollections of his career that were never seen by the public. Until now, that is.

Screening in-person and online.

Stan Lee in STAN LEE. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

The number of times we, as American citizens, are taught an incorrect version of history in order to sideline or otherwise erase contributions from marginalized or minority groups grows each day. With The Space Race, we learn about the experiences of the first Black astronauts, an aspect of NASA's history not yet made widespread through cinema or television. If we are ever to expand and grow as a people or as a country, we need to examine what is often left out of textbooks. The Space Race allows for exactly that.

Official Synopsis:

From National Geographic Documentary Films comes The Space Race, an emotive and educational exploration of the experiences of the first Black astronauts. Featuring candid interviews from Ed Dwight, Guion Bluford, Charles Bolden, and Victor Glover, the documentary spotlights the oft-omitted racial injustice narratives and present-day realities of these pioneers.

Screening in-person and online.

A scene from THE SPACE RACE. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Why EoM Founder/Head Writer Douglas Davidson Recommends It:

I may be an enormous chicken when it comes to horror (films with heavy gore are hard for me to handle), but even I’ve heard of Stuart Gordon's 1985 Re-Animator, co-written by Dennis Paloi and co-starring Barbara Crampton. Now you’re telling me that this same scribe and this incredible scream queen are joining director Joe Lynch (Mayhem/Point Blank/Everly) for a project with Heather Graham (Boogie Nights/Scrubs) and Bruce Davison (X-Men/The Lords of Salem)? Yeah – you’ve got my attention. I may regret it after, but you’ve got it.

Official Synopsis:

Just days ago, Elizabeth Derby (Heather Graham) was a successful psychiatrist with a loving husband and the world at her fingertips. Now, she finds herself locked up inside a psych ward after the murder of a young male patient to whom she had an inexplicable, almost otherworldly attraction. Hoping to clear her name, Elizabeth confides in her doctor and recounts what happened, giving way to a bizarre and disturbing tale of sexual madness, supernatural horror, and homicidal rage. The deeper the story goes, the more unhinged and carnage-laden life becomes, not just for Elizabeth but for everyone in her path.

Screening in-person beginning June 11th.

Heather Graham as Elizabeth Derby in SUITABLE FLESH. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Tribeca Enterprises is a multi-platform media and entertainment company that owns and operates the Tribeca Festival, Tribeca Studios, and production company m ss ng p eces. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Founded in 2003 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, Tribeca Enterprises brings artists and audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances. In 2019, James Murdoch's Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.

Categories: Coming Soon, Recommendation

Tags: Anthem, Bad Things, Break the Game, Bucky F*cking Dent, Chasing Chasing Amy, Dead Girls Dancing, Downtown Owl, Eric LaRue, film festival, First Time Female Director, I.S.S., Maggie Moore(s), Rather, Stan Lee, Suitable Flesh, The Future, The Space Race, Tribeca Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival 2023