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25TH TRIBECA FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2026 JURY AND TRIBECA & CHANEL ARTIST AWARDS PROGRAM
Nas, Mira Nair, Catherine Hardwicke, Alexis Bledel, Sheila Nevins, Ego Nwodim, Janicza Bravo, Haley Lu Richardson, Luis A. Miranda, Jr., Moses Sumney, Cazzie David, MUBI’s Arianna Bocco, and more will select this year’s award-winning filmmakers and storytellers
Festival winners will receive original works of art through the Tribeca and CHANEL Artist Awards Program; cohort of artists include Carrie Mae Weems, Kiki Smith, Hank Willis Thomas, Tavares Strachan, and more
Tribeca Festival Co-Founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal to Present annual Founders Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature at Tribeca Festival Awards Ceremony on June 11
Limited Public Tickets to the Awards Ceremony On Sale at TribecaFilm.com
New York, NY – May 21, 2026 – The 25th Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, today announced the acclaimed 2026 jury tasked with selecting breakthrough talent across film, games, and podcast selections. Tribeca and CHANEL also announced the artists selected for the annual Artist Awards Program, which celebrates creative excellence by commissioning original works of art presented to the Festival’s award-winning filmmakers and storytellers.
“This year’s jury and artists represent the creative energy that has always defined Tribeca. What makes the Artist Awards program especially meaningful is that these original works are created by artists in honor of other storytellers, a reflection of the creative exchange and community that has been at the heart of Tribeca for 25 years,” said Tribeca Festival Co-Founder Jane Rosenthal.
This year’s jury is comprised of acclaimed filmmakers, artists, performers, executives, and cultural voices from across entertainment, including GRAMMY-award winning rap icon Nas, Oscar-nominated director Mira Nair, Catherine Hardwicke, Emmy-winning actor Alexis Bledel, Emmy-winning producer Sheila Nevins, Ego Nwodim, Janicza Bravo, Haley Lu Richardson, Luis A. Miranda, Jr., Moses Sumney, Cazzie David, MUBI’s Arianna Bocco, New York Magazine Editor-in-Chief David Haskell, Entertainment Weekly Editor-in-Chief Patrick Gomez, and more.
More than 30 hand-selected jurors will recognize standout work across Tribeca’s feature, short film, games, and podcast competitions at the 25th Anniversary Tribeca Festival Awards Ceremony on June 11. Jurors will present honors across competition categories, including the Founders Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature, presented by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, and the Nora Ephron Award, celebrating the spirit and legacy of the iconic filmmaker and writer.
“This year’s jury reflects the spirit of creativity and artistic collaboration that has always shaped Tribeca — from visionary filmmakers and groundbreaking artists to influential cultural voices and bold new storytellers. Their perspectives will help spotlight the discoveries, innovations, and emerging talent that define the Festival at its best,” said Executive Vice President of Artist Relations and Special Events Nancy Lefkowitz.
Also at the June 11 ceremony, award-winning filmmakers and storytellers will receive original artworks specially commissioned through the Tribeca and CHANEL Artist Awards Program. Tribeca and CHANEL, working in collaboration with curator Zoe Lukov, have assembled a collective of contemporary artists whose practices span film and visual art. Working across mediums, they expand how stories are made, seen, and experienced. Together, they reflect Tribeca’s commitment to artists who redefine storytelling. This year’s ten artists include Bony Ramirez, Brendan Fernandes, Carrie Mae Weems, Hank Willis Thomas, Jason Bard Yarmosky, Joshua Woods, Kiki Smith, Soull & Dynasty Ogun, Tavares Strachan, and Tosh Basco.
The Tribeca and CHANEL Artist Awards Program celebrates creative disciplines and New York City’s role as a global center of cultural innovation. Rooted in Tribeca’s founding mission to help revitalize downtown Manhattan after 9/11, the program reflects 25 years of sustained commitment to artistic vision, community, and cultural impact.
CHANEL continues its support of the annual Artist Awards Program, celebrating the filmmakers and artists shaping contemporary culture. Since its founding, the House of CHANEL has placed art at its center, with Gabriel Chanel surrounding herself with the leading artists of her time. That legacy continues today through CHANEL’s commitment to creativity across disciplines and its partnership with the Tribeca Festival.
“Visual artists invited to participate this year were encouraged to explore ideas of character, costuming and performance. The works address the adornment and revelation of the body in both abstract and figurative ways — how we obscure, embellish, reveal, bare and become,” said curator Zoe Lukov. Artwork images can be found HERE.
2026 TRIBECA FESTIVAL JURY DETAILS
FEATURE FILM COMPETITION CATEGORIES
The Founders Award – 2026 U.S. Narrative Feature Competition Jury:
Rob Williams
Rob Williams is President of Sumerian Pictures, where he oversees the curation and theatrical distribution of a slate of independent films, including The Incomer, Josephine, and Mile End Kicks. Prior to joining Sumerian, Rob spent a decade at Participant as Senior Vice President, developing distribution and acquisition strategies for acclaimed films and series including All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, Green Book, Roma, and American Factory. He has also held executive positions at Netflix and Lantica Studios. Rob is a member of the Executive Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and has served on the Board of Directors of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), as well as the advisory board of MIA Rome.
Catherine Hardwicke
Catherine Hardwicke began her career as an accomplished production designer before making a powerful directorial debut in 2003 with Thirteen, which she co-wrote with then 13-yr-old Nikki Reed, based in part on Reed’s real-life experiences. She later directed Twilight (2008), which launched the blockbuster franchise, as well as Lords of Dogtown (2005), The Nativity Story (2006), Red Riding Hood (2011), Miss You Already (2015), Miss Bala (2019), Prisoner’s Daughter (2022), and Mafia Mamma (2023).
