Saturday, April 25, 2026
Tribeca Becomes First Major Film Festival to Open Official Submissions to Social Media Creators, Introducing a New Class of Storytellers Through the Tribeca NOW Creators Showcase. Plus Tribeca NOW Live Events Featuring Keke Palmer and Lawrence Murray of KeyTV, and the World Premiere of Two Episodes of Kareem Rahma’s “Keep The Meter Running,” Followed by a Conversation With Rahma Tribeca NOW Also Presents Third Annual Creator Conversation at The Lighthouse Brooklyn, Spotlighting the Future of Digital Storytelling
Passes & Ticket Packages Available at TribecaFilm.com; Single Tickets on Sale April 28Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Tribeca
Festival, presented by OKX, yesterday announced the 2026 NOW (New Online Work) lineup, Tribeca’s dedicated platform for digital-first storytelling. Tribeca NOW, in partnership with The Lighthouse (part of Whalar Group), takes place during this year’s Festival from June 3–14 in New York City. Passes and ticket packages are on sale now at TribecaFilm.com, with the Hudson Pass offering the premier festival experience, including VIP access and an invitation to Opening or Closing Night. Single tickets go on sale April 28.
With the expansion of Tribeca NOW, Tribeca becomes the first major film festival to open official submissions to social media creators across platforms including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, signaling a broader industry shift in how storytelling is discovered, evaluated, and elevated. The 2026 slate features ten boundary-pushing creators whose work spans genres, formats, and platforms, united by distinct voices and a cinematic approach to digital storytelling. Submissions were evaluated holistically, recognizing not only standout individual pieces but each creator’s broader body of work, storytelling voice, and cultural impact.
This year’s Official Selections include: And They Were Roommates (@atwrtheseries), a New York City rom-com series; Shanked (@shankedshow), a chaotic country club workplace comedy; BK Coffee Shop (@bkcoffeeshop), a viral Gen Z satire set in Brooklyn; VHS Dates (@vhsdates), found-footage comedy about dating in the ‘80s; Sideline Archive (@sideline.archive), which uncovers forgotten stories through vintage sports memorabilia; That’s That on That (@tajrani), deep-dive portraits of the uncredited architects of Black history; Emmy Award-nominated journalism from Retache (@retachemedia); 15 Second Film (@15secondfilm), a micro-filmmaking experiment turning strangers into storytellers; Mechanical Pencil (@amari.k.jones and @palmerwilliams3), coming-of-age stories rooted in ‘90s Black cinema; and TIME 100 Creator and Emmy Award-nominated host Taylor Cassidy (@taylorcassidyj).
“Tribeca has always been at the forefront of how storytelling evolves, from early online series to today’s creator-driven ecosystem, and Tribeca NOW reflects that legacy in motion,” said Tribeca Festival Senior Programmer Jarod Neece. “What began as Up Next has grown into a program that recognizes these artists for who they truly are: world-builders, community architects, and pioneers of an entirely new pathway into the industry.”
In addition to the Official Selections, Tribeca NOW will host a series of live events, including a screening and conversation with Keke Palmer (@keke) and Lawrence Murray (@lawrencesmurray) centered on KeyTV’s The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl, moderated by NOW Creator Taj Rani (@tajrani). The program also features the world premiere of two episodes of Keep The Meter Running from Kareem Rahma (@kareem), the beloved New York City taxi series making the leap from short-form social video to long-form storytelling on YouTube. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Rahma and producer Adam Faze (@adamfaze), moderated by New York Times pop music critic and Popcast host Jon Caramanica (@joncaramanica).
Returning for its third year, Whalar Group brings two dynamic live conversations to Tribeca NOW at The Lighthouse, Brooklyn’s premier campus for creators, spotlighting the evolving relationship between digital storytelling and Hollywood filmmaking. The signature Tribeca NOW conversation convenes leading voices from across film and creator ecosystems to explore how these worlds are converging in real time. In addition, Whalar Group and The Lighthouse also present “What’s Next,” a reunion panel with New York-based creators from Tribeca’s 2025 “Up Next” cohort, returning one year later to reflect on momentum, growth, and what comes after the breakthrough moment.
