In an effort to bring entertainment back amid the raging pandemic, the New York Film Festival, Tribeca has announced that it will be organizing outdoor in-person screenings and live events. The festival was founded in the aftermath of 9/11 as a way to revitalize the arts in the city and in the wake of the pandemic, it is attempting to bring communities together once again.
A statement on the festival website announced that the 20th anniversary celebrations will include a 12-day festival that will host community screenings “across all boroughs at venues like Empire Outlets (Staten Island) and The MetroTech Commons (Brooklyn), as well as notable New York City spots like Brookfield Place New York, Pier 57 Rooftop, The Battery, Hudson Yards (Manhattan).” The festival will be presented by AT&T. The news was also shared on Instagram.
Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and CEO of Tribeca Enterprises and the Tribeca Festival, said, “Tribeca is a community of the most resilient and talented storytellers on the planet. In 20 years, that community of creators and our partners have become a family. This summer we are excited to reunite as Tribeca becomes a centrepiece of live entertainment in neighbourhoods across New York City.”
Actor Robert De Niro, who is the co-founder of the Tribeca Festival, said, “The Tribeca Film Festival was born out of our mission to bring people together in the aftermath of 9/11. We’re still doing it. And as New York emerges from the shadow of COVID-19, it seems just right to bring people together again in-person for our 20th anniversary festival.”
The festival will be working together with the New York State Department of Health to ensure that all COVID-19 safety protocols are followed.