Janicza Bravo
Janicza Bravo is an award-winning director, writer, and producer. She is best known for directing and co-writing the A24 film ZOLA, based on a viral 148-tweet thread by A’ziah “Zola” King. ZOLA premiered in competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for seven Film Independent Spirit Awards, including “Best Director,” “Best Feature” and “Best Screenplay.” Her debut feature LEMON premiered at Sundance in 2017 and established her as a singular new voice. Most recently, she directed and Executive Produced the critically acclaimed BBC limited series THE LISTENERS, a haunting four-part drama starring Rebecca Hall that will air in the US on Starz June 12th. Janicza was also nominated for a DGA award for her episode of “The Bear."
2026 U.S. International Narrative Feature Competition Jury:
Amanda Trokan
Amanda Trokan is a veteran acquisitions & programming executive, working in the film industry for nearly 20 years. She currently serves as SVP Acquisitions at 1-2 Special, a theatrical-first, all-rights distributor established in 2025. Before 1-2 Special, Trokan headed up the North American programming team for global streamer MUBI, whose US platform was dubbed “one of the best streaming libraries on the planet” [Indiewire] under her curatorial and licensing leadership. Prior to MUBI, Trokan spent 11 years at HBO – before, during, and after the successful launch of HBO Max. Eight of those years were as a key member of the film programming & acquisitions team, where her specialty was international and independent cinema.
Mélita Toscan du Plantier
Mélita Toscan du Plantier is Marrakech International Film Festival Director since its debut in 2001. She is also a producer. Her films include MASAAN and HOMEBOUND from Neeraj Ghaywan both in official selection in Cannes as well as IN THE FADE from Fatih Akin which was in competition in Cannes. Diane Kruger won the Palme for best actress for it.
Benedict Wong
Came to prominence in Stephen Frear’s Dirty Pretty Things (2002), earning him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the British Independent Film Awards. Other credits include Danny Boyle’s Sunshine, Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield, Ridley Scott’s The Martian and Edson Oda’s Nine Days, which earned him a nomination at the Film Independent Spirit awards. Affectionately known in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Wong in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Spiderman: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings, and Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Wong has last appeared as Da-Shi in 3 Body Problem and as principal Marcus as a part of the ensemble in Zach Cregger’s Weapons. Soon to be seen in Vera Miao’s Rock Springs and Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars. He has just completed filming on Charlie Polinger’s The Masque of the Red Death and Justine Triet’s Fonda.
2026 Nora Ephron Prize Jury:
Tommy Dorfman
Tommy Dorfman is an accomplished actress, writer, director, and producer whose work spans film, television, and theater. Best known for her breakout role in the hit Netflix series 13 REASONS WHY, Dorfman has since gone on to build a dynamic career, while consistently shining a light on her experiences as a trans woman in Hollywood. Recently, Dorfman made her Broadway debut in Sam Gold’s adaptation of ROMEO + JULIET, starring alongside Kit Conner and Rachel Zegler. The production marked Dorfman’s return to the New York stage and her first acting role since publicly coming out as transgender.
Ayo Kepher-Maat
Ayo Kepher-Maat is currently VP of Acquisitions and Productions at Independent Film Company. Kepher-Maat formerly served as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at DECAL, a home entertainment joint venture between NEON and Bleecker Street, where she played a pivotal role in shaping content strategy. Prior to DECAL, Kepher-Maat was the Director of Acquisitions at NEON, where she led the acquisition of several Sundance standouts. Her previous experience includes roles at Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, The Film Arcade, and Creative Artists Agency (CAA). In 2021, Kepher-Maat was recognized as one of Variety's New Leaders.
Jac Schaeffer
Jac Schaeffer served as showrunner for Marvel Studios’ hit series “WandaVision.” As the first live-action series to debut on Disney+, "WandaVision" garnered critical acclaim, earning 23 Primetime Emmy nominations, as well as nominations for The Golden Globe Awards, Critics' Choice Television Awards, Writers Guild Awards, Producers Guild Awards, and was named one of the top television programs of 2021 by the American Film Institute (AFI). Schaeffer then served as creator, showrunner, director, and EP on the "WandaVision" spinoff series "Agatha All Along," and she directed episodes 1, 2, and 7 of the Marvel Studios/Disney+ series. Most recently, Schaeffer directed the pilot episode of the upcoming Disney+ series “Holes,” based on the Louis Sachar novel of the same name.
2026 Viewpoints Competition Jury:
Arianna Bocco
Arianna Bocco is the SVP of Distribution and Acquisitions at MUBI. She is a seasoned executive in the indie film sector, with expertise across acquisitions, distribution, and marketing. She was previously the President of IFC Films, where she oversaw a slate of 50 movies annually across three distribution labels. Before IFC, Bocco created and led the independent feature packaging division of Gersh in New York. Before that, she worked at Miramax Films as SVP Acquisitions, also out of NYC. She began her career at New Line Cinema and Fine Line Features in Los Angeles, where she was VP Acquisitions and Co-Productions and held various related roles there during her six-year tenure. Bocco is a member of the executive branch of AMPAS as well as BAFTA, previously having served as chair of BAFTA’s New York board.
Cazzie David
Cazzie David is a writer known for her sharp, intimate examinations of anxiety, attachment, and the uneasy absurdity of modern life. She is the New York Times bestselling author of No One Asked for This, a collection of essays praised for its candid exploration of relationships, identity, and coming of age online and adjacent to fame. Earlier this year, David published, Delusions, which is rooted in the experience of being 29 and standing on the edge of 30, confronting the fears, expectations, and self-mythologies that surface at that threshold—about love, ambition, adulthood, and who one is supposed to have become by now. Her debut feature, “I Love You Forever”, which she co-wrote and directed, premiered at SXSW and is available for streaming on HBO Max.
