Moviegoers, take note — the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival begins Wednesday, April 17, and runs until Sunday, April 28. With tickets still available for the festival’s incredibly wide and diverse selection of titles, audiences should be aware of the notable screenings they can look forward to.
“Saturday Night Live” alumnus Will Forte makes his dramatic debut in Steph Green’s “Run & Jump,” a film about a family readjusting to life with their father after he wakes up from a coma as a shell of his former self. Forte plays Ted, a man filming a documentary of the family’s experience, only to find himself filling the role of father figure his wife and children so desperately crave. It’s a tough role for Forte, and certainly one that audiences will want to take in.
For more comedic fare, audiences may be interested in the new film by Darren Stein, who is perhaps best known as the director of the 1999 cult comedy “Jawbreaker.” He returns this year with “G.B.F.,” an acronym for “gay best friend” — the must-have accessory for teenage girls. While Stein’s stylish direction makes this film worthy of a recommendation, it’s the up-and-coming cast, including actresses Sasha Pieterse and Evanna Lynch, that already has filmgoers and critics talking.
Even those who aren’t particularly interested in documentaries might want to check out “Lil Bub & Friendz,” the film debut of Internet cat celebrity Lil Bub. Telling the story of Lil Bub and her rise to fame despite suffering from the bone disease osteoporosis, the movie also taps into the Internet users’ inexplicable obsession with cats. Featuring appearances by other celebrity cats such as Grumpy Cat, Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat, it’s likely you won’t find a more culturally relevant documentary this year.
Horror fans, on the other hand, might be more interested in “V/H/S/2,” the sequel to last year’s experimental horror film “V/H/S.” Like its predecessor, “V/H/S/2” is a horror anthology of short films from some of the industry’s most promising directors, such as Jason Eisener (“Hobo with a Shotgun”) and Gareth Evans (“The Raid: Redemption”). The response to the first movie was mixed, and fans of “V/H/S” will surely be anticipating whether the series has worked out its kinks.
Lastly, audiences will want to check out “Prince Avalanche,” starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch. Director David Gordon Green was known for more indie fare before finding comedy success with “Pineapple Express.” However, his more recent films, such as “The Sitter,” have left much to be desired. All eyes will be on the comedy-drama “Prince Avalanche” to see just where Green’s career arc is headed.
One of the best film festivals in the tri-state area, this year’s Tribeca Film Festival offers another round of screenings with something for everybody.
A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, April 11 print edition. Jeremy Grossman is film editor. Email him at [email protected].