Tribeca Youth at TFF 2009
Tribeca Film Institute’s Youth Programs use the power of film to help harness and direct the energy, vision and promise of New York City’s high school students. Through a broad range of programming, students with an interest in cinema have the opportunity to learn more about film and about how to use film to think about their own lives, stories, communities and careers.
TFI’s Youth Programs are made possible by Con Edison, Federated Department Stores, GWFF, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts and Time Warner.
The public events events at TFF 2009 are listed below. Learn more about all our programs at www.tribecafilminstitute.org/youth.
Tribeca Youth Screening Series
The Tribeca Youth Screening Series brings students, year-round, to free screenings of relevant programming—including Festival films, Studio films and youth-made media. TFI creates study guides for each film and produces Q&A sessions with filmmakers or panel discussions following each screening.
The Tribeca Film Institute is proud to invite NYC students, youth filmmakers and educators to our proramming held throughout the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. To attend one or more of our screenings, please complete our reservation form, found at www.tribecafilminstitute.org/youth. All events are free of charge.
Entre Nos
Directors: Gloria La Morte, Paola Mendoza
April 27, 12:00 pm
@School of Visual Arts Theater (333 West 23rd Street)
Adoring mother Mariana (talented codirector Paola Mendoza) has toted her two children from Columbia to New York to indulge her husband’s whim. But when he abruptly abandons the family, she’ll have to rely on her own imagination and courage—and that of her remarkable kids (breakthroughs Sebastian Villada and Laura Montana)—to survive insurmountable odds during their first summer in the United States. (In Spanish with English subtitles) (High School audiences only)
Team Qatar
Director: Liz Mermin
April 28, 12:00 pm
@School of Visual Arts Theater (333 West 23rd Street)
Equal parts competition movie and cultural examination, Team Qatar follows the first Qatari national debate team and their springy English coach as they train in Doha, London, and New York in preparation for the world championship in DC. Will this vibrant multicultural team handle the pressure and succeed on the world stage?
Only When I Dance
Director: Beadie Finzi
April 29, 12:00 pm
@School of Visual Arts Theater (333 West 23rd Street)
Two teenage ballet dancers from the working-class favelas of Rio are determined to dance their way to a better life, but to do so they must grow up against harsh prejudice, doubt, and some of the best dancers in the world. This inspiring doc trails their path to beat the odds and follow their dream of making it in the elite world of professional ballet. (In Portuguese with English subtitles)
Off and Running
Director: Nicole Opper
April 30, 12:00 pm
@School of Visual Arts Theater (333 West 23rd Street)
With white Jewish lesbians for parents and two adopted brothers—one mixed-race and one Korean—Brooklyn teen Avery grew up in a unique and loving household. Even so, she can’t quell her curiosity about her biological African-American roots and decides to contact her birth mother. This choice propels Avery into her own complicated exploration of race, identity, and family that threatens to distance her from the parents she’s always known. (High School audiences only)
Community Events
To attend one of these events, please complete our reservation form at www.tribecafilminstitute.org/youth. All events are free of charge.
Medicine for Melancholy
Director: Barry Jenkins
April 26, 11:00 am
@Tribeca Film Center (375 Greenwich Street)
Join us for a special presentation of the award-winning film—especially for young filmmakers. From first-time feature director Barry Jenkins comes a love story that deals with issues of class, identity, and the evolving conundrum of being a minority in rapidly gentrifying San Francisco. Featuring the striking cinematography of James Laxton and a fantastic soundtrack from the best in indie rock today, Medicine for Melancholy is a hilarious and romantic tribute to the beauty of San Francisco and the people that give it life. Barry Jenkins will be joining us after the screening for a unique Q&A via video iChat.
Beyond the Reel: Explorations in Media
April 28, 7:45 to 9:15 pm
@The Apple Store in Soho (103 Prince Street)
In an age where you can watch a blockbuster on YouTube and a rooftop can become a movie theater—the way that we view films and filmmaking will never be the same again. The internet has transformed how people watch and interact with moving images, while galleries and new venues for video art have created the chance for multi-screen projections. By bringing together four very different but extremely exciting artists who are expanding the definition of “filmmaker”— this interactive event will give students the opportunity to meet with artists like acclaimed hip-hop video blogger Jay Smooth and mashup masters Wreck & Salvage. Join us for this experimental evening as we explore spliced archival footage, vlogging, film installation, and video games.
Next Steps: From High School to Higher Ed
April 23, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
@DCT (87 Lafayette Street)
Are you a young filmmaker thinking about higher education? Interested in studying film after high school, but don’t know where to begin? This event is your chance to get connected to the educational choices available to you as you move on to the next step! Join us for an opportunity to meet and speak with professors, students, and school representatives from film programs at 10 outstanding New York institutions. Students, teachers and young filmmakers are all welcome to attend and access the resources needed help to make the best choices about the future, and find film programs that match your interests.
Youth-Made Work
To attend one of these events, please complete our reservation form at www.tribecafilminstitute.org/youth. All events are free of charge.
Our City, My Story
May 1, 12:00 pm
@BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (199 Chambers Street)
Every year, hundreds of NYC students pick up cameras and tell their stories. Our City, My Story is Tribeca Film Institute’s annual celebration of the incredible vision, excellence and diversity of New York City youth-made media. Students from all five boroughs continually create powerful films--each exploring a unique perspective or take on the city they live in. By presenting the year’s most exciting youth-made media, this special curated program gives a voice to the best of NYC youth work during the Tribeca Film Festival. Large audiences are welcome.
Tribeca Teaches: Four Short Films
April 29, 6:00 pm
@BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (199 Chambers Street)
In an age where you can watch a blockbuster on YouTube and a rooftop can become a movie theater—the way that we view films and filmmaking will never be the same again. The internet has transformed how people watch and interact with moving images, while galleries and new venues for video art have created the chance for multi-screen projections. By bringing together four very different but extremely exciting artists who are expanding the definition of “filmmaker”— this interactive event will give students the opportunity to meet with artists like acclaimed hip-hop video blogger Jay Smooth and mashup masters Wreck & Salvage. Join us for this experimental evening as we explore spliced archival footage, vlogging, film installation, and video games. Screening preceded by a Tribeca Film Festival short film.
About the Tribeca Film Institute
The Tribeca Film Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving audiences and artists year-round. While TFI’s mission remains grounded in the heart of its New York City founding, its reach and influence in the film community has expanded to capture international acclaim and participation. Since its inception in 2001, TFI has become an industry-recognized institution. Administering a dozen major programs annually, TFI reaches 10,000 people through its year-round programming in New York City as well as its featured initiatives at the Tribeca Film Festival.