Nas
Timeless poet and rhyme-master Nas, delivered his first full-length album Illmatic in 1994. Nas went on to release 14 subsequent albums, 8 of which are multi-platinum and platinum including: Nastradamus, Stillmatic, God’s Son, and Street’s Disciple. With 16 GRAMMY nominations, Nas released King’s Disease in 2020, giving Nas his first ever GRAMMY win for “Best Rap Album.” In August of 2021, Nas released King’s Disease II, the sequel to the GRAMMY Award winning album, and subsequently completed the King’s Disease Trilogy with the release of King’s Disease III executive produced by Nas and Hit-Boy in 2022; with both albums earning GRAMMY nominations for “Best Rap Album.” In 2023, Nas and Hit-Boy released Magic 3, featuring 15 brand new tracks, also marking the final chapter of the legendary run for the prolific rapper-producer duo. In 2025, Nas and Mass Appeal launched the groundbreaking Legend Has It… series, celebrating and spotlighting some of the most important and influential Hip Hop artists of all time.
2026 Documentary Feature Competition Jury:
Sheila Nevins
Sheila Nevins is the former president of HBO Documentary Films and Family Programming and former Executive Producer for MTV Documentary Films. She has received 32 Primetime Emmy® Awards, the most ever won by a single individual, 35 News and Documentary Emmys, and 42 George Foster Peabody Awards. Productions under Nevins’ stewardship have won 26 Academy Awards®. Nevins earned her first Oscar® nomination as director of The ABCs of Book Banning (96th Academy Awards, 2024). Nevins earned her second Oscar® nomination as Producer of Children No More: Were And Are Gone (98th Academy Awards, 2026). A New York Times best-selling author (You Don't Look Your Age...and Other Fairy Tales), Nevins has been honored with numerous prestigious career achievement awards and inducted into Broadcasting & Cable's Hall of Fame. She has garnered an IDA Career Achievement Award and the New York Women in Film & Television Muse Award for Outstanding Vision & Achievement.
Dana O’Keefe
Dana O’Keefe is an executive, producer and filmmaker from New York City. He runs Double Agent, a joint venture between Black Bear and New Regency with a mission to produce and finance high-profile documentary films and series for a global audience. Upcoming projects include THE MAN WILL BURN, which is premiering at Tribeca this year. He began his career at Cinetic Media where he ultimately served as a partner until 2022 working in a wide range of capacities as a sales agent, manager, producer and strategic advisor for hundreds of independent films over the course of his tenure and is proud to have been involved with a number of unique and innovative films such as BOYHOOD, SENNA, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, and EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP.
Geeta Gandbhir
Geeta Gandbhir is an award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Message Pictures. In 2026, she made history by becoming the first woman director nominated for two Oscars in different categories in the same year. Recent credits include “The Perfect Neighbor,” which received an Oscar nomination in 2026, and the series “Katrina: Come Hell and High Water” for Netflix was nominated for 3 Emmy Awards, and the short "The Devil is Busy" for HBO was also nominated for a 2026 Oscar,"Reclaimed" for Sesame Workshop, The Oscar-shortlisted film “How We Get Free” for HBO, the series "Born in Synanon" for Paramount, and the series "Eyes on the Prize" for HBO, the feature documentary "Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power," which was nominated for the 2022 Critics Choice Award, won a 2023 SIMA Award, and won a 2023 Emmy Award.
2026 Best New Documentary Director Competition Jury:
Perri Peltz
Perri Peltz (Director / Producer) is an Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, and public health advocate. Most recently, Perri directed “She Runs The World," a 2025 Tribeca Festival official selection, “The Last Twins” on PBS, the duPont-Columbia winning “Can’t Look Away” for Bloomberg Originals and “Surveilled” with Ronan Farrow for HBO with Matthew O’Neill. Perri and Matt also created the Emmy winning documentary news series “AXIOS on HBO,” and directed and produced the 2019 HBO Documentary, “Alternate Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America.” Previously, Perri directed the HBO documentaries, “Warning: This Drug May Kill You,” about the opioid addiction epidemic and “Risky Drinking,” about alcohol use disorder.
Rudy Valdez
Rudy Valdez is a two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for telling powerful,
emotionally resonant stories through a self-taught and deeply human lens. He directed the HBO documentary The Sentence, a decade-long project about his sister’s incarceration and the impact of mandatory minimums, which earned a Primetime Emmy and the Sundance Audience Award. His recent credits include Carlos, a portrait of Carlos Santana’s rise from street musician to global icon; Choir, a Disney+ series following the Detroit Youth Choir as they chase a dream beyond America’s Got Talent; Big Dreams, an ESPN film spotlighting young athletes from around the world at the Little League World Series; and Eyes on the Prize III, where he directed an episode on environmental justice in the legendary civil rights series.
2026 Best New Narrative Director Competition Jury:
David Haskell
David Haskell is the editor-in-chief of New York Magazine at Vox Media, the modern media company. In this role, he oversees New York Magazine; its digital publications Intelligencer, The Cut, Vulture, The Strategist, Curbed, and Grub Street; and its many newsletters and podcasts. During his tenure, the magazine has won six National Magazine Awards, honoring work across written and visual journalism. In 2021, Haskell was named Publishing Editor of the Year on Adweek’s Hot List, and in 2022 and 2024 New York was named Hottest Magazine of the Year. In 2023, the magazine’s book critic Andrea Long Chu received the Pulitzer Prize in
Criticism, an honor that its architecture critic Justin Davidson and music critic Craig Jenkins and were finalists for in 2020 and 2021. The magazine won the George Polk Award in photo journalism in 2026.
