Tribeca Festival Launches Immersive Technology Exhibit ‘In Search of Us’ – Film News in Brief
The 2025 Tribeca Festival is launching a new immersive exhibit focusing on technology titled “In Search of Us,” featuring 11 projects, which include six world premieres.
In partnership with Onassis ONX and Agog: The Immersive Media Institute, “In Search of Us” will highlight futurism, activism, video games, XR and music. The selected projects all utilized AI, XR, multi-media installations and/or site-specific technology to tell their stories.
In a statement, Tribeca Festival‘s co-founder Jane Rosenthal said: “Artists have always stood at the vanguard of transformation, using their voices to tell stories that shape our world. Tribeca has always championed bold experimentation and cutting-edge storytelling through technology. In true Tribeca form, ‘In Search of Us’ spotlights artists who are using these emerging technologies to break through, capture imaginations, and tell some of the timeliest stories of our day.”
Selected projects include “AI & Me: The Confessional and AI Ego,” “Boreal Dreams,” “A Father’s Lullaby,” “Lullabies Through Time,” “The Power Loom,” “The Founders Pillars,” “Fragile Home,” “In the Current of Being,” “The Innocence of Unknowing,” “New Maqam City,” “Scent,” “There Goes Nikki” and “Uncharted.”
This year’s festival runs June 4-15 in New York City.
Wednesday, April 23
Seattle International Film Festival to Open With ‘Four Mothers,’ Close with ‘Sorry, Baby’
The Seattle International Film Festival has revealed the full lineup of films screening at its 51st edition, held May 15 through 25 at venues across the Seattle area. This year’s festival will screen 245 films from 74 countries, including 93 features, 122 shorts, 35 documentaries, three archival features, and two ‘secret films.’
SIFF will open with Darren Thornton’s intergenerational comedy “Four Mothers” starring James McArdle and Fionnula Flanagan. The film, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival, will screen with Thornton in attendance. Closing night will feature Eva Victor’s “Sorry, Baby,” produced by Barry Jenkins for A24. The film will screen followed by an audience Q&A with writer/director Victor.
“At a time when the cultural cornerstones of discovery and diversity that make art so important are being threatened, SIFF is doubling down on bringing those stories to the screen,” SIFF artistic director Beth Barrett said in a statement. “Our lineup reflects our two main focuses this year: international and independent voices. Discovery and connection are at the very core of who we are, and we hope these 10 days are an escape into new worlds and bold, audacious artistic visions.”
The SIFF slate reflects work from a variety of backgrounds: 51% of filmmakers are female or nonbinary-identifying, 37% identify as a BIPOC director, and 20% identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. 60% of the feature films are from first or second-time filmmakers and 73% of films don’t currently have US distribution and may not screen commercially in the United States.
To see the full festival lineup and purchase tickets, visit siff.net/passes.
Tribeca Unveils 2025 Audio Storytelling Lineup
The 2025 Tribeca Film Festival has unveiled its audio storytelling lineup, featuring a mix of live episodes, immersive audio experiences and world premieres. The audio events, sponsored by Audible, will take place between June 10 and June 14 in New York City. The lineup will open with the annual Excellence in Audio Journalism Gala and feature other live tapings of podcasts including the first-ever live episode of The New York Times’ “The Interview,” featuring a conversation with Sandra Oh.
Other offerings include Slate’s “Death, Sex & Money” with special guest Allison Williams, Radiotopia’s “The Memory Place” with Carrie Coon and Lili Taylor and Hamlet from the Make-Believe Association, an immersive headphone-based listening experience. Tribeca also features audio storytelling in its official competition, with selections including “This Call May Be Recorded,” “Jacob Reed & Me,” and scripted docudrama “Lead” with Merritt Wever, Alessandro Nivola, and Cynthia Nixon.
Tribeca will also host the world premieres of the Apple Original “Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story,” and Audible’s “What Could Go Wrong?,” a new series from “Contagion” screenwriter Scott Z. Burns. “Our 2025 Official Selections highlight where narrative audio is headed—stories with a sharper focus on voice and perspective, and experimentation with both format and subject matter,” said curator of audio storytelling Davy Gardner. “The program shows that the medium not only works live, but thrives in a communal setting.”
The full audio storytelling lineup can be found at TribecaFilm.com.
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Sets Dates for 2026 Edition
The next edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival will be held Feb. 4-14, 2026.
The festival marked its 40th anniversary with the 2025 edition. The 2026 festival will take advantage of the organization’s new, renovated location: the Film Center in downtown Santa Barbara.
“There is nothing better than the theatre experience as we just saw with our 40th anniversary. With the upcoming inauguration of our new state of the art Film Center just in time for the 41st SBIFF, we can’t wait to celebrate cinema with you again!” Roger Durling, SBIFF’s Executive Director, said in a statement.
Attendees can expect events like celebrity tributes, Q&A’s and panels hosted at the Film Center, as well as the Riviera Theatre and Arlington Theatre.
Tuesday, April 22
Tribeca Festival’s Shorts Lineup to Include Films Produced by Rosario Dawson and Colin Kaepernick, AnnaSophia Robb
Tribeca Festival’s shorts lineup this year includes 93 films, including the Spike Lee-executive produced “How I Learned to Die,” AnnaSophia Robb’s producing and starring vehicle “Jean Jacket” and a film produced by Rosario Dawson and Colin Kaepernick called “Kiss My Grass.”
The festival will occur in New York City from June 4-15. The shorts slate, which will screen at the new Shorts Cinema at Spring Studios, features films from 105 directors and more than 30 countries. The categories are narrative, documentary, animated and music videos.
“This year we received a staggering number of short submissions, and while it certainly made our job as programmers more challenging, we are confident our programs will reflect the quality, variety and imagination of the films we received from around the world,” Ben Thompson, Tribeca Festival’s vice president of shorts programming, said in a statement. “I am proud that we have expanded our programming, selecting the highest number of short films of any of the major film festivals. Our aim is to make shorts and music videos a major focus at Tribeca, with storytelling that dazzles and delights our audiences here in New York!”
An animated shorts program curated by Whoopi Goldberg will include the films “Snow Bear” by Aaron Blaise, “The Piano” by Avery Kroll and “The Quinta’s Ghost” by James A. Castillo.
Kid Cudi’s music video “Neverland,” directed by Ti West, will have its world premiere at the festival.
The full lineup is available here.
Guillermo del Toro and BFI’s Ben Roberts to Host Panel at TCM Classic Film Festival
Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”) and BFI chief executive Ben Roberts are joining this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival for the panel “From Across the Pond: Sights & Sounds of the British Film Institute” on Friday, April 25 at 3 p.m.
The event will take place at Club TCM, located at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where Del Toro and Roberts will discuss BFI’s big discoveries and important restorations through the organization’s rich archival history. Club TCM aims to recreate “the flavor of bygone Hollywood hotspots,” according to an official synopsis.
This year, the festival will screen “Blithe Spirit” (1945), a rare 35mm print of “Jaws” (1975) and “Mildred Pierce” (1945) on nitrate. It runs April 24-27 in Los Angeles.
Troy Kotsur To Serve as Commencement Speaker for Chapman University’s Film School
Troy Kotsur, who won an Oscar for his performance in “CODA,” will be this year’s commencement speaker for Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
The ceremony is set for May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Chapman’s Wilson Field.
Kotsur made history in 2022 as the first deaf male actor to receive an acting honor at the Academy Awards. He has also appeared in “The Mandalorian,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and on Broadway in “Big River.”
“Troy is not only a remarkable actor but also a remarkable human being,” Stephen Galloway, Dodge College’s dean, said in a statement. “He’s fought against enormous odds to create a path as unique and original as himself.”
