Tribeca Film Festival 2024: A Celebration of Diverse Narratives and Queer Storytelling

For nearly two weeks in early summer, the annual Tribeca Film Festival takes over Lower Manhattan, showcasing a diverse array of screenings and events. This year, the festival, marking its 23rd edition and running from June 5 to June 16, features an expansive lineup that includes podcasts, video games, talks, live concerts, and more. However, visual storytelling remains the primary attraction. Among the highlights are a set of documentaries featured in Tribeca’s LGBTQ-inclusive programming.

These documentaries cover a wide range of subjects, from music icons of the 1980s and ‘90s to Hollywood royalty, long-haul truck drivers, and comedy legends. They represent highly specific storytelling that intrigues and inspires audiences who are increasingly aware of queer identities.

“One of the things that I think Tribeca does really well is reflect what people are currently talking about, where people are,” said Tribeca's lead programmer, Faridah Gbadamosi, who formerly served as artistic director for Outfest, a Los Angeles-based LGBTQ film festival. Gbadamosi emphasized that this year's LGBTQ-inclusive lineup aims to engage with the general narrative around queerness rather than introduce audiences to it.

Highlighted Documentaries

Looking through the submissions for this year, Gbadamosi and her fellow programmers noticed a strong focus on mental health and legacy. These themes are prominently featured in Neil Berkeley’s “Group Therapy” and Page Hurwitz’s “Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution.”

In “Group Therapy,” which will have its world premiere on June 6, actor and comedian Neil Patrick Harris leads a group of stand-up comedians, including Nicole Byer, Tig Notaro, and Atsuko Okatsuka, through a candid discussion about mental health issues and breaking cycles of silence. The film aims to shed light on the mental health struggles faced by comedians and the therapeutic role of humor.

“Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution,” premiering on June 7 ahead of its Netflix release, traces the role of queer comedians over the past century. Featuring voices like Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, and Margaret Cho, alongside younger comedians such as Mae Martin and Joel Kim Booster, the documentary explores how queer women brought early visibility to LGBTQ comics and the power of stand-up comedy that embraces personal storytelling.

Celebrating Icons and Legacy

The confluence of legacy and mental health is perhaps most powerfully depicted in Bruce David Klein’s “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story.” This documentary, premiering on June 12, explores the life and career of entertainer Liza Minnelli, daughter of Hollywood legends Judy Garland and Vincent Minnelli. The film, featuring previously unseen footage and interviews with Minnelli and her close associates, examines how her dazzling persona emerged through the influence of figures like Kay Thompson, Halston, and Bob Fosse, despite numerous personal tragedies.

"Art is, for many, a way of dealing with mental health concerns and traumas; art has always been in some way therapy,” Gbadamosi said. “And storytelling is about getting personal stories out and addressing these issues.”

Queer Music Icons

This year’s festival also includes documentaries about queer music icons, who will perform at Tribeca alongside their film premieres. These include “Linda Perry: Let It Die Here,” an intimate look at the life of the 4 Non Blondes singer and songwriter, and “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken,” an episodic documentary detailing how Etheridge found healing following the death of her son through her relationship with residents of a Kansas correctional facility.

Dana Flor’s “1-800-ON-HER-OWN,” premiering on June 10, features ‘90s folk powerhouse Ani DiFranco. The film examines how DiFranco became the voice of an activist-minded generation and transformed the music landscape with her independent label, Righteous Babe Records.

Niche and Lesser-Known Stories

Not all selections focus on well-known figures. Some of the most intriguing offerings include “Sabbath Queen,” Sandi DuBowski’s account of a 39th-generation rabbi embracing a less restrictive form of Judaism through drag, and “Driver,” Nesa Azimi’s profile of a female truck driver advocating for the rights of her peers.

Kim Reed’s “I’m Your Venus,” premiering on June 6, centers on the untimely death of “Paris Is Burning” star Venus Xtravaganza. The film portrays her biological family’s journey to understand and honor the transgender sister and aunt they lost to violence, working with her chosen family to reinvestigate her murder and promote unconditional acceptance.

“In some ways, that movie is what Tribeca is: this idea of meeting the moment — and then some,” Gbadamosi said. “We are tasked with meeting the reality that people are changing and showing that through the stories we curate.”

Conclusion

The Tribeca Film Festival 2024 continues to celebrate diverse narratives and push the boundaries of storytelling. Through its LGBTQ-inclusive programming, the festival not only reflects contemporary discussions around queer identities but also honors the legacies and mental health struggles of its subjects. As audiences gather to experience these powerful documentaries, they are reminded of the transformative power of art and storytelling in addressing and understanding complex human experiences.

This year’s festival stands out for its commitment to showcasing a rich tapestry of LGBTQ stories that resonate with contemporary audiences. It serves as a testament to the evolving landscape of queer representation in media, offering a platform for voices that continue to shape and redefine cultural narratives. As the festival unfolds, it promises to leave a lasting impact on attendees, fostering greater empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the diverse experiences that make up the human condition.