Mira Nair
“If we don’t tell our own stories, no one else will.” Mira Nair is an Academy-Award nominated director best known for her visually dense films that pulsate with life. Her debut feature, Salaam Bombay! (1988) won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes, followed by the groundbreaking Mississippi Masala (1991), the Golden Globe & Emmy-winning Hysterical Blindness (2001) and the international hit Monsoon Wedding (2001), for which she was the first woman to win Venice Film Festival’s coveted Golden Lion. Also known for her literary craftsmanship of subcontinental fiction, Mira has filmed The Namesake (2006), The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012), Vanity Fair (2004), A Suitable Boy (2020) and Queen of Katwe (2016). Her next feature film, AMRI—an experimental portrait of Amrita Sher-Gil, India’s pioneering modern artist—is slated for release in summer 2027.
Haley Lu Richardson
Richardson starred in the second season of Mike White’s critically acclaimed series THE WHITE LOTUS on HBO. In 2023, The White Lotus won An Actor Award in Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Haley wrote a book that Simon & Schuster published this year called I’M SAD AND HORNY. Audiences can next see Richardson star in Peacock’s series PONIES alongside Emilia Clarke, which premiered on January 15, 2026. She has been nominated for a Gotham Television award for her role in PONIES in the Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series category. She also stars alongside Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Juno Temple and Michael Pena in GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE.
SHORT FILM COMPETITION CATEGORIES
2026 Narrative & Animated Shorts Competition Jury:
Patrick Gomez
Patrick Gomez has served as Editor-in-Chief and General Manager of Entertainment Weekly since 2022. Under his leadership, the brand has significantly expanded its reach and deepened its digital impact, evolving to meet audiences wherever they consume entertainment news. He has continued to build on Entertainment Weekly’s longstanding legacy as a trusted, creative authority — delivering smart, culture-driving coverage across
film, television, music, and beyond. With Patrick at the helm, Entertainment Weekly has pioneered the digital age of magazines with its award-winning digital motion covers and considerably scaled its physical footprint across the entertainment industry through high-impact tentpole events — including its annual San Diego Comic-Con Bash and curated, studio-partnered panel conversations — and the continuation of The Awardist podcast.
Luis A. Miranda, Jr.
Luis A. Miranda, Jr. is the board chair of The Public Theater, Viva Broadway and Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, a board member at Latino Victory, and founding partner emeritus of The MirRam Group and founding president of the Hispanic Federation. He is recognized as a key contributor to the Senate campaigns of Senators Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Hillary Clinton as well as Letitia James’ successful campaigns for NYC Public Advocate and New York State Attorney General. Through the Miranda Family Fund and Miranda Family Fellowship, he and his family have created and fostered institutions that work with underserved populations in Upper Manhattan and communities throughout New York City, across the country, and in Puerto Rico. Miranda and his family launched Colectivo: A Miranda Family Fellowship & Tribeca Studios Filmmaker Program, in partnership with Hispanic Federation, to champion a new generation of Latino films in 2025. He’s a partner at Unsinkable.
Alexis Bledel
Alexis Bledel studied film at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts before Warner Brothers cast her in Gilmore Girls. While on hiatus from the series, she starred in various films such as Tuck Everlasting, Sin City, Bride and Prejudice, and The Conspirator. Alexis earned four Emmy nominations and one win for her most recent television role as Emily/Ofglen in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale.
2026 Short Documentary, Music Video, and Student Visionary Competition Jury:
Moses Sumney
Moses Sumney is a Ghanaian-American artist who defies definition with work that transcends genres and disciplines. His albums Aromanticism and græ and self-directed music videos have topped critics’ lists from The New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, The Guardian, SXSW and Rolling Stone, and his live performances have graced worldwide stages from the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall. When quarantine prohibited the touring of his 2nd album græ, Sumney took to the hills, directing the sprawling 2021 film Blackalachia atop the Blue Ridge mountains. That same year, he starred in his first major campaign for Calvin Klein; the next, Burberry. In 2023, he co-starred in HBO’s The Idol, and in 2024 starred alongside Mia Goth in A24’s MaXXXine. In 2025, he made his live theater acting debut in Shakespeare In The Park’s Twelfth Night at the Delacorte Theater.
Neil Janowitz
Neil Janowitz is the Editor-in-Chief of Vulture, New York Magazine’s entertainment and culture brand. He oversees Vulture’s on-site editorial direction and brand extensions including podcasts, video, events, and games. Neil previously worked at Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, Fast Company, and ESPN the Magazine. He has produced video series for ESPN and Comedy Central, and written for The New York Times, Men’s Health, and Wired, among other outlets.
Nina Chaudry
Nina Chaudry is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, and media executive with more than 100 short and feature documentaries to her credit. As executive producer of WORLD channel, she oversaw the documentary series America ReFramed, Local, USA, and Doc World. As senior series producer at FRONTLINE, she helped shape the storytelling of the acclaimed investigative journalism series, earning two Emmy Awards, three Edward R. Murrow Awards, and contributing to two Pulitzer Prize finalist investigations. Previously, Chaudry served as senior vice president of Tribeca Studios, where she built the division into a full-fledged content and partnerships department and launched early career filmmaking initiatives.
