The lineup for the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival was released this week and the roster includes several LGBT-inclusive films, including the world premiere of Bridegroom.
Bridegroom is a documentary about a gay couple struck by tragedy and the discrimination that resulted from the lack of marriage protections for lesbian and gay couples. On the one-year anniversary of his partner Tom Bridegroom’s death, Shane Bitney Crone posted a YouTube video titled “It Could Happen to You” about their relationship and Tom’s death that has since received over 3 million views and launched EqualLoveEqualRights which has passed 60,000 Facebook likes. Bridegroom, directed and produced by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (Designing Women), blew through its funding goal to become one of the highest funded films in Kickstarter history. Watch the Bridegroom Kickstarter trailer below.
Tribeca's Spotlight section, which "focuses on films that blur the lines between independent and mainstream filmmaking," features a variety of LGBT-inclusive films. The comedy G.B.F., centered on Tanner (Michael J. Willett, United States of Tara) and Brent (Paul Iacono, The Hard Times of R.J. Berger), two closeted best friends trying to survive high school, will make its world premiere at the festival. Brent thinks coming out will be his ticket to becoming high school royalty as the "gay best friend (G.B.F.)" of the popular girls, while Tanner just wants to graduate without being noticed. The boys must decide what is really important to them when Tanner accidentally comes out instead of Brent. The attention goes to Tanner's head as popular girls compete to be his best friend. Check out a behind-the-scenes look below.
Iconic novelist and playwright Gore Vidal, who passed away last year, is profiled in Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia which makes its international premiere at Tribeca. The film blends interviews with those closest to him and footage of Vidal's on-air career. Reaching for the Moon (Flores Raras) will have its North American premiere at Tribeca. The film follows unsatisfied poet Elizabeth Bishop as she travels to Brazil and meets the enticing architect Lota de Macedo Soares. The two initially clash, but that passion makes way for a long-lasting relationship that dramatically changes Bishop's relationship to the larger world. Other LGBT-inclusive Tribeca Spotlight films include Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me which features interviews with Nathan Lane about the Emmy-winning actress and vocalist, as well as the Whoopi Goldberg-directed documentary I Got Somethin' to Tell You about comedy legend Moms Mabley.
The Taiwanese dramedy Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? makes its North American debut in the World Narrative Competition section. Weichung is a repressed optometrist who is unsatisfied with his marriage when he bumps into an old flame who stirs up forgotten emotions.
Tribeca will host a special screening of the short documentary The Battle of amfAR, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (The Celluloid Closet). The film tells the story of Dr. Mathilde Krim and Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor as they teamed up to launch the country's first HIV/AIDS research foundation. There will be a discussion following the film with special guests Dr. Mathilde Krim, Elizabeth Taylor's daughter-in-law Aileen Getty, global health consultant and advocate Regan Hofmann and amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost to discuss the current state of HIV/AIDS research, hosted by amfAR Chairman of the Board, Kenneth Cole.
View the full Tribeca Film Festival schedule here. The Tribeca Film Festival takes place in New York City from April 17 to April 28.
