The Tribeca Festival kicked off June 4th in New York City and will run through June 15th. Presented by OKX, the festival celebrated several breakout World Premiere’s including the music documentary “Wizkid: Long Live Lagos;” “One Spoon of Chocolate,” a drama/thriller from rap star/actor RZA; and the queer romance/thriller “Ride or Die” from Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner.
Now in its 24th year, the 2025 festival this year will present 211 films in 15 award categories, including features and shorts, episodic and audio storytelling, immersive and interactive media, brand and creator collabs and special juried awards. 36% of the feature films presented this year are from BIPOC filmmakers and 48% are directed by women.
Here’s a breakdown of blackfilm.com’s favorites this year:
One Spoon of Chocolate
An intense thriller about rampant racial injustice in a small town, written, directed and produced by Wu Tang rap star/actor Robert “RZA” Diggs and starring Shameik Moore (Power Book III: Raising Kanan) and Paris Jackson (model/daughter of pop star, Michael), among others.
Ride or Die
A queer romance thriller from Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner chronicling two young women tangled in a high stakes, Thelma-and-Louise-style road trip and starring Guinevere Turner, Seth Gilliam, Briana Middleton and Elsa Davis.
Photos Courtesy of Tribeca Festival
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos
A music documentary following the boundary-pushing superstar’s rise to national stardom from the slums of Lagos.
Photo Credit: Photos Courtesy of MACRO Media/MGX Creative
The Sixth Borough
A documentary exploring the pioneering voices of hip hop culture on New York’s suburban Long Island, including the group De La Soul and more, from director Jason Pollard.
Still Free TC
A music documentary following hip hop star and musician Ty Dolla $ign, chronicling his journey, his creative process, and personal life, including his relationship with his incarcerated brother.
Victory
A thrilling visual album from Slick Rick. Set in London and starring Idris Elba and Nas. The project creatively blends rap and cinema.
Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print
A documentary about the legacy of Gloria Steinem’s Ms. magazine as seen through the lens of some of its most iconic covers.
She Runs the World
The story of the most decorated track and field athlete of all time, Allyson Felix, and her fight for maternal freedoms from documentary filmmakers Tanya Lewis Lee and Crystal McCrary.
The Inquisitor
A documentary about congresswoman Barbara Jordan, the first Southern Black woman in Congress, and the first Black American and the first woman to keynote the Democratic convention.
It’s Dorothy
A documentary examining the meaning of Dorothy Gale, the hero of The Wizard of Oz. Featuring cometary from icons like Amber Ruffin, Lena Waithe, Margaret Cho, Rufus Wainwright, and an array of actors who have played Dorothy.
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House
A documentary about house music, its Black queer roots, and underground beginnings in Chicago’s dance scene.
I Was Born This Way
The story of singer and activist Carl Bean and his 1977 Motown hit which quickly became the first gay anthem.
African Family Dinner
A short dramedy about a Norwegian woman’s first and awkward meeting with her Ghanaian boyfriends’ family from director Ibrahim Mursal.
Tow
A poignant underdog story based on the life of Amanda Ogle, a homeless Seattle women staring Octavia Spencer, Rose Byrne and Demi Lovato.
Photo credit: Vanja Černjul
A Tree Fell in the Woods
A relationship dramedy abut deception and desire from Nora Kirkpatrick staring Daveed Diggs.and Josh Gad.
Bird in Hand
A Mother/Daughter dramedy starring Alisha Wainright and Christine Lahti. Shenanigans ensue when Bird and her hippie mom come together in a small rural town.
“The Trainer,” a tense drama following celebrity personal trainer Jack Flex (Vito Schnabel) and stars a ensemble cast of Hollywood luminaries like Lenny Kravitz, Gayle King, Paris Hilton, Gina Gershon, John McEnroe, and Beverly D’Angelo.
RELATED: The 2023 Tribeca Film Festival List of Winners Includes Many Filmmakers of Color
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