Daniel Quinn-Toye
Daniel recently wrapped shooting as the lead character in Tom Ford’s next feature, CRY TO HEAVEN opposite Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Colin Firth, Adele and many others. In the can he has VOLTRON for Amazon/MGM where he stars as the lead and series, STERLING POINT by Megan Park for Amazon/MGM which premieres in August 2026. Recently, his film SUNNY DANCER premiered at the 2026 Berlin Film Festival where he stars opposite Bella Ramsey, Jessica Gunning and Neil Patrick Harris. In theater, Daniel starred in ROMEO & JULIET opposite Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, directed by Jamie Lloyd for the West End."
MXMTOON
Since she was 17, mxmtoon (otherwise known as Maia) has built a career that reflects the quieter, complicated emotions people often keep to themselves. What began with YouTube covers from her parents' home in Oakland has grown into a wide-ranging creative practice spanning music, podcasting, two graphic novels, and major collaborations with franchises like Life Is Strange, The Sims, and Dave the Diver. After touring internationally and being covered by everyone from The New Yorker to Pitchfork, she has established herself as a distinctly internet-native creative voice. Blending emotionally precise and playful themes while deeply attuned to how a generation lives and feels, online and off.
Inaugural Best New York Short Competition Jury:
Debi Mazar
Mazar is an acclaimed actress who made her feature film debut in Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas." She is a native New Yorker and has been in over 70 films and television productions. Her extensive on-screen work includes films with legendary directors Michael Mann, Spike Lee, Cameron Crowe, Woody Allen, Oliver Stone and Joel Schumacher. Debi has also worked with known independent filmmakers Steve Buscemi, Nick Cassavetes and Amos Poe. She was known for her role as hard-charging publicist Shauna on the HBO series "Entourage," which earned her and the cast a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2004. Mazar more recently starred as Maggie on the critically acclaimed TV Land comedy Younger from creator Darren Star. Other television credits include Netflix's The Pentaverate opposite Mike Myers and Kaos, and Ladies In Black. Debi will next be seen in Netflix's adaptation of The Next Mrs. Parrish.
Nicolas “New York Nico” Heller
Nicolas Heller aka New York Nico is a two-time Emmy Award–winning filmmaker, national best-selling author, and social media creator born and raised in NYC. Hailed by The New York Times as the “unofficial talent scout of NYC,” he documents the city for over three million followers across platforms.
Ego Nwodim
An acclaimed actress and producer, Ego Nwodim spent seven seasons starring on Saturday Night Live, establishing herself as a groundbreaking voice in comedy and earning a Critics Choice Award nomination and two NAACP Image Award nominations in the process. During this time she has made a name for herself across a variety of mediums. On television she has appeared in the second season of Peacock’s Poker Face, HBO’s It’s Florida, Man and Apple TV’s anthology series Roar. In film she has performed in works such as Netflix’s Players, IFC’s Spin Me Round and Sony’s Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Additionally, Ego hosts her award-winning podcast Thanks Dad, featuring an A-list lineup of guests such as Randall Park, Kyle Mooney and Bill Burr.
2026 AT&T UNTOLD STORIES GREENLIGHT COMMITTEE:
Phoebe Robinson
Phoebe Robinson is a standup comedian, bestselling author, producer, actress, and publisher. Her second special, I Don’t Wanna Work Anymore, premiered October 7, 2025 on YouTube, and she is currently on her new “Feral and Fired Up” standup tour. She’s the author of You Can’t Touch My Hair, Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay, and Please Don’t Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes, and the founder of Tiny Reparations Books. Robinson co-created and starred in 2 Dope Queens (podcast and HBO), and her other work includes Everything’s Trash and Sorry, Harriet Tubman, both produced by her company, Tiny Reparations. She is a recipient of Variety’s Comedy Innovator Award.
Kellyn Smith Kenny
Kellyn Smith Kenny is a globally recognized marketing leader known for her analytical expertise, customer insight, and ability to drive growth through high-performing teams. As Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at AT&T, she leads efforts to enhance customer acquisition, lifetime value, and brand transformation, overseeing marketing strategy, advertising, media, digital growth, and strategic partnerships. Previously, Kellyn served as Global CMO for Hilton Worldwide and held leadership roles at Uber, Capital One, and Microsoft. An Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow, she serves on multiple boards and is widely celebrated for her award-winning campaigns and contributions to marketing innovation.
Isabel Sandoval
Isabel Sandoval is recognized as “one of the most exciting and multitalented filmmakers on the indie scene with a bold approach to cinematic style” by The Criterion Collection. Meanwhile. The Museum of Modern Art has recognized her as a “rarity among the young generation of Filipino filmmakers.” Her debut feature, Señorita, premiered at Locarno. Her widely acclaimed third feature, Lingua Franca, premiered at Venice and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Her fourth feature Moonglow premiered at the 2026 Rotterdam Film Festival. She starred in the César Award-winning short film Maria Schneider 1983 directed by Elisabeth Subrin. She has been on the festival juries at Cannes, Locarno, BFI London and Mumbai and is a MacDowell and Yaddo Fellow.
