While many casual movie-goers believe that films are just released into theaters as soon as they're ready, the reality is that almost all films premiere at festivals. From the Toronto International Film Festival AKA TIFF to the Sundance Film Festival, there is no shortage of places where dozens of new films premiere every year, making their very first appearance on the big-screen in a public setting for either marketing or promotional purposes. Indeed, film festivals are an integral part of the industry, especially for independent movies and filmmakers.
One popular film festival is Tribeca, run by Tribeca Enterprises, which was founded by Jane Rosenthal and actor Robert De Niro in 2001. Since its inauguration in 2003, the Tribeca Film Festival has gifted us with a number of noteworthy films thanks to the hundreds of screenings for 150,000 attendees. With the 2022 Tribeca Festival currently happening, it only makes sense to look back at some of the best films to ever premiere there. These are the best movies that premiered at the Tribeca Festival.
7 My Father My Lord
An Isreali film directed by David Volach, My Father My Lord follows the life of the inflexible Rabbi Abraham Edelman, the leader of a small ultra-Orthodox community in Tel Aviv whose son Menahem is interested in the natural world around him. The father and son clash as Menahem does not understand his father's insistence that the dogs do not have souls, among other things. The film closely examines the intersection between the natural world and restrictive religion. My Father My Lord took home the Founder's Award at its premiere at Tribeca, on top of the award for Best Narrative Feature.
6 Green Hat
Green Hat tells the story of a bank robber and a police officer, and while they both have wildly different values, they share the same problem: the infidelity of their partners. The title of the film comes from the Chinese phrase "wearing a green hat," which refers to a cuckold. Green Hat was well-received by both critics and audiences alike for its visuals and its sexual frankness, atypical of most films at the time of its premiere. Green Hat won the Best Narrative Feature Award at Tribeca 2004 and also won the Best Film Award from the FIPRESCI at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
5 False Positive
Lucy and Adrian have been trying to get pregnant for two years and just when they are about to give up, they decide to try fertility treatment. They seemingly find the fertility doctor of their dreams, but things soon turn sour when Lucy notices something unsettling about their doctor. False Positive has been compared to the classic film Rosemary's Baby, except using IVF, making the film a more modern version of the classic thriller. The film premiered at the Tribeca 2021, then was released on Hulu a week after.
4 Dark Touch
When police are called to the scene of a massacre, they draw their own conclusions rather than listen to the lone survivor telling them that the house itself was responsible for the deaths of her family and the destruction they witnessed. Dark Touch is a chilling supernatural horror film set in small-town Ireland with a unique premise unlike any other. Dark Touch premiered at the Tribeca in 2013 and wound up taking home a number of awards for its approach to horror, including the Narcisse Award for Best Feature Film and the Maria Award for Best Motion Picture.
3 Flower
Flower centers around 17-year-old Erica as she struggles to adjust to the presence of her Mom's new boyfriend Bob and his mentally-ill son Luke. In order to manage her teenage angst, Erica focuses on exposing a teacher's dark secret alongside her best friends Kala and Claudine. The film stars Zoey Deutch, Kathryn Hahn, Adam Scott, and Tim Heidecker in this modern coming-of-age film that examines every aspect of family and the struggles teens face when trying to establish their personal identity. Flower premiered at Tribeca in 2017 and was subject to a decent amount of praise for its vivid characters.
2 King Jack
King Jack tells the story of a 15-year-old boy who befriends his shy cousin while struggling to fend off a sadistic bully. Taking place over the course of one weekend during which Jack and his cousin must manage the bullying from Shane. In Felix Thompson's directorial debut, lead actor Charlie Plummer manages to keep the audience hooked with his perfect performance of a young boy whose actions may very well lead the boy to end up behind bars. King Jack premiered at the Tribeca in 2015 and took home the Audience Awards for Best Narrative along with a number of other awards, many honoring Plummer's performance.
1 Big Bad Wolves
An officer of the law and a venge-filled father team up to torture a teacher they believe to be involved in a series of killings, including the rape and murder of a young girl. Big Bad Wolves is the English name while the direct translation of the Hebrew title of the film translates to 'Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf'. Big Bad Wolves premiered at Tribeca in 2013 and wound up winning the Saturn Award for Best International Film. This black-comedy-horror was subject to a great deal of praise, including special praise from world-renowned director Quentin Tarantino, who called it the best film of 2013.