The film lineup for the 25th anniversary Tribeca Festival in New York has been announced, including 118 features (103 world premieres) and 86 shorts (45 world premieres). Opening June 3rd with the world premiere of Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World) directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the 2026 edition of the Festival will close on June 14th with the world premiere of Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell’s Kitchen directed by One9.
Between those dates, the program offers an eclectic range of LGBTQ+ titles across film, TV, and podcasts. Here, we take a look at some of the LGBTQ+ highlights, starting with Alicia Scherson’s 1980s Chilean set drama Summer War. Although this is not an LGBTQ+ themed feature, we’re looking forward to seeing trans actress Lux Pascal’s performance in the film, following her recent appearances on stage in Richard II and on screen in The Beauty. In addition to the below features, we are also tracking Cotton Fever directed by Daniel Blake Schwartz, Jess Zeidman’s Human Theories, Rodrigue Jean’s Labrador — Autopsy of Silence, Alex Wall and Will Sterling’s That Friend starring Harvey Guillén, Sam Scott’s Turn It Up!, Alden Nusser and Ben Fries’s documentary The Lion Queen, Philip Byron’s Spin Wars, and Nicole Higgins’ TV series CVNT.
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Summer War (Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Italy)
International Narrative Competition – world premiere – written and directed by Alicia Scherson
Chile, 1989: the Pinochet regime is on the decline and tabletop wargame champion Udo Berger is vacationing with his girlfriend at a coastal resort. When a friend suddenly vanishes, Udo invites a mysterious local to join him for a game in this effortlessly stylish adaptation of Roberto Bolaño’s The Third Reich. Cast includes: Dan Beirne, Lux Pascal, David Gaete, and Aline Kuppenheim.
Ephemera (United States, Singapore)
U.S. Narrative Competition – world premiere – written and directed by Shan Jiang
In post-pandemic Shanghai, two women—one leaving, one staying—share a single electric night wandering the city. A tender, breezy queer love story where chemistry, connection and bittersweet goodbyes feel thrillingly alive. Cast includes: Yvonne Shuyu Zhang, and Shu-Yi.
Caity (United States)
U.S. Narrative Competition – world premiere – written and directed by Lindsay Calleran
Every Halloween, 16-year-old Caity runs her family’s haunted house alongside her father who she idolizes. As a new spooky season starts, Caity juggles a new crush, Hannah, the arrival of twins Liam and Sean to work at the haunt, and her father’s tenuous sobriety. Cast includes: Chiara Aurelia, Morgan Spector, Zach Cherry, and Michelle Mao.
Something You Should Know About Me (United States)
Viewpoints – world premiere – written and directed by Andy Fidoten
In this sweet and raunchy trans rom-com, insecure cartoonist Al is faced with his most daunting prompt yet: confess his true feelings for his best friend or risk losing him to a handsome nemesis. Cast includes: EJ Marcus, Morgan Sullivan, Sydney Mae Diaz, and Yên Sen.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story (United States)
Documentary Competition – world premiere – directed by Jyllian Gunther and Stephanie Schwam
Robin Byrd pioneered NYC public access with her cult sex-positive call-in show. Now the larger-than-life 70-year-old champion of free speech, queer visibility, and safe sex reflects on her unique legacy and her hidden, decades-long marriage behind the scenes. Produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, Alison Benson, and Caroline Waterlow. An HBO Documentary Films release.
Chris & Martina: The Final Set (United States)
Spotlight Documentary – world premiere – directed by Rebecca Gitlitz
Tennis legends Chis Evert and Martina Navratilova reflect on their parallel journeys to sports stardom while delving into their rivalry and friendship, especially as the duo continue to support each other through their shared experience of cancer treatment. Produced by Jenna Ricker. A Netflix release.
Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders (United States)
Spotlight Documentary – world premiere – directed and produced by Jeffrey Schwarz
From a controversial flashpoint to a celebrated classic, William Friedkin’s Cruising has played many roles in gay culture. But the true story behind the film is the most surprising of them all. Produced by John Boccardo.
Time Warp (United States)
Documentary Competition– world premiere – directed and produced by Allison Berg
50 years after The Rocky Horror Picture Show electrified audiences, a drag theater company in the once-booming mining town of Rock Springs, Wyoming, stages a shadow cast of the cult classic. Led by the charismatic 25-year-old performer Kenny Starling, the determined troupe spotlights the ongoing fight for queer visibility and acceptance in their community. Produced by Jen Chaiken and Susan Margolin.