Lilian T. Mehrel
Lilian T. Mehrel is an award-winning writer & director with a visionary sense of feeling and humor. Her debut feature, Honeyjoon, premiered at Tribeca and won the world's largest film production prize, the Tribeca AT&T Untold Stories Award, multiple audience awards and jury awards for Best Feature. It will open in NYC on June 10, 2026 at IFC, followed by LA, Chicago, and more theaters nationwide. Lilian’s films have also screened at Palm Springs, Sao Paolo Mostra, Clermont-Ferrand, and the AmPav Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes. Her awards and selections include SFFILM Rainin, TorinoFilmLab, Film Independent Episodic Lab, Sloan Award, Nancy Malone Directing Award, Geri Ashur Screenwriting Award, Film Fatales Episodic Directing Shadow Workshop, CineQuaNonLab, NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship, TFI Labs with YouTube/Google and Warner Media, and the Marcie Bloom Fellowship
Moisés Zamora
Moisés Zamora is an award-winning Mexican-American writer and filmmaker, best known as the creator, executive producer, and co-showrunner of global-hit Selena: The Series on Netflix, which won Best Dramatic Series at the Imagen Awards. He has also written for acclaimed shows including American Crime, Star, and Star Wars: The Bad Batch. He recently wrote and directed his first narrative short, Anne Frank’s First Kiss, a TikTok adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank in collaboration with the Anne Frank Fonds. To date, he has sold five TV series and is currently preparing to direct two feature films.
2026 GAMES COMPETITION JURY:
Dinga Bakaba - Head of Studio at Arkane Lyon
Starting in the industry as a QA tester for mobile games before smartphones were a thing, Dinga Bakaba got his break as a game designer at Wizarbox in Paris, working on, among other things, Jane Jensen’s Gray Matter. After a stint at Playlogic, working on unannounced projects until the company closed, Bakaba made the dream move to Arkane to work as a game designer on Dishonored and it’s DLCs, before being promoted to lead designer on Dishonored 2 and Death of the Outsider.His most recent release is the critically acclaimed DEATHLOOP which he co-directed with his long-time collaborator Sébastien Mitton, and he is currently Game Director on Marvel’s Blade.
Alanah Pearce - Founder, Charred Productions
Alanah Pearce is a writer, producer, actor, director, and content creator with a passion for video games, horror, and pop culture. As the epitome of a multi-hyphenate creator, Alanah has built a
dedicated audience of approximately 2.5 million followers across her channels. Alanah recently announced production company Charred Pictures, which focuses on helping independent creatives make independent films, with a large focus on independent video game adaptations. Alanah starred in V/H/S Beyond as “Halley” in the “Stowaway” segment, written by horror icon and Filmmaker Mike Flanagan and directed by Kate Siegel. Her voice can be heard in major video game titles such as “Dispatch” and “Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2”. Selected as one of Forbes' "30 Under 30" In Games in 2022, Alanah is also an executive producer and host of multiple podcasts.
Adam Boyes - Founder & CEO, Vivrato
Adam Boyes has spent 30 years inside the rooms where the games industry gets built. From production and QA at EA, Midway, and Capcom to business development and leadership as VP of Third-Party Relations at PlayStation, to co-CEO at Iron Galaxy Studios. Now at Vivrato, he advises investment firms, governments, publishers, platforms, middleware companies, and developers at the moments that define their next chapter.
PODCAST COMPETITION CATEGORIES
2026 Nonfiction Reporting Competition Jury
Emily Botein, WNYC
Emily Botein has a proven record of launching award-winning shows and nurturing a wide range of top-tier talent including experienced and novice journalists, academics new to a mic, and actors familiar with a mic. At WNYC, she helps to launch podcasts, support and grow ongoing programs at WNYC and create live and community events at WNYC’s public events space. She can take an idea from concept to a fully produced award-winning show, overseeing all aspects of production and release. At WNYC, she serves as a key editorial and organizational leader, producing award-winning shows and series, including The Harvard Plan, Blindspot, Keeping Score, More Perfect, Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery, Pickle, This Podcast Has Fleas, The New Yorker Radio Hour, American Fiasco, Death Sex & Money, and Here’s The Thing.
Jason Saldanha, PRX
Jason Saldanha is COO of PRX, the Pulitzer Prize-winning public media organization bringing podcasts and radio to millions. He's also served as Executive Producer of the seminal music podcast Sound Opinions from WBEZ, as an Executive Producer for the Amazon show The Man in the High Castle, and he oversaw the Chicago Humanities Festival, connecting the people and ideas that define us.
Steve Wilson, Daylight Media
Steve Wilson has spent his career at the intersection of technology and storytelling. He spent nearly 15 years at Apple, where he was one of the earliest members of the Apple Podcasts team, helping shape editorial, partnerships, and marketing in the platform's formative years. Today he is Chief Strategy Officer at Daylight Media, where his work focuses on a simple belief: great stories deserve great business — and the creators behind them deserve infrastructure built in their favor.
2026 Audio Fiction Competition Jury:
Ian Enright, Goat Rodeo
Ian Enright is the founder and CEO of Goat Rodeo, a creative audio studio that develops original podcasts. As a senior audio producer and creative executive, Goat Rodeo’s work includes award-winning and groundbreaking podcasts such as The Sound, Untold, Terms of Service, Cornbread Mafia, and Spy Valley.
Chioke I’Anson, Resonate Festival
Dr. Chioke I’Anson is the founder of RESONATE Podcast Festival and director of the VPM + ICA Community Media Center. Chioke's voice has been heard on many podcasts, including The 11th, Love + Radio, Radiolab, Everything is Alive and Our Ancestors Were Messy. On NPR, he is an underwriting voice and an occasional fill-in on Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. Chioke’s perspectives on audio and creativity are informed by his academic study of philosophy. He supports the expression of good ideas in all mediums.
Ami Thakkar, The Podcast Academy
With a background spanning storytelling and community building, Ami Thakkar has built a career across the corporate, legal, media, and nonprofit sectors. She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Texas and a law degree from DePaul University, bringing strategic rigor and global perspective to her leadership. As the creator and host of Tuckered Out with Ami Thakkar, she remains an active participant in the podcasting ecosystem, offering firsthand insight into the creative, business, and cultural realities facing audio makers Today. As Executive Director, Ami will lead the Academy’s strategic direction, oversee its signature programs, including the Ambies and focus on strengthening TPA’s role as a trusted, inclusive institution that supports creators, celebrates innovation, and elevates audio storytelling around the world.
