Since those early days, the film festival has grown exponentially, having shown over 1,100 films from some 80 countries over the last 10 seasons.
Additionally, Tribeca is distributing its own films through its Tribeca Films venture showing those films at the festival, on demand, and online. Like the Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca also has programs to foster young filmmakers, providing financing and mentoring through its Tribeca Film Institute.
The festival has not been without its critics. Its programmers have been criticized for spreading the festival too thin, stuffing the calendar with scads of films and diluting any sense of unique character in the process.
While it is true that navigating the sheer volume of films can be a daunting task, there are strong signs that a unique festival might be emerging. It’s no longer the leftovers from Cannes and Sundance but the result of year-round searching for top-quality narratives, documentaries, and short-form films.
