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Tribeca Film Fest 2022: Our picks

By MARGRIRA

Special to the AmNews

The 2022 Tribeca Film Festival begins June 9 and runs through June 26. There seems to be something for everyone with selections spanning 10 categories showcasing 111 feature films with 16 online premieres from 151 filmmakers across 40 countries. The lineup includes 88 world premieres, two international premieres, seven North American premieres, two U.S. premieres, and 11 New York premieres. There are 32 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects, and 50 first-time directors. More than 64% (81) of the feature films are directed by female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ filmmakers—46% (58) female directors, 34% (43) BIPOC directors, 8% (10) LGBTQ+ directors.

Some of the world premieres include “Corner Office,” starring Jon Hamm and Danny Pudi, and “Somewhere in Queens,” directed by Ray Romano and co-starring Laurie Metcalf, Tony Lo Bianco, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Jennifer Esposito. Additional films include “American Dreamer,” with Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine, Matt Dillon, and Danny Glover; “The Cave of Adullam,” produced by Laurence Fishburne; “Beauty,” written by Lena Waithe; “Jerry & Marge Go Large” by David Frankel and starring Bryan Cranston, Annette Bening, and Rainn Wilson; “Aisha” with Letitia Wright; “Alone Together,” directed and written by and starring Katie Holmes alongside Jim Sturgess, Zosia Mamet, and Melissa Leo; “My Name Is Andrea” with Ashley Judd; “Space Oddity,” directed by Kyra with Clayne Crawford, Jordana Brewster, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan; among many others. rapper Lil Baby’s performance following the world premiere of “Untrapped: The Story of Lil following the premiere of “Unfinished Business,” LeVar Burton will speak on the importance of children’s literacy after “Butterfly in the Sky,” and tennis legend John McEnroe will sit down for a discussion after the world premiere of “McEnroe.”

Here are our selections for the best documentaries screening at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

“Nicholas Brothers:

Stormy Weather” created by award-winning filmmakers Michael Shevloff, Paul Crowder, and Diamond Docs/Flat out films. Premiering on June 11, the documentary goes back to the 1940s, when the Nicholas Brothers performed a dance routine so seminal it prefigured hip hop by three decades. Dance legend and Tony Awardwinning choreographer Savion Glover and others guide us along their professional path and assess their legacy, while contemporary dancers Les Twins choreograph and perform their homage to the original.

In-Person Screenings At Tribeca Film 2022

Saturday, June 11 at 5:45 p.m.

Village East by Angelika - Theater 2

Followed by Q&A - Screening in the Shorts: Life, Camera, Action! program

Friday, June 17 at 6 p.m.

Cinépolis Chelsea - Theater 6

Followed by Q&A - Screening in the Shorts: Life, Camera, Action! program

At Home Screening At Tribeca Film 2022

Monday, June 13 at 6 p.m.

Tribeca At Home (Online Platform) com/films/nicholasbrothers-stormy-weather-2022

“Liquor Store Dreams”

- Viewpoints

The debut feature of female Korean American filmmaker So Yun Um. Her film follows the filmmaker and her friend Danny, both “liquor store babies,” the children of Korean parents who made the best of limited opportunities by running liquor stores in Los Angeles. The filmmakers’ voice offers a unique, intimate, and personal look at immigrant dreams and generational divides.

Diane Quon (“Minding The Gap”) produces and Nanfu Wang (“One Child Nation”) is a consulting producer.

“On The Line: The Rich-

ard Williams Story” - Spotlight Documentary is directed by Stuart McClave and follows the outspoken patriarch of the Williams family who beat incredible odds to help daughters Venus and Serena become two of the greatest athletes of our time.

“Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power” - Spotlight Documentary

Directed by Sam Pollard (“MLK/FBI”) and Geeta Gandbhir (“I Am Evidence”). Produced by Participant (“Flee,” “The First Wave”) and Multitude Films (“Pray Away,” “Always in Season”)

“Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power” tells the story of the courageous campaign of citizens and activists in Lowndes County, who faced violence and oppression in the struggle for the right to vote.

“Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather” (Courtesy photo)

By MARGRIRA

Special to the AmNews

The Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF) is now in full force with an incredible film lineup for its 25th edition, themed “Unthinkable.”

BFF opens with the world premiere screening of the powerful and nuanced coming of age crime drama-thriller, “Signs of Love” written and directed by Clarence Fuller and produced by David Michaels, starring Hopper Jack Penn (“Flag Day”), Dylan Penn (“Flag Day,” “Elvis & Nixon”), Zoë Bleu, Rosanna Arquette (“The L Word,” “Ratched,” “Crash”), Cree Kawa, and Wass Stevens. All of the key cast and crew, as well as the writer and director, Clarence Fuller, will be in attendance Friday night.