2026 Investigative Nonfiction Competition Jury:
Will Malnati, At Will
Will Malnati is the Founder and CEO of AT WILL MEDIA, an award-winning, New York-based studio focused on premium, creator-driven IP and digital series. He began his career at Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s LivePlanet, and working on the production team for MTV's Punk'd. At AT WILL MEDIA, Malnati serves as executive producer on a range of standout titles, including Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy, named Adweek’s Pop Culture Podcast of the Year and now in scripted adaptation at Apple TV starring Jude Law and Andrew Garfield, and Unsealed: The Tylenol Murders, which won the National Headliner Award. The company’s Apple Original podcast Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story, starring Sebastian Maniscalco, premiered as an Official Selection at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, while its original short story The Flick is currently being adapted as a feature for Apple Films.
Mukta Mohan, Higher Ground
Mukta Mohan is Deputy Head of Audio at Higher Ground, the production company founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. She helps lead the company's podcast slate from development through release, including IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Previously, she developed and produced podcasts at Crooked Media and MTV News.
Elaine Sevier, The Independent Media Initiative
Elaine Sevier is the Co-Founder and COO of IMI, the Independent Media Initiative. IMI is a nonprofit building a public media ecosystem for the internet era by supporting exceptional independent creators. At IMI, Elaine oversees IMI Fest and award programs that support and elevate original work across audio, video, and digital platforms. She holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard University and is an executive producer of 50x50: Science Across America, IMI’s forthcoming nationwide science media initiative.
2026 Audio Memoir Competition Jury:
David Markowitz, Netflix
David Markowitz is a veteran audio executive and producer. He has led the creation of award-winning non-fiction and companion podcasts, fiction series, audiobooks and immersive audio experiences for companies including Netflix, Headspace, Best Case Studios and Pushkin Industries.
Lauren Passell, Tink Media
Lauren Passell is the founder of Tink Media, an award-winning podcast growth company, and Podcast the Newsletter, a podcast discovery newsletter. Her other podcast newsletters are Podcast Marketing Magic and Podcasts We Text About, something she writes with Arielle Nissenblatt. She speaks about podcast growth and discovery on stages and in classrooms all over the world.
Michael Shayan, Dog Day Afternoon
Michael Shayan is an Emmy-nominated, Harvard-trained writer, performer and illusionist. He is currently making his Broadway debut in "Dog Day Afternoon," written by Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Adly Guirgis. Recognized by NBC as a “rising star in comedy,” Shayan was honored in Out Magazine’s OUT100 list. His acclaimed solo play "Avaaz," directed by Tony nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel, has enjoyed sold-out, record breaking runs nationwide. His play "Cruising" premiered on Audible, directed by Tony nominee Robert O’Hara, starring Christine Baranski, Tituss Burgess, Cecily Strong, Andrew Rannells and Andre de Shields. Shayan was a nominated writer and Consulting Producer for HBO Max’s Emmy-winning “The Book of Queer."
TRIBECA AND CHANEL ARTIST AWARDS PROGRAM
ARTWORK DETAILS
Bony Ramirez CRABPOT: #2, 2023. Ceramic pot, porcelain lid, spray paint, sea shells, screws. 16” x 18” x 16”.
Brendan Fernandes Noise See: I, 2026. Digital print. 20” x 14”. Printer’s Proof #1/1.
Carrie Mae Weems Scenes & Takes (Great Expectations), 2016. Archival pigment print. 22” x 30”.
Hank Willis Thomas You Be Me, 2022. Lenticular print. 40” x 30” (unframed). Edition of 5 plus 1 artist's proofs. Edition 1 of 5.
Jason Bard Yarmosky 10.16.24, 2024. Color pencil on paper, framed. 18” x 24”.
Joshua Woods Nightfall through the window, 2025. Mixed Media. C-print in window frame. 24” x 19”
Kiki Smith Vesper, 2026. Watercolor on Prague Losiny handmade paper. 11 1/2" x 8”.
SOULL AND DYNASTY OGUN Pathway Of Surrender, 2026. Brass, labradorite 5.3" x 2.5" x 0.2". Alter Cloth: Copper, Silk Thread. 8” x 8”
Tavares Strachan New Beginning, 2024. Oil, enamel, and pigment, acrylic, mat board, powder coated steel frame. 16” x 2”.
Tosh Basco untitled hand dance (series), 2021. Pigment on paper. 11.75” x 8.25”.
TRIBECA AND CHANEL ARTIST AWARDS PROGRAM
ABOUT THE ARTIST COHORT
Bony Ramirez:
Bony Ramirez (born 1996, Tenares, Dominican Republic) is an artist based in Jersey City, New Jersey. His work blends Caribbean imagery with references to Renaissance portraiture, Catholic iconography and children’s illustrations. He has exhibited at Bradley Ertaskiran, The Newark Museum of Art and Jeffrey Deitch. His work is held in the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, The Newark Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Pérez Art Museum Miami and several others. Ramirez’s recent exhibitions include a solo exhibition at Green-Wood Cemetery and the group exhibition “Let Us Gather in a Flourishing Way” at Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
Brendan Fernandes:
Brendan Fernandes (born 1979, Nairobi, Kenya) is a Canadian artist based in Chicago working at the intersection of dance and visual art. His multidisciplinary practice explores race, queer culture, migration, and protest through performance, sculpture, photography, and installation. A graduate of the Whitney Independent Study Program, Fernandes has presented work internationally at institutions including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, MCA Chicago, and the National Gallery of Canada. He has received numerous honors, including a Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Residency, a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant, the Platform Award, and the Creative Voice Award from Arts Alliance Illinois.
