The 18th Tribeca Film Festival is set to explore activism in the arts with the first Tribeca Celebrates Pride this Saturday 4th May at the Tribeca Festival Hub at Spring Studios, New York. The day long event will honour the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, including on stage interviews with LGBTQ+ creatives including Neil Patrick Harris, John Cameron Mitchell (in conversation with his Shrill co-star, comedian Patti Harrison), Larry Kramer, Nancy podcast co-hosts Kathy Tuand Tobin Low and guest speaker Asia Kate Dillon.
There will be screenings of seven LGBTQ+ related short films, all of which are playing in competition at Tribeca and the day will conclude with the world premiere of the HBO documentary Wig. The doc, directed by Chris Moukarbel (Gaga: Five Foot Two) focuses on the art of drag, centred on the New York’s iconic event Wigstock. Following the premiere, audiences will be treated to a live drag show hosted by the founder of Wigstock, Lady Bunny.
“We’ve come so far in the fifty years since the Stonewall riots, but there is so much more to be done,” said Paula Weinstein, EVP of Tribeca Enterprises. “In honour of that pivotal moment in our culture, we hope this day of LGBTQ+ storytelling-driven programming will not just honour the work of those who came before us, but also those who are helping to ignite the passion of the next generation.”
Tribeca Celebrates Pride Conversations:
Activism Through The Ages
An inter-generational panel of thought-leaders and changemakers discuss the different forms their activism takes and share some of the biggest highlights and challenges they’ve encountered on the front line in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.
Moderator: Twiggy Pucci Garcon
Panelists: Jason Walker, Fabrice Houdart, Staceyann Chin and Stacy Lentz
Being A Multi Hyphenate
This panel will bring together queer creatives who have interpreted their artistic visions across various mediums, from art and fashion, to theatre and film. As multi hyphenate cultural producers, the influence of these individuals runs deep within the community. In this conversation, attendees will hear from authors, filmmakers, performers and Broadway producers who have found themselves experimenting with many artforms in order to express themselves and tell their story.
Moderator: Tre’vell Anderson
Panelists: Alok Vaid Menon, Jordan Roth, Leilah Weinraub and Jacob Tobia
From Persecution to Asylum: LGBTQ Refugees Tell Their Stories
In more than 70 countries around the world, it is still considered a crime to be LGBTQ+. For nearly 25 years, Immigration Equality has provided free legal services to LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive immigrants fleeing persecution and has won asylum for more than 1,000 people. Hear first-hand testimonies from queer and trans asylum recipients about their experiences rebuilding their lives in the United States in partnership with Immigration Equality.
Moderator: Aaron C. Morris
Panelists: Denise Chambers, David Paul Kay and Ilo Rincón
LGBTQ Media Visibility
Media portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community have changed significantly in the past decade, not only becoming more frequent but also increasingly complex, representing intersectional identities across race, religion and genders. Inevitably, this LGBTQ representation has impacted societal attitudes. This conversation will look at how being out in the public eye has affected our panelists’ identities, their day to day lives and careers and also shaped the cultural conversation of this country. We will talk about the milestones our panelists have been part of, both scripted and unscripted – from onscreen coming out declarations to triumphant same-sex embraces, and how the professionals around them have supported or discouraged their living openly and honestly.
Moderator: Brad Calcaterra
Panelists: Joanna Lohman, Raul Castillo, Roberta Colindrez and Wade A. Davis
Who Gets To Tell Whose Story?
Telling the story of a community that you don’t represent is a dicey prospect; filmmakers risk alienating the very audience the film is aimed at. Ego-free collaboration is crucial. This productive panel will include discussions of cross-community collaborations where trans, non-binary and intersex artists have joined forces with cisgender creatives to forge successful storytelling partnerships. The conversation will look at how filmmakers can use their privilege for good, putting historically marginalised characters front and center to tell unsung stories with respect and authenticity.
Moderator: Tiq Milan
Panelists: Angelica Ross & Steven Canals, Ser Anzoategui & Tanya Saracho, River Gallo & Sadé Clacken Joseph
Out in Office
A cross section of individuals from congress and state legislation discuss their personal path to leadership, the state of equality today, and the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the lawmaking process.
Moderator: Allison VanKuiken
Panelists: House Representative Malcolm Kenyatta (PA), House Representative David Cicilline (RI) and Sarah McBride
Representing Hollywood
Several representatives discuss how they have supported and strategised the career trajectories of their high profile LGBTQ+ Clients.
Moderator: Bill Keith
Panelists: Simon Halls, Kevin Huvane and Joe Machota
Shorts Program Pride: Front and Centre
Standing tall with these short films that celebrate Pride, this carefully curated program contains both narrative and documentary shorts, and poignantly explores LGBTQ+ life with humour, panache, kindness and compassion. Featuring Angelica Ross (Pose), Brianna Hildebrand (Deadpool) and Zackary Drucker (Transparent), prepare for a cross-cultural odyssey that ends, fittingly, with the safe queer haven of Christopher Street Pier. Curated by Tribeca Film Festival Shorts Programmers Sharon Badal and Ben Thompson. Featured shorts are: I Think She Likes You, Momster, Ponyboi, Black Hat, Carlito Leaves Forever, Framing Agnes and Stanley Stellar: Here For This Reason.
World Premiere of Wig, 8pm. Tribeca Festival Hub
Wig, directed by Chris Moukarbel.
Wigstock was an annual drag festival, which glamorously signalled the end of summer for the gay community in NYC for almost twenty years. Late one night in 1984, Lady Bunny and a few friends drunkenly wandered from the Pyramid Club in the East Village to Tompkins Square Park and staged an impromptu drag show in the bandshell. This would soon become an annual drag bacchanal, that lasted up until 2001. And now, Lady Bunny has brought it back. This past summer, the festival returned, bringing together legendary queens with some of the new children of drag, into one of the largest drag performances ever staged.
Wig explores the origins and the influence of the historic festival through rich archival footage, as well as provides a look into the contemporary drag movement that the festival served as a foundation for. It’s a celebration of New York drag culture, and those personalities and performances that contribute to the ways we understand queerness, art, and identity today. With Lady Bunny, Charlene Incarnate, Flotilla DeBarge, Kevin Aviance, Neil Patrick Harris, Willam, Linda Simpson, Naomi Smalls, Tabboo!
After the premiere screening there will be a special drag performance hosted by legendary drag queen Lady Bunny including Charlene Incarnate, Bobby Samplsize, Flotilla DeBarge, Willam, and more.
Tickets are on sale now for Tribeca Celebrates Pride, a day long event from 10am to 6pm ($30), followed by the World Premiere of Wig ($30). For more details or to purchases tickets head to the official Tribeca website here: tribecafilm.com/tribecapride