The 2025 Tribeca Festival kicked off with the world premiere of the highly anticipated HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So it Goes, an expansive and deeply personal portrait of the life and music of New York City icon Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting.
Co-directors Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin attended the event, along with Executive Producers Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman, and Joel’s longtime band members Richie Cannata, Liberty DeVitto, and Russell Javors. Whoopi Goldberg, Mariska Hargitay, Steve Zahn, Caroline Aaron, Elizabeth Weber, and Tribeca jury members Mira Sorvino and Asher Grodman were also present.
Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal. Photo Credit Dimitrios Kambouris
Mariska Hargitay & Peter Herman. Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris
Just before the screening, Tribeca Festival co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal took the stage to welcome the packed house of Joel fans to opening night, before teeing up Lacy and Levin to introduce the film. The remarks featured well-wishes to Joel and several references to his iconic songs, as De Niro confirmed he’s “in a New York state of mind,” and Lacy and Levin concluded with a heartfelt message to Joel: “we love you just the way you are.”
Film: BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES
WHO: Caroline Aaron, Nancy Abraham (HBO, Executive Producer), Brian Jordan Alvarez, Dennis Arfa, Jackson Browne, Richie Cannata, Liberty DeVitto, Gary Goetzman (Executive Producer), Whoopi Goldberg, Rick Gomez, Asher Grodman, Tom Hanks (Executive Producer), Mariska Hargitay, Lisa Heller (HBO, Executive Producer), Peter Hermann, Russell Javors, Susan Lacy (Co-Director), Jessica Levin (Co-Director), Robert De Niro, Jonathan Penner, Emma Pildes (Producer), Sara Rodriguez (HBO, Executive Producer), David Rosenthal, Jane Rosenthal, Mira Sorvino, Elizabeth Weber, Sean Weber-Small, Steve Zahn.
WHERE: The Beacon Theatre – 212 W 75th St, New York, NY, June 4, 2024