TriBeCa Film Festival. It can be describe as the perfect medium between an art gallery opening and a music festival. You can choose to go to a more lively interactive film screening or just relax and watch a document or simply just roam around the streets of the festival! I spontaneously went here for a day and seriously was one of the best decisions of my life.
Festival does not do enough justice in describing what this is all about. It’s an experience.
The TriBeCa Film Festival is such an amazing time. You can enjoy it even if you’re not a film buff, but really you should watch more films. (Not popcorn flicks)
You have an opportunity to catch some great films and shorts that generate lots of buzz and could be potential Oscar recipients. They also have events for the public. This past year my girlfriend and I hit up the Saturday fair. It was lots of fun. They had lots of games, exhibitions, vendors giving out merch. Even the restaurants around the area were getting in on the action. They offered deals and specials all day long to attract the crowds. Food trucks galore as well.
This past year we saw The Bomb. It was a 360 experience, surrounded by floor to ceiling screens, and a live band in the middle doing the score. It was breathtaking.
If you’ve never been to the TriBeCa film festival before you’re missing out.
What I love about this Festival is that it’s almost like a hidden gem (but not). This is my chance to see great films that aren’t mainstream, hobnob with the celebs (ahem, I talking to you Quinn from Homeland, Sam Rockwell and others) as well as meet some interesting people.
For example, I see the same beautiful woman come solo to every movie for the past four years and sit in the same seat every time. She gets the baller VIP package and reserves her seat ahead of time. She’s an icon. Every year we chat it up and it’s almost something I look forward to (cheeeeezy I know) but, hey it happens.
This year I met a super cool movie buff from Philly who spends his time hitting up Film Festivals – NYC, Toronto, Nantucket – all on his free time. That’s his thing, and he was pretty friggin knowledgeable about his movies. We ended up sitting next to each other at another movie and had a lovely time.
A few pro tips:
1. Try to see the premieres at BMCC. You’ll need to get there an hour before to reserve a space in line to just get a seat but usually these are the red carpet premieres and the actors and director are there for a Q&A.
2. Again, once tickets are purchased still get in line early to reserve prime seats.
3. I think that’s it.
This review is prompting me to want to make a documentary on people who are super into Film Festivals and travel the world going to them. A movie about movies about movies. Too much?
Regardless, if you’re into movies, have an AMEX card with a few hundred bucks to spend (each film is about $25) do it, it’s definitely a memorable and fun experience.
