2026 Festival Watch Guide: First-Time Filmmakers

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BY THE EDITORS | MAY 1, 2026

2026 Festival Watch Guide: First-Time Filmmakers

Don’t forget you saw them here first.

One of the many great thrills of attending Tribeca Festival is discovering new directorial talent — storytellers destined to reshape our cinematic future. Though you might already recognize a handful of the names here (a few have graced our screens in memorable acting roles or created award-winning short films), you’ll want to keep an eye on them as they make their next big move in the feature-film space.

Rain Reign

Spotlight Narrative

Rose is a 12-year-old, neurodivergent girl cared for by her struggling single dad and well-meaning uncle. When her beloved dog goes missing during a superstorm, she embarks on a search that will test her family's bonds and her own resilience.

Directed by Erika Burke Rossa | Featuring Paul Rudd, Jeremy Sisto, Felice Kakaletris, and Gretchen Mol

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Cotton Fever

U.S. Narrative Competition

Inspired by director Daniel Blake Schwartz's real-life experiences, this striking debut feature charts the uneven cycles of addiction and recovery among several interconnected lives in Chelsea, Massachusetts with grit and emotional clarity.

Directed by Daniel Blake Schwartz | Featuring Kyle Gallner, Sosie Bacon, Chabely Ponce, Ronald Emile, Ari Mora, Colton Osorio, Sam Quartin, and Melvin Douglas

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She Keeps Me Young

U.S. Narrative Competition

Michelle is floating through life until a surprising connection with a high schooler challenges her friendship with her overbearing best friend, in this bitingly astute and exceptionally hilarious satire.

Directed by Doron Max Hagay | Featuring Patti Harrison, Kate Berlant, John Early, Blair Beeken, Katy Fullan, and Shay Rudolph

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Lucy Schulman

U.S. Narrative Competition

After a crushing breakup, Lucy moves back in with her eccentric single dad and dives into bad dates, false starts, and growing pains. Big-hearted and sharply funny, Lucy Schulman is a charming comedic coming-of-age story from multihyphenate Tribeca alum Ellie Sachs.

Directed by Ellie Sachs | Featuring Ellie Sachs, David Cross, Thomas Mann, Hasan Minhaj, Annabelle Attanasio, Chelsea Frei, Sandrine Holt, Eisa Davis, Olivia Luccardi, Joanna Arnow, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Will Janowitz, Devon Walker, Kareem Rahma, Tuffy Questell, and Henry Hall

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Iconoclast

Spotlight Narrative

Gabriel Basso (The Night Agent) writes, directs and stars in this tightly coiled psychological thriller. A reclusive loner's obsession with a live-streaming influencer reshapes his entire existence through one unsettling choice at a time.

Directed by Gabriel Basso | Featuring Gabriel Basso, Courtney Eaton, Rain Spencer, Noah Centineo, and Kiernan Shipka

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Jean-Michel

Documentary Competition

A newly intimate look at one of the 20th century’s most celebrated — and imitated — artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat, from the perspective of the people who knew him best: his family.

Directed by Quinn Whitney Wilson and Viridiana Lieberman

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threeASFOUR: Full Circle

Spotlight Documentary

threeASFOUR: Full Circle follows avant-garde NYC designers Gabi Asfour, Angela Donhauser, and Adi Gil and their singular "couture-on-the-street" designs; highlighting fashion as a radical act of collaboration shaped by war, identity, and hope.

Directed by Sean Ono Lennon and co-directed by Brian Gonzalez

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IX XI

Spotlight Documentary

Twelve unique individuals recount their lives leading up to and during the tragic events of 9/11. As everyday New Yorkers, their narratives embody the impact the attacks had on the millions of people who call this city home.

Directed by Sean Wilsey | Featuring Griffin Dunne, Roz Chast, Michael Cuomo, Kevin Langford, Colin Moynihan, Amadeus Broger, Kifah Shah, Irma Ellis, Pat Smith, Stefan Springman, Neria Goodsell, and Nell Zink

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The Accompanist

Spotlight Narrative

When 9-year-old Emily is removed from the care of her aging grandfather by a rookie child-welfare agent, she is placed with the witchy, funny, and unpredictable Sylvia. As the two build a surprising bond, they find that forging a new family is not without risk.

Directed by Zach Woods | Featuring Susan Sarandon, Everly Carganilla, and Aubrey Plaza

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The Revisionist

Spotlight Narrative

Searching for inspiration for her next novel, Elise subtly manipulates the people closest to her like characters in a book. The sudden return of an old friend challenges just how far she’s willing to go in pursuit of her art.

Directed by Alex Vlack | Featuring André Holland, Alison Brie, Tom Sturridge, and Dustin Hoffman

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We have over 150 selections to explore at this year’s Festival — from films and podcasts to talks and TV and more. Explore the full Festival Program Guide here.

BY THE EDITORS | MAY 1, 2026

2026 Festival Watch Guide: First-Time Filmmakers

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