Required Viewing: Must See Films from the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival

By Christine Connallon & Mike Perciaccante

The 2025 Tribeca Film Festival celebrated 24 glorious years of bringing the best programming to audiences, cultivated for their ability to inspire, engage, entertain and educate as only film can.  This year’s festival boasted an incredible slate of 118  feature films from 36 countries, carefully selected from a diverse and compelling batch that truly provided something of interest for everyone.  One hundred and thirty five filmmakers shared their creative vision, including films from 44 debut filmmakers making their feature debut. Here are some of our favorite films from this year’s stellar roster that should be on your radar:

Animals in War: This collaboration between Ukrainian and international artists like Sean Penn is a powerful perspective of the impact that the war has had on the animals of Ukraine. Director Sviatoslav Kostiuk shares a compelling view that will cause a domino effect of empathy for this serious situation. 

Birthright:  Directed and written by Zoe Pepper, this age-old take of adult children needing the financial help of their parents takes a new spin as a husband and his pregnant wife face the reality of life after moving in with his folks. With an explosive build of tension, audiences will be on the edge of their seat til the final credits roll. 

Widow Champion:  This poignant look at the plight of women who have lost their husbands in rural Kenya is an eye-opening view of a patriarchal system that impacts inherited land and the only person who can help them fight for what is theirs. 

Honeyjoon:  What could go wrong when a Persian-Kurdish mom and her American daughter travel to the Azores after a tragic loss?  Grief, a handsome tour guide, throngs of honeymooners and opposing philosophies of life and the trip itself give us a wild ride directed by Lilian T. Mehrel. 

All We Cannot See:  Directed by Alberto Arvelo, this compelling film about an impromptu road trip from Portugal to Spain for two women who encounter each other by chance takes us on an adventure that unearths secrets that will change their lives forever. 

Underland:  Director Robert Petit takes us on an ethereal journey through vistas normally not viewed by human eyes including underground laboratories, caves and even flooded drains.  This eye-opening experience enlightens us to what is right under our feet but out of sight and is produced by Darren Aronofsky. 

Sun Ra:  Do the Impossible:  Directed by Christine Turner, this amazing showcase of the work and vision of Sun Ra deep dives into his innovations, profound jazz background and incredible artistic and social callings.  

Natchez:  This absolute stand-out from director Suzannah Herbert is a raw look at the Mississippi town and its conflicted past. Antebellum tourism is at war with the tensions of the damage that those times inflicted. Beautifully presented, this thought-provoking film is one that will continue hard discussions that need to happen. 

Maintenance Artist:  The strength of a film festival like Tribeca is in the hidden gems that rise to the surface. Maintenance Artists is one of those stand out films. Director Toby Perl Freilich shares the fascinating work and life of ground-breaking public artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, the first artist-in-residence in New York City’s Department of Sanitation. 

An Eye for an Eye:  Director Tanaz Eshaghian shares the story of Tahereh, a woman who is convicted of murdering her husband.  Under Sharia law, she is racing against time to negotiate with her in-laws who have the legal right to execute or forgive her.  This tense and fraught film is one that will stay with audiences long after it ends. 

The End of Quiet: Director Kasper Bisgaard brings us into a unique area, where Wi-Fi and phone signals are not permitted to reach.  

Happy Birthday: Classism in present-day Cairo is on display as Toha, an eight-year-old maid goes to extremes to make sure that her best friend Nelly has an amazing birthday. Plot twist - Nelly is the daughter of Toha’s wealthy employer.  Both hopeful and heartbreaking, this film will change the way you consider status. 

Room to Move: Director Alexander Hammer shares a rare and intimate documentary about renowned choreographer and dancer Jenn Freeman as she creates her first evening-length dance piece on the heels of a recent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay: This beautiful and honest documentary was directed and produced by perennial favorite Mariska Hargitay, as she searches for her mother and the woman behind the iconic actress, Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay shares the pain and triumph as she discovers more about her mom through interviews, clips and more. 

The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel: Director Ramiel Petros shows us the trajectory of once-famous British football star Tony Powell from stadium glory to the lonely manager of a Hollywood motel on the verge of shuttering.  

Jimmy & The Demons: Beautifully filmed, this gem from director Cindy Meehl introduces us to the latest work of acclaimed sculptor James Grashow. At 79, Grashow is working toward completing his enormous wooden sculpture called “The Cathedral,” spanning 4 years of creation. 

Blue Scuti: Game Crasher:  This amazing documentary gives us a peek into the rise to fame of 13 year old Willis Gibson as he becomes the first person in human history to beat the game Tetris.  

Andy Kaufman Is Me: Director Clay Tweel provides a unique look into the mind of comedic icon Andy Kaufman using his never-before-revealed audio diary recordings.  

Westhampton: Director Christian Nilsson documents his return to the Long Island town of Westhampton, the inspiration for his breakout film as well as a place that he has long ago left behind. 

The Sixth Borough: When you think of hip-hop music, you probably aren’t considering Long Island as a formative area in the musical genre’s history. This suburban area was instrumental in setting the sound for the expansion of hip-hop outside of New York City. 

Nobu: Director Matt Tyrnauer tracks the path of Nobu Matsuhisa from his humble start to the legendary sushi master and restaurateur that he is today. 

Billy Idol Should Be Dead: The iconic sneer, the 80’s rise to fame, the punk icon that is known as Billy Idol has lived so many lives. Director Jonas Akerlund shares Idol’s rise to fame as well as his battle with addiction, resulting in a loyal fan base who are still rocking out to his music.

While you’re searching for these amazing films, we’ll be dreaming of the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival. It can’t come soon enough! 

Photo #1 courtesy of Christine Connallon

All other photos courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival