The 2023 Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, has unveiled its lineup of Gala events, including the Opening, Closing, and Centerpiece selections. Starting on Wednesday, June 7, the Festival kicks off with the North American premiere of “Kiss the Future,” a poignant documentary that follows a community of underground musicians and creatives during the four-year-long siege of Sarajevo and the 1997 U2 concert commemorating the city’s liberation. Produced by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Sarah Anthony, and featuring U2 members Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton, the film showcases the enduring power of art to illuminate even the darkest circumstances. “Kiss the Future” aligns with Tribeca’s founding mission of using storytelling to heal communities and sets the tone for the 12-day festival with its theme of artists-activism.
“We know U2’s marquee is helpful in getting the lives of these local heroes to a wider audience, but even at my most puffed up I couldn’t have imagined our tiny role being given so much care, attention, and screen time by Nenad Cicin-Sain,” said Bono. Expressing his excitement, Bono shares, “If defiance is the essence of romance, then the people of Sarajevo are the most romantic figures. Viva Sarajevo!”
“Ben and I are proud of this film and are honored that it has been selected to open the Tribeca Festival,” said Damon. “We are grateful to the people of Sarajevo and to U2 for giving us the opportunity to help tell this special story. Though this event happened almost 30 years ago, we feel it has strong relevance to today’s world, serving as a powerful reminder that human creativity can provide a powerful antidote to even the most horrific of situations.”
Closing the Festival on Saturday, June 17, is a special screening of the classic film “A Bronx Tale” in commemoration of its 30th anniversary. Following the movie, director, and star Robert De Niro, producer Jane Rosenthal, and writer and co-star ELEMENTAL will engage in a live conversation with David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker. De Niro expresses his personal connection to the film and his pleasure in celebrating its milestone at Tribeca.
“A Bronx Tale is a very personal project that marked my directorial debut,” said De Niro. “I’m pleased to celebrate its 30th anniversary at Tribeca with my longtime producing partner and Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal, the wonderful Chazz Palminteri, and a live New York audience at the iconic Beacon Theatre.”
This year’s Centerpiece Gala is the New York premiere of Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental.” Set in Element City, where residents representing fire, water, earth, and air coexist, the film explores the story of Ember, a fiery young woman whose friendship with water-guy Wade challenges her beliefs and identity about the world they live in and the person she wants to be. Directed by Peter Sohn, “Elemental” features the voices of Catherine O’Hara, Leah Lewis, and Mamoudou Athie.
The Gala lineup also includes world premieres of music documentaries highlighting Grammy-winning artists Carlos Santana, Cyndi Lauper, and French Montana, with dedicated performances by each artist following the screenings. Additionally, Grammy-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion will participate in a live conversation. The Gala events, sponsored by City National Bank, will take place at the Beacon Theatre on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
“Music is an instrumental form of storytelling, and the Tribeca Festival is thrilled to weave dynamic performances into our Gala events. Our lineup features the best of soul, rock & roll, pop, and hip-hop,” said Tribeca Festival Director and VP of Programming Cara Cusuamno. “We hope our audiences are inspired by activism in art and riled up by the electrifying acts paired with the screenings.”
Tribeca Festival Director and VP of Programming, Cara Cusuamno, emphasizes the importance of music as a form of storytelling and expresses excitement about integrating dynamic performances into the Gala events. The lineup spans various genres, including soul, rock & roll, pop, and hip-hop, aiming to inspire audiences through activism in art and electrifying performances.
The Tribeca Festival is curated by a team led by the Festival Director and VP of Programming Cara Cusumano, Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer, and other key individuals responsible for selecting the films and programming. For more information and updates on the festival’s programming, you can follow @Tribeca and #Tribeca2023 on social media platforms. Passes and ticket packages for the festival can be purchased at tribecafilm.com/festival.