TRIBECA TV
Adults (United States)
Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw
FX’s Adults is an ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York leaning on each other to navigate love, work, friendship and family. Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Paul (Jack Innanen), Issa (Amita Rao) and Anton (Owen Thiele) are five friends crashing together in Samir’s childhood home. Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, the show puts a generational lens on the wins, losses and humiliations of being in your twenties.
Kevin’s Series of Unfortunate Events (UK)
World premiere – created by Rex Glensy, Asad Moghal and Daniel Mannheim
Hopeless romantic Kevin stumbles through a series of increasingly disastrous dates, convinced persistence will eventually lead him to love. Unbeknownst to him, a genuine connection is growing closer to home, turning chaos into a tender story about finding love where he least expects it. Cast includes: Ryan Sampson, Jake Watkins, Cecilia Noble, and Fiona Allen.
Switch (United States)
World premiere – created by Isabelle Platt and Sofya Levitsky-Weitz
Two women embark on a journey to find a man to have a threesome with. The perfect mix of funny and sexy, Switch asks: can a relationship survive our deepest desires? Cast includes: Pauline Chalamet, Coral Peña, Adam Shaukat, Benjamin Holtz, and Nikki Sniper.
SHORT FILMS
His House, Home (Ireland)
New York premiere – directed by Aisling O’Regan Sargent
A young man caring for his father with MS feels displaced by a compassionate queer carer, forcing him to face his identity and ultimately come out, finding unexpected acceptance.
Kaya (ᜃᜌ) (Philippines)
World premiere – directed by Isabel Lamers
An outsider in her own culture, half-Filipina Nia secretly trains with queer outcast Malic to join a prestigious Filipino Martial Arts team and prove herself “Filipino enough.”
Kiloran Bay (United Kingdom)
International premiere – directed by Michael Bruce
A musical short film starring Alan Cumming and Jack Wolfe. After decades away, a gay man returns home to Scotland to attend a traditional wedding and faces a past he spent a lifetime avoiding.
“NEW YORK IS DEAD” – LP Giobbi feat. little boots (United States)
World premiere – directed by Richard Burrowes
Born during COVID, the film rejects claims New York is dead, celebrating nightlife communities, artists, DJs, drag performers, and patrons whose resilience, virtual shows, and spirit kept the city’s magic alive.
She’s Nonbinary (Canada)
New York premiere – directed by Jess McLeod
Nonbinary Max and their straight, cis boyfriend, Jake, spiral into a cataclysmic identity crisis when Max reveals they’re off the waitlist for top surgery.
WHALE 52 – Suite For Man, Boy, And Whale (United States)
Directed by Daniel Neiden
An 80-year-old man, silently grieving the death of his longtime male partner, volunteers at a school where he’s assigned to mentor a young boy who hasn’t spoken all year.
PODCASTS
Stunt Queen (iHeartRadio)
World premiere – created by Alison Flowers
Stunt Queen follows the life of Dee Farmer, one of the most brilliant legal minds of our time who has spent most of her life incarcerated among men. Dee’s story is one of survival, sacrifice and determination as she continually advocated for herself despite being sentenced to 50 years by a judge. Facing a brutal system throughout her incarceration as an HIV-positive transgender woman, Dee taught herself the law from within the prison library, working to fight an unjust system for herself and others. Released in 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dee returns to Baltimore full of resolve, faith, and a newfound purpose.
Bodies on the Line (United States)
World premiere – directed by Jeffrey Gardner
Through extensive interviews and field recordings at abortion clinics, Jeffrey Nils Gardner dives into how working as a clinic escort has helped individuals understand their gender, body, and relation to others.
Unknown Unknowns (United States)
Directed by Signal Hill and Lio Wong
The t4t tea on T. From the audio magazine Signal Hill, the audio showcase Unknown Unknowns asks the question: how to make a life-changing decision when all you have is the sparse and noisy data of an uncertain world? First, try posting on Lex.
Complied by James Kleinmann – descriptions courtesy of Tribeca Festival
For the full feature, short film, television and podcast lineup, and to purchase festival passes and ticket packages, head to tribecafilm.com.
