Quick Read
- The 25th Tribeca Festival runs from June 3-14, 2026.
- The event features a record 103 world premieres.
- Founded by De Niro and Jane Rosenthal in 2001, the festival began as a post-9/11 recovery project.
Legendary actor and co-founder Robert De Niro officially opened the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival at New York’s Beacon Theatre on Wednesday. The event, which runs through June 14, 2026, marks a significant milestone for the cultural initiative founded by De Niro and Jane Rosenthal in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
Addressing the audience, De Niro emphasized the festival’s enduring mission to foster unity through storytelling. He noted that the platform has become increasingly vital in a climate where he believes certain political figures are attempting to divide society for personal gain. While he refrained from naming specific individuals, his remarks were widely interpreted as a pointed critique of current political discourse.
The 2026 edition of the festival features an expansive lineup, including 118 feature films and a record-breaking 103 world premieres. The opening night was highlighted by the premiere of Questlove’s documentary, Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs That’s the Weight of the World), which chronicles the legacy of the iconic music group. The screening was followed by a live performance featuring surviving band members.
Reflecting on the quarter-century journey, Jane Rosenthal expressed surprise at the festival’s longevity, recalling that it was originally conceived as a single effort to aid the recovery of lower Manhattan. Today, the festival stands as a global pillar for film, music, and multimedia storytelling.