Monday, April 21
Frameline Announces 2025 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant Recipients
Remi Gabriel (“Barbie Boy”), Carmela Murphy and AJ Dubler (“A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian”) are among this year’s 2025 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant recipients, Variety can exclusively reveal.
Since 2023, the partnership with Frameline has focused on supporting LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support. This year’s filmmakers will receive $15,000 each to support future film endeavors, along with having their films screened at the 49th San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival.
“As support of LGBTQ+ art — and artists in general — is being systematically dismantled, it falls on our community’s shoulders to protect the future of queer cinema, all while preserving its rich history,” Frameline’s executive director Allegra Madsen said in a statement. “Frameline’s partnership with the Colin Higgins Foundation has allowed both of our organizations to do just that for the past three years. Together, we will continue to uplift LGBTQ+ youth and their vital stories.”
The grant is named after the late Higgins, the acclaimed director and screenwriter behind “Harold and Maude,” “9 to 5” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” Frameline49 runs June 18-28.
Jump Cut Taps Jacky Shu as Executive Vice President
Jump Cut, the New York-based film and episodic marketing company, has tapped industry veteran Jacky Shu as executive VP. In her new role, she will oversee A/V and print divisions while continuing to be based in Los Angeles.
Prior to joining Jump Cut, Shu co-founded the film marketing company Rogue Planet and served as its CEO for the past ten years. She has collected over thirty Clio awards over the years, including work on campaigns for Pixar’s “Soul,” Netflix’s “Okja” and 20th Century’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”
“Jacky is the perfect person to complement our team,” Jump Cut founder Stephen Garrett said in a statement. “As our industry continues to evolve, so does Jump Cut, and Jacky has the vision and energy to steer us into a very bright future.”
Of her new position, Shu said in a statement: “I could not ask for a more perfect place to hitch my wagon. I am so proud of what Jump Cut has already accomplished, and I am thrilled to make it my new creative home.”
Producers Guild Awards Set for February 2026 Date
The Producers Guild has set the next Producers Guild Awards ceremony to be held Feb. 28, 2026.
The awards honor producers in film, television, emerging media and other categories.
The Producers Guild also announced the timeline of the upcoming awards season.
The eligibility period is as follows: for the Innovation Award, the dates are Oct. 2, 2024-Oct.1, 2025. For Theatrical Motion Pictures; Animated Motion Pictures; Documentary Motion Pictures; Television Series/Specials; Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures; Sports, Children’s, and Short Form, the dates are Jan. 1, 2025-Dec. 31, 2025.
The deadline for notice of producing credits is Aug. 29 for
Documentary Motion Pictures, Sep. 26 for Television Programs (Television Series/Specials; Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures; Sports, Children’s, and Short Form), Oct. 1 for Innovation Award and Oct. 10 for Theatrical Motion Pictures and Animated Motion Pictures.
More crucial dates for the upcoming season are available here.
Abramorama Acquires ‘The Last Twins’ Documentary
Abramorama has picked up North American distribution rights for the documentary “The Last Twins,” which delves into the story of Erno “Zvi” Spiegel’s fight for the remaining twins of Auschwitz.
The film is directed by Perri Peltz and Matthew O’Neill, who worked on the project with Spiegel’s daughter Dr. Judith Richter. Liev Schreiber narrates the film.
“Erno Spiegel’s story reminds us that even in the darkest places, there are people who choose to act with courage and compassion,” Peltz said in a statement. “’The Last Twins’ is a tribute to one man’s quiet defiance and the children whose lives—and legacies—he helped preserve.”
The film will play for a week at New York City’s QUAD Cinema starting June 6, with more screenings to be held across the country.
“Perri and Matt’s documentary is a revelation for audiences. The fact that we are beginning the run on the 81st anniversary of D-Day reminds us of individual human acts of courage that impact generations,” Abramorama CEO Karol Martesko-Fenster said in a statement.