“The expanded programming of Tribeca NOW meaningfully reflects every stage of the creator journey,” said Tribeca Festival Programmer Tiana Harris. “Our KeyTV event, highlighting Keke Palmer’s digital platform, underscores the role digital plays in shaping and sustaining a career, even for established A-list talent. Kareem Rahma’s return to Tribeca with his new series exemplifies the power of consistent, iterative, entertaining content—work that evolves in real time, engages audiences, and deepens the connection. Meanwhile, our NOW Showcase features a dynamic slate of storytellers we are eager for broader audiences and the industry to discover, champion, and continue to follow as their work evolves.”
This milestone builds on Tribeca’s long-standing leadership at the intersection of technology, culture, and storytelling. Since launching Tribeca NOW in 2014—the first festival platform dedicated to online work—the Festival has consistently identified and elevated breakout digital creators early, including those behind High Maintenance prior to its HBO acquisition, alongside Lena Waithe’s Hello Cupid, Shaina Feinberg’s Dinette, Elvira Lind’s Academy Award®-nominated The Letter Room, and Barret O’Brien and Mark Duplass’ The Long Long Night.
That track record reflects Tribeca’s broader history of meeting storytelling at its key inflection points—from early mobile filmmaking experiments with the Nokia 6682 in 2005, to YouTube-native series through a 2012 Maker Studios partnership, to short-form storytelling on Vine in 2013 and Snapchat in 2016–2017—consistently identifying where storytelling is going next.
The 2026 program builds on that foundation while accelerating Tribeca’s investment in the creator economy. Recent initiatives include the launch of its Creator Vertical in 2024, in partnership with Whalar Group, and the UpNext Creators program, which made its in-person debut in 2025, bringing digital creators onto Tribeca’s red carpets and stages.
Tribeca’s track record of identifying emerging talent continues to expand. UpNext alumni, including Veronika Slowikowska (TF ‘24), who recently joined the cast of Saturday Night Live; Kareem Rahma (TF ‘24) of Subway Takes; and Public Opinion (TF ‘24), the team behind Track Star exemplify the growing pipeline between digital platforms and traditional entertainment.
Now in its 25th year, Tribeca continues to evolve alongside the industry it helped shape, expanding its definition of storytelling while maintaining its core mission: discover what’s next and give it a global stage.
Defined by originality and voice, this year’s Tribeca NOW creators are not just building audiences, they are reshaping how stories are told, distributed, and sustained in a rapidly changing media landscape. Tribeca NOW honors the enduring power of cinema while embracing the platforms defining the future of storytelling. The full 2026 Tribeca NOW lineup is detailed below.
To learn more about the Tribeca Festival programming team, visit TribecaFilm.com. For updates, follow @Tribeca and #Tribeca2026 on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Festival passes and ticket packages are now available at TribecaFilm.com. Single tickets go on sale April 28.
2026 TRIBECA NOW LIVE EVENTS
Tribeca NOW Creators Showcase: Tribeca NOW spotlights 10 boundary-pushing digital storytellers transforming the creator landscape with their distinctive voices, from found-footage dating-satire and sports archaeology to reverse-migration documentaries, Black history deep-dives, and a country-club workplace comedy gone gloriously off the rails. These visionaries are building audiences on their own terms, and they’re just getting started.
Date: June 10, 2026
Time: 8:30pm ET
Location: AMC 19th St. East 6
KeyTV’s The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl with Keke Palmer & Lawrence Murray. Join Keke Palmer and Lawrence Murray for a screening of The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl, a KeyTV original. Both homage and satire, DivaGurl draws from the sonics and shenanigans of early aughts girl groups and pop culture.
After the Screening: NOW Creator Taj Rani (@tajrani) will moderate a live conversation with Keke Palmer and Lawrence Murray, exploring digital platforms as a proving ground for talent, how KeyTV is cultivating a new wave of storytellers, and the role digital has played shaping their own careers.
