Film festivals are no longer just about movies. As top tier filmmakers and A-list stars continue to find great material and the budgets to go with it on television, the medium has become a competitive space for great narrative storytelling. This year’s Tribeca Film Festival sees the launching of a new program, "Tribeca Tune In," that will highlight some of the best TV has to offer. And it’s a compelling lineup.
READ MORE: 2016 Tribeca Film Fest: Demetri Martin’s ‘Dean,’ Drake Doremus’ ‘Equals’ & Ben Wheatley’s ‘High Rise’ Highlight Opening Lineup
The highlight of Tribeca Tune In might be the premiere of "Animal Kingdom," a new TNT series based on David Michod‘s breakout Australian crime thriller. The show’s setting has been changed to southern California, with Ellen Barkin taking the lead role of the terrifying matriarch. Other series premieres of note include Oprah Winfrey‘s "Greenleaf," History‘s new "Roots" miniseries, Steve Zaillian‘s HBO limited series "The Night Of" starring John Turturro, and the stateside debut of "The Night Manager" starring Tom Hiddleston.
Meanwhile, Tribeca will also show ESPN‘s complete miniseries "OJ: Made In America," which should be make a compelling companion to "American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson." And "Six Feet Under" fans will get a chance to watch the series finale all over again, this time with live commentary from creator Alan Ball.
The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 13-24.
Series Premieres
Animal Kingdom (TNT) premiere
Animal Kingdom stars Emmy® and Tony® winner Ellen Barkin as the matriarch of a Southern California family whose excessive lifestyle is fueled by their criminal activities, with Scott Speedman as her second in command and Shawn Hatosy also starring.
After the episode: Conversation with stars Ellen Barkin, Scott Speedman, Shawn Hatosy, and more.
Sunday 4/17, 2:30 PM, SVA1
Greenleaf (OWN) premiere
Oprah Winfrey joins fellow executive producers and cast members for the world premiere of OWN’s new original drama series Greenleaf from Lionsgate TV, debuting this June. Featuring Winfrey’s return to acting on television in a recurring role, the series takes viewers into the unscrupulous world of the powerful Greenleaf family and their Memphis megachurch where secrets and lies are as numerous as the faithful.
After the episode: Conversation with executive producer and actress Oprah Winfrey; executive producers Craig Wright and Clement Virgo and actors Merle Dandridge, Keith David and Lynn Whitfield.
Wednesday 4/20, 5:00 PM, John Zuccotti Theater @ BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Roots (History) premiere
TFF attendees will get a special opportunity to see an episode of HISTORY’s eight-hour miniseries, Roots, in advance of its Memorial Day premiere. Roots is a historical portrait of American slavery that follows one family over many generations. The lineage begins with young Kunta Kinte, who is captured in his homeland of The Gambia and transported in brutal conditions to colonial America. Recounting the journey of one family and their will to survive, Roots is an inspiring story about the desire to carry on a legacy despite enormous hardship and inhumanity.
After the episode: Conversation with select cast and directors.
Thursday 4/21, 6:00 PM, SVA1
The Night Manager (AMC) premiere
Based on the John Le Carré novel, this beautifully smart espionage drama directed by Susanne Bier follows a former British soldier. Learning to navigate the recesses of the intelligence community, he is pulled into an unimaginably deep international plot as he infiltrates the secret arms trade and goes down questionable paths himself.
After the episode: A conversation with director Susanne Bier and star Tom Hiddleston.
Friday 4/15, 3:30 PM, SVA1
The Night Of (HBO) premiere
The Night Of delves into the intricacies of a complex New York City murder case with cultural and political overtones. The story examines the police investigation, the legal proceedings, the criminal justice system and the feral purgatory of Rikers Island, where the accused await trial for felony crimes.
After the episodes: Conversation with Steve Zaillian, Richard Price, John Turturro, Riz Ahmed.
Friday 4/22, 3:00 PM, SVA1
Time Traveling Bong (Comedy Central) premiere
This 3 part limited mini-series world premiere centers on two cousins, played by Ilana Glazer and Paul W. Downs, who discover a time traveling bong and ride high as they blaze through time. Their buzz is killed when the bong breaks and the cousins are forced to bounce around the space-time continuum, learning to appreciate that there is no time like the present.
After the episode: A conversation with writers, producers and stars Ilana Glazer, Paul W. Downs and writer, director, producer Lucia Aniello, and moderated by Kelly Ripa.
Saturday 4/16, 2:00 PM, SVA1
Season Sneak Peeks / Finales
Broad City (Comedy Central) Season 3 Finale
Everybody’s favorite broads, Abbi and Ilana, bring their critically acclaimed raucous comedy back for the 3rd season as their characters continue to navigate life in their twenties in New York City while being led down unexpected and outlandish paths. Following the screening of the season three finale, stay for a conversation about this uniquely creative show.
