By Tammy Reese
For the third time, I was graced with the honor to represent NYWIFT and cover the Tribeca Festival in New York City. The Tribeca Festival, presented by AT&T, brings visionaries and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, VR, gaming, music, and online work.
It is my distinct pleasure to bring you some iconic highlights of the events, panels, red carpets, and more that I covered.
Pre-Tribeca, I had the blessing to interview some members of our NYWIFT community including Asha Smith, Nikia Nelson, and Haley Davis, all of who are a part of projects which showcased at this year’s festival.
Also, ahead of opening day, I interviewed legends Angela Bassett and Patricia Field which you can listen to on our podcast. Each also has a NYWIFT connection – as past Muse and Designing Women honorees respectively.
I arrived at the festival on June 9th to meet fellow NYWIFT Member Maria Soccor who previously picked up my Hudson press badge for me and has been a huge support in navigating Tribeca, along with LaKisa Renee, who covered the Dan Rather red carpet alongside me, but for Cultured Focus Magazine. Dan’s documentary, Rather, directed by Frank Marshall, premiered at the SVA theater. [NYWIFT member and TV news veteran Dana Roberson is featured in the documentary as well.]
Tammy Reese, Dan Rather, and LaKisa Renee at the 2023 Tribeca Festival
I pre-screened the doc and was so overjoyed that the 91-year-old media icon is getting his flowers while he can still smell them. He is a masterclass for journalism, and I was moved to tears when I expressed to him personally how much he’s inspired me throughout my multimedia career. Dan shook my hand, gave me some heartfelt advice, and chatted with me personally off-camera as well as took a super cool photo with LaKisa and me. During the carpet, I asked the director Frank Marshall how he would describe Dan in one word. He replied, “Trustworthy.” I agree!
Billy Porter and Tammy Reese at the 2023 Tribeca Festival
Next up, I got to cover the Our Son red carpet. This film stars Billy Porter and Luke Evans. Since I had previously interviewed Luke for a different project, I made it a priority to be sure to interview Emmy Award-winning actor Billy Porter this time. Porter and Evans returned to Tribeca playing partners of 13 years. Porter stars as Gabriel, an aspiring artist struggling to find creative and personal spark while caring for the young son he shares with his ambitious partner, Nicky (Evans). Stress and anxiety flare as their relationship gets to an unrepairable place, forcing the couple to head for a divorce. Now the two must navigate the unenviable position of revealing the news to shared friends and family. Thus begins the journey to find themselves and support their son.
Check out my interview with Billy Porter here.
Other red carpets I covered included the documentary premiere of Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive. This documentary recounts Gloria Gaynor’s life while also chronicling her comeback journey. It is both a moving story of an artist’s resilience and a scintillating peak at the machinations of the music industry. Actress Cassandra Freeman, who stars in Peacock’s Bel-Air, was in attendance.
LaKisa Renee, Cassandra Freeman, and Tammy Reese at the 2023 Tribeca Festival
Also, a super fun red carpet I covered was Diarra From Detroit, which is a dark comedy that follows a divorcing school teacher who refuses to believe she’s been ghosted by her rebound Tinder date. Her search for the missing man pulls her into a decades-old mystery involving the Detroit underworld. As the case unfolds, her co-workers, friends, and lovers become unlikely allies as she falls down a dangerous rabbit hole. The cast of this new TV series includes past NYWIFT Muse honoree Phylicia Rashad and Morris Chestnut. Both of whom I got a chance to speak with.
I have to give a special mention to another Tribeca documentary premiere called Exposing Parchman, which is an investigative documentary that explores the efforts to reform the Mississippi correctional system led by a team of attorneys on behalf of the inmates of Parchman Prison. The film tells the inside stories of the families, the legal team, and Roc Nation across three years of legal battles to end the deadly conditions for those incarcerated at Parchman.
Last but not least, I ended my 2023 Tribeca Festival experience on June 17th exactly how I began my Tribeca coverage by covering the one and only Angela Bassett during the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the 1998 release of How Stella Got Her Groove Back. After the movie screening, there was a panel discussion with Kevin Sullivan and Angela Bassett, moderated by Torell Shavone Taylor. Check out some highlights here.
