Movies to See at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival

Believe it or not, the Tribeca Film Festival is right around the corner! This week, the 2023 incarnation of Tribeca gets underway for me, with both in person and virtual screenings (plus, as always, perhaps some things I may have links for). The festival always has interesting movies contained within, taking advantage of playing at a unique point in the cinematic calendar. Pre-COVID, the fest was slightly earlier in the year, but the principle still remains. Regardless, coming again this year on the heels of Cannes, it’s now Tribeca’s time to shine! To commemorate the start of this feast for Big Apple cinephiles, I wanted to highlight some of the most interesting titles about to unspool in New York.

There’s no shortage of titles to choose from. Below, you can see 30 of the movies playing this year at Tribeca. I split them into twenty honorable mentions and ten picks that I wrote a quick bit about. Much like last year’s piece (found here), it’s meant to just whet your appetite for the festival’s offerings. If you’re in New York City, be sure to try and check out something at the fest, as it’s far more accessible than several other ones, which is always nice…

Here now are some of the many titles to look out for at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival:

Honorable Mentions: The Adults, The Blackening, Bucky F*cking Dent, Catching Dust, Cold Copy, Every Body, First Time Female Director, Final Cut, The Good Half, Hideo Kojima – Connecting Worlds, Kim’s Video, LaRoy, The Lesson, Open Heart, Our Son, Q, Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed, Songs About F*ing, Suitable Flesh, and Stan Lee

Chasing Chasing Amy – This documentary from Sav Rodgers is about as up my alley as it gets. Stay tuned for my full review this week, but a look at how much Kevin Smith‘s film Chasing Amy meant to someone in their formative years? I swear I didn’t direct it, but you’d be forgiven for being curious if I did. More soon, but trust me, it’s also far more than just for fans of Smith or his movie. There’s a lot more on this doc’s mind.

Downtown Owl – I really enjoy the writings of Chuck Klosterman, so this adaptation of his novel of the same name really has my attention. The cast is strong, the source material is quirky but not unadaptable, and the potential is here for a crossover success. I have some heavy curiosity about this flick.

Eric LaRue – Michael Shannon making his directorial debut? Yes please. The material appears very heavy, but very much in line with what Shannon gravitates towards as an actor. So, there’s plenty of reason to assume he’s got more than a solid handle on it. We shall see, but it’s hard not to be very curious about this one.

Fresh Kills – Another first time feature from someone used to being in front of the camera, this movie comes to us from actress Jennifer Esposito. She seems well suited for this look at the women of an organized crime family. It’s very New York centric, so a perfect selection for Tribeca to host, obviously.

I.S.S. – A strong cast, led by Ariana DeBose, John Gallagher Jr., and Chris Messina are on hand for this space station set thriller. There’s an interesting moral quandry at the center of the film, as well as plenty of genre thrills. So, consider this another movie that has a chance to break out into the mainstream after the fest ends.

The Line – Fraternity hazing and the toxicity of that environment is examined in The Line, with a cast led by Alex Wolff. It’s tough stuff and no punches are pulled, but that’s also the point. Frat bros likely need not apply here.

The Listener – Steve Buscemi directs Tessa Thompson in this very quiet movie that consists of her character just taking calls. There seem to be less COVID impacted productions in the lineup this year, but it’s hard not to see this as a quarantine type of film. Thompson can handle the load though, that’s for sure

Maggie Moore(s) – Actor and sometimes filmmaker John Slattery ups his game here with a murder mystery dramedy, featuring a terrific turn from Jon Hamm. There’s a lot of the early Coen Brothers to this one, which has as many funny moments are deeply dark ones. It could easily wind up among the highlights of Tribeca.

Rolling Along – A filmed version of his one man show, this is Bill Bradley up close and personal. The hall of fame New York Knick, United States Senator, and Presidential candidate tells his own story, which is well worth hearing. Look for my interview with him soon, as well, which is still kind of surreal.

Shortcomings – One of my favorite films from Sundance back in January, I’ll direct you here to my rave review. Suffice it to say, this is a must see for anyone who missed it in Park City but will be in New York City this month for the festival…

Stay tuned for our coverage of the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival!