The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.

“With Cinemania, our selections demonstrate the imagination and resourcefulness of filmmakers from around the world who push the boundaries of genre in order to entertain, thrill, and engage,” said Frédéric Boyer, newly appointed Artistic Director of the Tribeca Film Festival.

“It was important that we head into Tribeca’s second decade highlighting projects that were attuned to the pulse of our cultural climate,” said Director of Programming Genna Terranova. “That said, both consciousness and levity play a prominent role in this year's selection. We are also eager to introduce audiences to a group of films that are reworking genres and testing traditional modes of storytelling."

The 2012 online Film Guide will go live on Monday, March 12. The 11th Tribeca Film Festival will take place from April 18 to 29 in lower Manhattan.

Eddie – The Sleepwalking Cannibal
Directed and written by Boris Rodriguez
(Canada, Denmark) – North American Premiere, Narrative

Onetime art star Lars Olafssen is all washed up. Unable to paint without inspiration, he accepts a teaching stint at a small-time art school in podunk Koda Lake, Canada, and along with it the guardianship of the offbeat town’s neighborhood weirdo, Eddie. As their unlikely friendship evolves, Lars uncovers a dark and violent secret about Eddie’s nocturnal impulses, and finds himself torn between his duty to his friend and his duty to his art.

Graceland
Directed and written by Ron Morales
(Philippines, USA) – World Premiere, Narrative

Family man Marlon Villar is the longtime chauffeur of prominent politician Manuel Chango. While he and his daughter accompany his boss’ preteen daughter home, Marlon is ambushed and the wrong girl is kidnapped. Suddenly the unassuming driver is propelled into a horrifying downward spiral and, as events in his life unravel, Marlon, Chango, and their families become entangled in a game of deceit and betrayal that will leave no one innocent. In Tagalog with subtitles.

Jackpot (Arme Riddere)
Directed by Magnus Martens, written by Jo Nesbø
(Norway) – International Premiere, Narrative

Terrified, bloodied, and gripping a shotgun, Oscar Svendsen wakes up in what used to be a respectable strip joint, surrounded by eight corpses and with a gun pointed at him by a detective with the National Criminal Investigation Service. Naturally, Oscar is taken into custody, and during his interrogation a bloody and darkly comic story of betrayal, murder, and lottery winnings emerges—but is this the whole story? In Norwegian with subtitles.

Rat King
Directed and written by Petri Kotwica
(Finland) – International Premiere, Narrative

Eighteen-year-old Juri spends his days absorbed in his computer gaming world, to the exclusion of school, friends, and ultimately his exasperated girlfriend. When his internet ally Niki turns up at his door fearing for his life because of a mysterious new online game, Juri eagerly follows him down the rabbit hole. In this taut, violent thriller, the lines between reality and the game blur as Juri and Niki are drawn into its increasingly morbid world. In Finnish with subtitles.

Replicas
Directed by Jeremy Regimbal, written by Josh Close
(Canada) – World Premiere, Narrative

Following the tragic death of their young daughter, the Hughes family decide to escape to their upscale vacation home in the woods. But their attempt to get some quality time together is violently interrupted when a neighboring family with a hidden agenda drops by for dinner. First-time director Jeremy Regimbal builds tension to a calculated and ultimately brutal crescendo in this home-invasion thriller. Starring Selma Blair, Joshua Close, James D’Arcy, and Rachel Miner.

Revenge for Jolly! 
Directed by Chadd Harbold, written by Brian Petsos
(USA) – World Premiere, Narrative

Harry (Brian Petsos) will stop at nothing to avenge the death of his beloved dog, Jolly. He and his demented cousin Cecil (Oscar Isaac) follow a series of clues in a frenzied attempt to track down the dog’s murderer, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Elijah Wood, Kristen Wiig, Adam Brody, Ryan Phillippe, Gillian Jacobs, Bobby Moynihan, Kevin Corrigan, David Rasche, Amy Siemetz, and Garret Dillahunt all stand between Harry and revenge for Jolly.

Sleepless Night (Nuit Blanche) 
Directed by Frederic Jardin, written by Frederic Jardin and Nicolas Saada
(France, Belgium, Luxembourg) – New York Premiere, Narrative

Vincent is a dedicated police officer, or so it seems. After he steals a massive bag of cocaine, his young son winds up being held for ransom by the mob boss it belongs to. When Vincent travels to the outskirts of Paris to trade the drugs for his son, he gets caught in an intense cat-and-mouse game that quickly spirals out of control. This night might not only be the longest of his life—it could be the last. A Tribeca Film release.

Statistics

The 2012 film slate was chosen from a total of 5950 submissions, a record number for the Festival. The 2012 film selection includes feature films from 32 different countries, including 54 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, 16 North American Premieres, 10 U.S. Premieres and six New York Premieres. A total of 107 directors will be presenting feature works at the Festival, with 33 of these filmmakers presenting their feature directorial debuts. Among these directors, 25 are women. Twenty-six feature film directors are returning TFF filmmakers.

Awards

New this year, two feature films—one narrative and one documentary—will be selected to receive the Heineken Audience Award, the audience choice for best feature film. Films playing in the World Narrative Competition, World Documentary Competition, Viewpoints, Spotlight and Cinemania sections are eligible. (In past years only one film was chosen by the audience.)

Check out more of the slate:
TFF 2012: World Narrative Competition
TFF 2012: World Documentary Competition
TFF 2012: Viewpoints
TFF 2012: Spotlight
TFF 2012: Special Screenings

Get ahead of the crowd and buy your advance ticket package today! Learn more: TFF 2012 Ticket Packages

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