Tribeca Festival Marks 25 Years with Music-Heavy Opening

The 25th anniversary edition of the Tribeca Festival opened in New York City on Wednesday, launching a multi-day celebration of film, music, and digital media. The festival, founded by actor Robert De Niro and producer Jane Rosenthal, began with the world premiere of a new documentary about the legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire, directed by Oscar-winning musician Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson.

This year's program features over a hundred independent films, television premieres, and a significant focus on music. The opening night documentary, "Earth, Wind & Fire: To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World," was followed by a live performance from the band. The festival is scheduled to close with the premiere of "Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell’s Kitchen," a documentary about the Grammy-winning artist. Other musical projects include films about Peter Frampton, Sara Bareilles, Katy Perry, and Travis Barker, with many of the featured artists expected to appear in person.

The festival has expanded from its cinematic roots to include a robust lineup of talks, podcast recordings, and video game showcases. One notable premiere is "Dreams of Violets," described as a fully AI-generated...