The Tribeca Film Festival has announced its competition films and out-of-competition Viewpoints slate - 46 of the festival's total compliment this year.
There are two UK films among the line-up - Jerry Rothwell's follow-up to his Tribeca award-winning Donor Unknown, Town Of Runners, which takes a look at the Ethiopean town that has spawned a seemingly endless supply of Olympians; and Lucy Mulloy's Una Noche, a tale of restless Cuban teens in Miami.
The Festival - which runs from April 18 to 29 - was curated by a new programming team this year, including incoming artistic director Frédéric Boyer, who previously programmed Cannes' Directors Fortnight. Chief creative officer of Tribeca Enterprises Geoffrey Gilmore has also expanded his role in overseeing the Festival program, while Genna Terranova has been promoted to director of programming.
Executive director fo the festival Nancy Schafer said: “It’s been so gratifying to watch the new programming team come together. Their passion is inspiring and is reflected in the strength and breadth of the program.”
For the first time, the competition sections will have designated opening night films in both the documentary and narrative categories, highlighting the sections. The World Before Her will open the World Documentary competition and Yossi will open the World Narrative competition on April 19.
The 2012 film selection includes feature films from 32 different countries, including 54 World Premieres. The 2012 film slate was chosen from a total of 5950 submissions, a record number for the Festival.
Boyer said: “To me the films in competition reflect the diversity and vitality of contemporary cinema. Diversity in the themes addressed through powerful storytelling, but also in filmmaking itself where the images, the sounds and the way of capturing the truth in human beings is striking.
"Vitality because this year we are presenting nine first time feature filmmakers in competition, and I believe we will keep a close eye on these directors’ works in the future.
“The quality of American independent cinema is well represented this year, but international diversity has its share too, with films from countries as varied as Cuba and Kenya. All different films, but all consistent in their shared ambition of representing their own world.”
Among the films to look out for from established names are Harmony Korine's short film starring Val Kilmer in portmanteau collaboration The Fourth Dimension and James Franco's edgy sounding Francophenia (Or Don't Kill Me, I Know Where The Baby Is), which uses backstage footage from his stint on General Hospital to form the basis for a psychological thriller.
In the competition sections, there are a slew of directorial debuts, but also new work from Bradley Rust Gray (The Exploding Girl), Edwin (Bling Pig Who Wants to Fly) and Scott Hamilton Kennedy (The Garden), who will respectively present horror/love mash-up Jack And Diane, Indonesian fairytale Postcards From The Zoo and coming-of-age documentary Fame High.
In addition to the Competition and Viewpoints categories, the Festival presents feature-length films in the Spotlight, Cinemania and Special screenings sections, which will be announced on March 8.
Read our coverage from the festival here