Carrie Mae Weems:
Carrie Mae Weems (born 1953, Portland, Oregon) lives and works in Syracuse, New York. Recent exhibitions include “Carrie Mae Weems: The Heart of the Matter” at Gallerie d’Italia, Torino, and “Carrie Mae Weems: Painting the Town” at the Rijksmuseum. Weems received the National Medal of Arts, the Hasselblad Award, a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the U.S. Department of State Medal of Arts and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Her work is in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art and Tate Modern, among others.
Hank Willis Thomas:
Hank Willis Thomas is a conceptual artist exploring perspective, identity, commodity, media and popular culture. Collaborative projects include "In Search of the Truth (The Truth Booth)", “Question Bridge: Black Males” and “For Freedoms.” His practice encompasses permanent artworks such as The Embrace in Boston and Unity at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, NY. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts (CCA), among honorary doctorates. Thomas received the 2022 U.S. Department of State Medal of Arts.
Jason Bard Yarmosky:
Jason Bard Yarmosky (born 1987, New York) is an American artist known for his paintings and drawings exploring aging and time through portraiture. His pieces are in the collections of Schiaparelli at 21 Place Vendôme and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, among others. His work has been exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, San Antonio Museum of Art and Addison Gallery of American Art. He has had solo exhibitions at Guild Hall of East Hampton, Bergdorf Goodman’s Fifth Avenue windows, the Huntington Museum of Art and the Zillman Art Museum University of Maine.
Joshua Woods:
Joshua Woods (born 1986, Harlem, New York) is a photographer and visual artist. Working across photography, fashion, film and printmaking, his practice explores Black life through memory, ritual and everyday culture. He first gained recognition for a self-funded photographic journal of Senegal published in The New Yorker. Woods has produced work for Vogue, The New York Times’ T Magazine, CHANEL and Gucci. In 2025, he collaborated with The Metropolitan Museum of Art to create public portraits in conjunction with the exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” His ongoing Harlem project traces personal and communal histories, examining transformation, preservation and belonging.
Kiki Smith:
Kiki Smith (American, b. 1954, Nuremberg, Germany) is recognized for her multidisciplinary practice through which she explores embodiment and the natural world. The body, mortality, regeneration, gender, as well as the interconnection of spirituality and the natural world are observed through her own personal lens. Her expansive work manifests as sculpture, glassmaking, printmaking, watercolor, photography, and textile, among other art-making forms. Drawn to the cogency of repetition in narratives and symbolic representations, much of Smith’s work is inspired by contemporary and historical visual culture.
Soull & Dynasty Ogun:
Soull and Dynasty Ogun are identical twins born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1984. Inspired by their rich lineage of Nigerian and West Indian Dominican descent, mixed with their New York City upbringing, they have always had a passion for transmuting the many cultures surrounding them to bring forth unique, otherworldly designs from a young age. Both Soull and Dynasty are autodidactic artisans in their respective fields. Soull focuses within the realm of metalwork and jewelry, while Dynasty specializes in the world of textiles, fibers, accessories and garments.
Tavares Strachan:
Tavares Strachan (b. 1979, Nassau, Bahamas) is a conceptual artist whose work bridges art, science, history, and cultural critique. He holds a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from Yale University. In 2022, he received the MacArthur Fellowship. Recent solo exhibitions include You Belong Here at Prospect New Orleans, The Immeasurable Daydream at Biennale de Lyon, There Is Light Somewhere at the Hayward Gallery, and The Day Tomorrow Began at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Tosh Basco:
Tosh Basco (born 1988, California) rose to prominence in the San Francisco drag scene during the 2010s. Best known for her movement-based performances under the name boychild, Basco’s photography and drawing accompany her performance practice. Viewed as a whole, her work attempts to enfold language, becoming and representation together within spaces where these are typically understood as discrete entities. Basco is co-founder of the collaborative entity Moved by the Motion with Wu Tsang, which remains a vital aspect of her work.
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ABOUT TRIBECA FESTIVAL
The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 25th year from June 3–14, 2026 in New York City.
In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.
ABOUT CHANEL
Chanel Limited is a private company and parent of the Chanel group, a world leader in creating, developing, manufacturing and distributing luxury products. Founded by Gabrielle Chanel at the beginning of the last century, Chanel offers a broad range of high-end creations, including Ready-to-Wear, Leather Goods, Fashion Accessories, Eyewear, Fragrances, Makeup, Skincare, Jewellery and Watches. Chanel is also renowned for its Haute Couture collections, presented twice yearly in Paris, and for having acquired a large number of specialised suppliers, collectively known as the Métiers d’art. Chanel is dedicated to ultimate luxury and to the highest level of craftsmanship. It is a brand whose core values remain historically grounded on exceptional creation. As such, Chanel promotes culture, art, creativity and “savoir-faire” throughout the world, and invests significantly in people, R&D, sustainable development and innovation. At the end of 2025, Chanel employed 38,000 people worldwide.
2026 TRIBECA FESTIVAL PARTNERS
The 2026 Tribeca Festival is presented by OKX and with the support of our partners: 8am, 10 Lives Studios, AT&T, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, CHANEL, City National Bank, DIRECTV, Don Julio Tequila, FIJI Water, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NBC4 and Telemundo 47, NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, National CineMedia, Spring Studios New York, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, and Vulture.
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