After the episode: A conversation with writers, producers and stars Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson, Paul W. Downs and writer, director, producer Lucia Aniello.
Sunday 4/17, 4:20 PM, Tribeca Festival Hub
Chef’s Table (Netflix) sneak screening of season two premiere
This episode of the acclaimed Netflix documentary series Chef’s Table takes a look at the life of one of the world’s most celebrated chefs, Grant Achatz, and the first ten years of his iconic Chicago institution. Achatz is one of the pioneers of modernist cuisine in the United States. His seminal restaurant, Alinea, has been one of the top ranked restaurants in the country since the day it opened in May 2005. Chef’s Table returns with 6 new episodes on May 27, 2016 exclusively on Netflix, featuring a different chef each episode.
After the episode: A conversation with Chef Grant Achatz and executive producers and creator David Gelb and episode director Brian McGinn.
Saturday 4/23, 3:30 PM, SVA1
Grace and Frankie (Netflix) sneak screening of two episodes from season 2
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star as Grace and Frankie, two women whose lives are suddenly turned upside down when their husbands Robert and Sol reveal they are gay and leave their wives for each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, they form an unlikely bond to face an uncertain future together and discover a new definition of “family,” with laughter, tears and plenty of mood enhancers along the way.
After the episodes: A conversation with stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
Thursday 4/14, 5:00 PM, SVA1
Conversations
Catastrophe (Amazon) conversation with creators Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney
Series creators and stars of critically-acclaimed comedy Catastrophe Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney discuss the process behind creating a whip smart show about an Irish woman and an American man who, after making a bloody mess as they struggled to fall in love in London, have embarked on a series of best-attempts to clear it up and generally do the right thing.
Tuesday 4/19, 3:00 PM, SVA2
Full Frontal (TBS) conversation
Samantha Bee is disrupting the tradition of late night television. The former longest-serving Daily Show correspondent brings her satirical humor to a conversation about creating nightly entertainment which goes beyond the surface in no holds barred segments on topics from the Syrian refugee crisis to the current political cycle along with her head writer Jo Miller.
Tuesday 4/19, 7:30 PM, SVA1
Odd Mom Out (Bravo)conversation
Bravo’s half-hour scripted comedy, Odd Mom Out, stars acclaimed author Jill Kargman playing a satirical version of herself as she navigates the elite ecosystem of New York’s Upper East Side, and the uber-wealthy mommy clique inhabiting this fantastically outrageous domain. Please join us for an exclusive opportunity to hear from Executive Producers Jill Kargman, Elisa Zuritsky (Sex and the City) and Julie Rottenberg (Smash) and to view a sneak peek at season two premiering this summer.
Sunday 4/24, 8:30 PM, SVA2
Special Events
The Good Wife – A Farewell (CBS) conversation and sneak screening of that night’s episode
We near the final few episodes of the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated drama series The Good Wife which has consistently been one of the smartest shows in recent times, with its raw and complex depiction of law, politics and all that lays in between. Join us as we bid farewell to this fan favorite and critical darling with an exclusive sneak peek of an episode followed by a jubilant celebration and look back over the past seven years of the show
After the episode: creators Robert & Michelle King, stars Julianna Margulies, Christine Baranski, Cush Jumbo and additional cast from the show.
Sunday 4/17, 5:00 PM, John Zuccotti Theater @ BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts
Series Finale: Six Feet Under (HBO) series finale retro screeningwith live commentary
Revisit one of the most visually and emotionally arresting shows on its fifteenth anniversary for a retrospective screening of the hauntingly brilliant final episode in which we said goodbye to the Fishers. Show creator Alan Ball provides an in depth live Director’s Commentary to reveal the process behind these beautiful moments on screen. Moderated by Matt Zoller Seitz, New York Magazine/Vulture.
Tuesday 4/19, 4:30 PM, SVA1
O.J.: Made in America (ESPN Films) marathon miniseries screening
(Director: Ezra Edelman) — This is the story of O.J. Simpson, one of the most polarizing people of the twentieth century, and the city in which he lived for much of his life, Los Angeles. The film explores Simpson’s rise and fall, centered around two of America’s greatest fixations—race and celebrity. Screened in its entirety with breaks, food and drink included.
Saturday 4/23, 11:00 AM, Regal 8
For the Love of Spock screening and conversation with Zachary Quinto and director Adam Nimoy in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek.
For The Love of Spock is a documentary film about the life of Star Trek’s Mr. Spock as well as that of Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Mr. Spock for almost fifty years, written and directed by his son, Adam Nimoy.
After the screening: Actor and subject Zachary Quinto, Director Adam Nimoy and more.
Monday 4/18, 5:00 PM, SVA2