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11 Must-See Black Films at the Tribeca Film Festival

A first look at this year's hottest indie films, documentaries and more.

The Tribeca Film Festival kicks off in New York City this week, which means next year's Oscar darlings are about to make their debuts. 

This year's lineup of films is incredibly exciting, especially for Black cinema. The lineup is stacked with features, documentaries, shorts, virtual reality projects and more that examine the Black experience from many dimensions. We put together a list of the must-see films at this year's festival, so you can track them from now until awards season.

The festival program includes star-studded documentaries on Diddy, Clive Davis and Whitney Houston, an intimate portrait of transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson and much more. 

Difficult as it was to narrow it down, here are the ones we won't want to miss:

  1. Saturday Church

    Bronx, New York, native Ulysess, 14, finds the escape from his strict aunt in the world of music, dance, fantasy and the vibrant transgender community called Saturday Church in this beautiful celebration of one boy's search for his true identity. 

    Starring Luka Kain, Margot Bingham, Regina Taylor, Marquis Rodriguez. Directed by Damon Cardasis

  2. Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives

    Based on the bestselling autobiography of the same name, this documentary film chronicles the historic career of Clive Davis, who has worked with the likes of Whitney Houston, Alicia KeysChristina Aguilera and more. 

    Directed by Chris Perkel

  3. LA 92

    Twenty-five years after they rocked Los Angeles, the infamous riots of 1992 are brought to new light thanks to LA 92, which draws on archival news images and unseen footage to bring the strife and violence between the LAPD and the city's Black community. 

    Directed by Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin

  4. NeuroSpeculative AfroFeminism

    This multidisciplinary exploration dives into the world of Black women through the lens of technology, society and culture. This groundbreaking work of art includes speculative products, immersive experiences and neuroscientific research. 

    Created by Ashley Baccus-Clark, Carmen Aguilar y Wedge, Ece Tankal, Nitzan Bartov

  5. Whitney. 'can I be me'

    Featuring never-before-seen video footage, this moving documentary tells the story of the woman behind one of the most iconic voices in music history, delving into her fame, talent, and her tragic death.

    Directed by Nick Broomfield and Rudi Dolezal

  6. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

    This brave and enlightening documentary follows a new investigation into the mysterious death of self-described "street queen" Marsha P. Johnson, the brave Black transgender activist who helped lead the modern gay civil rights movement.

    Directed by David France

  7. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: The Bad Boy Story

    One of the most anticipated films of the festival, this film offers an honest and exclusive window into the legacy of Bad Boy Records through the portrait of the label's founder, Sean "Diddy" Combs, as he tries to reunite his Bad Boy family in the course of a three-week rehearsal period leading up to the two incredible concerts at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

    Directed by Daniel Kaufman

  8. Skull + Bone

    This short-form documentary tells the untold story of the 200-year custom of the Skull and Bone Gang taking to the streets of New Orleans to warn people against violence and negative influences on the streets just before the beloved Mardis Gras carnival begins. 

    Directed by Victoria Rivera

  9. The Other Dakar

    An homage to Sengalese mythology and inspired by the art and design of Selly Raby Kane, The Other Dakar tells the story of a little girl who receives a message and discovers the hidden face of Dakar, where past and future meet. 

    Created by Selly Raby Kane

  10. For Akheem

    Set in the year leading up to the anti-police brutality riots in Ferguson, Missouri, this documentary film tells the coming-of-age story of Daje Shelton, who experiences falling in love, conflict at home, and the regular growing pains of a 17-year-old girl as she continues to combat the institutional racism and roadblocks that keep her from finding success in America.

    Directed by Jeremy S. Levine and Landon Van Soest

  11. Copwatch

    This enriching documentary tells the story of We Copwatch, an organization the films police activity as a form of non-violent protest and a way to reduce police brutality. It also tells the story of citizen-journalist Ramsey Orta, who filmed the fatal arrest of Eric Garner, and still works to disrupt the continued risk of police violence. 

    Directed by Camilla Hall

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