Just because Tribeca Festival’s in-person experience, which ran from June 7, 2023 to June 18, 2023 in New York City, has ended doesn’t mean the films have. From now until July 2, 2023, you can keep the viewing going with a sampling of this year’s offerings through Tribeca at Home. Opt for the $150 pass for the best value. Should you need some help with what feature films to catch, just follow the recommendations below.
All Up in the Biz
Photo: courtesy of Tribeca Festival.
Biz Markie was literally the life of the party and Sacha Jenkins, acclaimed director/producer of Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues, Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James, Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, uncovers his story from unstable childhood to his rise to one of the best DJs to ever do it. Chiming in are rap legends Rakim, Fat Joe, Doug E. Fresh and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, as well as iconic fashion designer Dapper Dan and comedians Tracy Morgan and Nick Cannon.
Between the Rains
Image: courtesy of Tribeca Festival.
Using vibrant cinematography that jumps from any screen, this 2023 Tribeca best documentary feature winner from Kenya captures the Turkana-Ngaremara community as they battle a prolonged drought. As they attempt to uphold the centuries-old practice of living off the land amidst drastic climate change, it becomes more and more doubtful if the younger generation will be able to hold onto the culture and traditions of their parents, grandparents and long-ago ancestors without perishing. (Subtitles)
Boca Chica
Image: Micaela Cajahuaringa/courtesy of Tribeca Festival.
Young actress Scarlet Camilo is delightful in her role as Desi, a 12-year-old girl who has big dreams of becoming a successful singer, which is even more far-fetched in her beach town of Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic than in other places. With this lively feature debut, it’s easy to see why Gabriella A. Moses is a director on the rise.
Öte
Image: courtesy of Tribeca Festival.
Traveling across Turkey alone headed towards her friend in Armenia is no problem for curious and empowered New Yorker Lela (an impressive Iman Artwell-Freeman). As she takes in the sights and sounds of Turkey, however, she finds an unexpected connection in the countryside that just might be hard for her to shake. Co-directors/co-writers Malik Isasis, a Seattle native, and Istanbul-born Esra Saydam offer a fresh perspective in this well-crafted and engaging film. (English and Subtitles)
Rise—The Siya Kolisi Story
Image: courtesy of Tribeca Festival.
In South Africa, the national rugby team the Springboks have long been a proud symbol of apartheid. So Siya Kolisi as its captain that helped secure the nation’s third World Cup victory in 2019 is a very powerful symbol of hope. To get here, however, he beat tremendous odds that make his “rise” even more unlikely. It’s a compelling narrative impressively captured by South African writer/director Tebogo Malope, whose credits include Queen Sono and his acclaimed 2016 feature film debut For Love and Broken Bones. (English with Captions)
The Space Race
Image: National Geographic/Ryan Dearth
It hasn’t been an easy journey for Black astronauts and co-directors Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Lisa Cortés (who most recently stunned as director/producer of Little Richard: I Am Everything) tap the men—renowned sculptor Ed Dwight (pictured above), Charles Bolden, Leland Melvin and Guion Bluford—who endured the many challenges that helped pave our way to space in this illuminating documentary for National Geographic.
Uncharted
Image: Lauren Enriquez/Courtesy of Tribeca Festival.
Alicia Keys is trying to do her part to empower women in the music industry and this doc chronicling participants of her She Is the Music songwriting camp shows exactly why it’s so necessary. Bouncing from LA, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta, this doc puts a focus on the universal challenges so many women face behind the mic and on the boards as artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers while pursuing the music they love in the male-dominated industry.
Ronda Racha Penrice is the author of Black American History For Dummies and editor of Cracking The Wire During Black Lives Matter.