Over the course of the 10-day festival, BFF will present 35 two-hour film programs online via the festival website, and the same 35 programs will be shown in person at Windmill Studios in Greenpoint, with select programs at UnionDocs in Williamsburg. The online lineup will be available 24/7 for the entire 10 festival days. The indoor event will feature five programs a day on weekends, and three programs a day on weekdays. Each program is two hours long. To find out more in-depth how the 25th BFF is going to work, both online and at our indoor venues, check the BFF’s website.

Along with the film screenings, BFF will offer events on social media, such as pre-recorded filmmaker introductions and Q&A sessions on the festival website. The video server will once again be hosted by Cinesend. Through the resources of our sponsors, BFF will assign to the winning filmmakers $50,000 in total prizes (cash, products, and services). BFF’s list of sponsors for 2022 includes WNET’s All Arts, Brooklyn Film Society, Windmill Studios, Cinelease, Herc, Upper Market Gallery, Quebec Government, PRG, Xeno Lights, AbelCine, Be Electric, Sixpoint, Final Draft, MPE, Big Screen Plaza, Broadway Stages, Media Services, Yelp, Lentini Communications, The Pod, Papapietro Perry, Blue Table Post, and Noble Jewelry.

For the first time working with BFF, the 2022 advertising campaign created by MullenLowe New York invites people to keep an open mind and consider thoughts, ideas, and nuances that don’t align with their own. If art is raw and unadulterated, and honesty has become offensive, then the Brooklyn Film Festival has something to offend everyone.

Promotional spots can be seen here. For further info on all the films, passes, and tickets, visit www.brooklynfilmfestival.org.

Here are some of our selections for the BFF film festival:

The World Premiere of “Signs Of Love” (OPENING NIGHT FILM)—Dir: Clarence Filler

“Signs Of Love” takes place in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, a tough neighborhood where cultures mix but the law of the streets still rules. Hopper Jack Penn stars as Frankie, a young man from north Philly who dreams of a better life.

World Premiere of “The

United States Of Fashion

Designer Elie Tahari”— Dir: David Serero, United States, 65 min, 2021, Documentary Feature

Fashion designer and mogul Elie Tahari has been living the American Dream for more than 50 years. He came to New York in 1971 with less than $100 in his pocket, slept on benches in Central Park, and went on to build a billion-dollar fashion empire.

East Coast Premiere of “Wake Up, Leonard”—Dir: Kat Mills Martin, US , 73 min, 2021, Narrative Feature

Part comedy, part selfhelp nightmare, “Wake Up, Leonard” follows one man’s quest for wellness while failing miserably to stay on his vibe. This is the story of a brokenhearted seeker with a tenuous grasp on his mental health, but an admirable faith in the Universe.

“Signs Of Love,” written and directed by Clarence Fuller (Clarence Fuller.photo)

American Black Film Fest rocks Miami June 15-19; virtually June 20-30

By MARGRIRA

Special to the AmNews

If there was a solid reason to jump on a flight and arrive in Miami, the 2022 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) which begins June 20-30 just might be a good enough reason.

The Festival Ambassador is Issa Rae and the festival is presented by HBO Max.

Here are a few films that we found interesting.

“Rap Sh!t”

The film follows two estranged high school friends from Miami. Executive Producer/Writer: Issa Rae (for HOORAE)

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO Max Berkshires to focus on his next album.

Director: Diego Ongaro

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

“Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution”

This new two-part documentary event explores the progression of Black comedy and the comedians who have used pointed humor to expose, challenge and ridicule society’s injustices and to articulate the Black experience in America. The series examines Black comedy through a unique lens, tracing the evolution and social awakening of the courageous comedians who dared to push against the constraints of their time and spoke truth to power.

Directors: Mario Diaz and Jessica Sherif

Courtesy of A&E Network mate vérité look at the life of maverick civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Considered a trailblazer of his field, Crump gives viewers an inside look at his mission to raise the value of Black life. As the civil lawyer for the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Black farmers and banking while Black victims, Crump challenges America to come to terms with what it owes his clients.

Directed and Produced by: Nadia Hallgren

Courtesy of Netflix

For more details on the spotlight screenings see below and visit www.abff. com for the full schedule.

“Civil” (Photos courtesy of www.abff.com)