Date: June 7, 2026
Time: 8:30pm ET
Location: AMC 19th St. East 6
Keep the Meter Running (YouTube) World Premiere of two episodes. Tribeca Festival welcomes Kareem Rahma (@kareem) and producer Adam Faze (@adamfaze) for an exclusive screening of their new series, Keep The Meter Running. The beloved web-based series, featuring New York City taxi drivers and their favorite local spots, and followed by millions online, makes the leap to long-form storytelling on YouTube. The evening includes two episodes, featuring Tribeca-exclusive premiere not yet available online.
After the Screening: A live conversation with Kareem Rahma and Adam Faze about the creative leap from vertical social video to cinematic storytelling, and what the future holds for creator-driven distribution. Moderated by New York Times pop music critic and “Popcast” host Jon Caramanica (@joncaramanica).
Date: June 11, 2026
Time: 5:00pm ET
Location: AMC 19th St. East 6
The Lighthouse Creator Conversation Step inside the future of storytelling as Tribeca NOW and Whalar Group host their third annual conversation exploring the collision of social media and Hollywood filmmaking. Bringing together leading voices shaping the creator economy, this event takes over The Lighthouse, Brooklyn’s premier campus for creators, for an insider look at where storytelling is headed next.
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Location: The Lighthouse Brooklyn
“What’s Next” – Tribeca Creators Panel at The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse presents “What’s Next,” a reunion panel with New York–based creators from Tribeca’s 2025 “Up Next” cohort, returning one year later to reflect on momentum, growth, and what comes after the breakthrough moment. Moderated by a Whalar Group executive and hosted at The Lighthouse Brooklyn.
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Location: The Lighthouse Brooklyn
2026 TRIBECA NOW OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
And They Were Roommates | @atwrtheseries
Created by Emily Rose Lyons
A solo-produced New York City-set award-winning romantic comedy series proving that one person with a vision can do it all.
15 Second Film | @15secondfilm
Created by Jeb McCormick
A micro-filmmaking experiment that transforms strangers into storytellers in fifteen seconds flat.
BK Coffee Shop | @bkcoffeeshop
Created by Pooja Tripathi
A viral satirical series using Brooklyn café culture as a lens for the absurdities of modern Gen Z life.
Mechanical Pencil | @amari.k.jones
Created by Amari K. Jones & Palmer Williams III
Culturally grounded coming-of-age stories rooted in faith, community, and the enduring spirit of ’90s Black cinema.
Retache | @retachemedia
Created by Mariano Avila, Andrea Lerdo & Hillia Aho
An Emmy-nominated documentary project chronicling the overlooked human stories driving America’s reverse migration to Mexico.
Shanked | @shankedshow
Created by James Lynch, Patrick Farley & Mikey Smith
A chaotic country club workplace comedy blending The Office with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – and a golf cart.
Sideline Archive | @sideline.archive
Created by Hugh Coles
A documentary series using vintage sports apparel and forgotten memorabilia to uncover the stories that define fan identity.
Taylor Cassidy | @taylorcassidyj
A TIME 100 creator and Emmy-nominated host bringing Black history to mass audiences through bold, accessible digital storytelling.
That’s That on That | @tajrani
Created by Taj Rani
A sharp, deeply researched series shining a light on the uncredited contributors who shaped Black history and popular culture.
VHS Dates | @vhsdates
Created by Lee Citron and Trevor Worley
An Emmy-winning creative team delivers a found-footage satire exploring the universal, often hilarious pursuit of love in the 1980s.
ABOUT THE TRIBECA FESTIVAL
The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, podcasts, games, and immersive. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances. The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 25th year from June 3–14, 2026 in New York City. In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.
2026 TRIBECA FESTIVAL PARTNERS
The 2026 Tribeca Festival is presented by OKX and with the support of our partners: 8am, 10 Lives Studios, AT&T, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, CHANEL, City National Bank, DIRECTV, Don Julio Tequila, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NBC4 and Telemundo 47, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, National CineMedia, Spring Studios New York, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, and Vulture.