Covering a festival as renowned as Tribeca takes a lot of endurance, planning, and professionalism. In the three years I covered I went from a D (Chamber) press badge, to a C (Franklin) press badge, to an A (Hudson) press badge. Huge thanks to NYWIFT and Katie Chambers for backing this opportunity.
LaKisa Renee, Gloria Gaynor, and Tammy Reese at the 2023 Tribeca Festival
Until next time… keep up to date with all things Tribeca Festival by visiting https://www.tribecafilm.com/
Check on Tammy Reese’s coverage of The Walking Dead: Dead City at the 2023 Tribeca Festival here!
Tammy Reese
Tammy Reese is CEO of Visionary Minds PR & Media, and a New York award winning Actress, Writer, and Journalist.
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Kash Blagrove
Welcome to NYWIFT, Kash Blagrove! Kash is a New York City–based producer with a background in advertising and a strong commitment to authenticity, diversity, and inclusion in media. Over the past decade, she has produced campaigns for major brands including eBay, European Wax Center, Peloton, and the WNBA, working across projects ranging from small-scale productions to multi-million-dollar campaigns. As a champion of body positivity, Kash brings a thoughtful perspective to her work, advocating for greater representation both in front of and behind the camera. Her work on the WNBA’s Line ’Em Up campaign earned multiple honors at the 2025 Clio Sports Awards, reflecting the real impact the project had beyond the screen. In our interview, Kash discussed her journey into producing, her commitment to inclusive storytelling, and the projects she’s excited to bring to life next.
READ MORENYWIFT Board Member Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago on Kaya, Cultural Identity, and Its Tribeca Festival Premier
With more than three decades of experience spanning film, television, theater, and festival leadership across the United States and Asia, Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago has built a remarkable career championing diverse voices and meaningful storytelling. As President of Sitting Cat Productions, Executive Director and Head of Programming for the SOHO International Film Festival, and Board Member for NYWIFT, she has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for filmmakers and bringing impactful stories to audiences worldwide. This year, Reymundo-Santiago serves as Consulting Producer on Kaya (ᜃᜌ), a powerful film featured during the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. The story follows Nia, a half-Filipina young woman who secretly trains with queer outcast Malic in hopes of joining an elite Filipino Martial Arts team and proving she is “Filipino enough.” Through themes of identity, belonging, cultural connection, and self-acceptance, Kaya explores experiences that resonate far beyond its cultural roots.
READ MOREBecky Morrison is Championing a Better Future for Film While Bringing “Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors” to Tribeca
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, producers like Becky Morrison are helping lead the charge toward a more thoughtful, people-centered future in filmmaking. A producer, entrepreneur, and advocate for safer production environments, Becky brings both heart and vision to every project she touches — including Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors, the powerful short film making its World Premiere at the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. Set against the backdrop of New York City’s subway system, Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors transforms a seemingly ordinary interaction into a gripping reflection on space, respect, tension, and human behavior. The film captures the emotional complexity hidden within everyday moments, offering audiences a story that feels distinctly New York while speaking to universal experiences of dignity and connection.
READ MORENYWIFT Member Susan Margolin Brings “Time Warp” to Tribeca’s 25th Anniversary Documentary Competition
For more than three decades, NYWIFT member Susan Margolin has championed independent storytelling that sparks conversation, challenges perspectives, and amplifies voices that deserve to be heard. As an award-winning producer and trailblazer in documentary distribution, she has helped bring hundreds of impactful films to audiences worldwide. Now, she returns to the festival circuit as one of the producers of Time Warp, a powerful new documentary making its world premiere in the Documentary Competition at the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. Directed by Allison Berg and produced alongside an accomplished creative team, Time Warp follows a drag theater company in Rock Springs, Wyoming, as they stage a shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50 years after the cult classic first captivated audiences. For Susan, whose career has been defined by elevating meaningful stories and underrepresented voices, the film arrives at a pivotal cultural moment.
READ MORE
Comments are closed