Tribeca Film Festival Pt. I
TGIF content includes "As of Yet" Film Review, Tribeca Film Shorts: Cherry Lemonade, Blood and Glory, & Last Meal. Also, New Music Friday with Clairo & Doja Cat
It’s the twentieth anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T®. Every year the Tribeca Film Festival brings together visionaries across industries and diverse audiences to celebrate the power of storytelling.
A platform for independent filmmaking, creative expression, and immersive entertainment, Tribeca supports emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning filmmakers, curates innovative and interactive experiences and introduces new technology and ideas through panels, premieres, exhibitions, and live performances.
The Tribeca Film Festival is founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff following the attacks on the World Trade Center back in 2001. Tribeca has evolved from an annual event to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan to a gathering place for filmmakers, artists, innovators, and the global creative community. Through programs that embrace storytelling in all of its expansive forms—film, TV, online work, VR/AR, and music—TFF reimagines the cinematic experience and explores how art can unite communities.
🎥 While this year is our first year in attendance, virtually, we’re honored and thrilled to share Youthquake’s festival coverage. We’re starting with some fantastic film shorts, which are significant and gripping.
Cherry Lemonade
An impactful and captivating 11-min short that instantly transports you to a nostalgic innocence of those hot and hazy summer days of adolescence; and how quickly a young girl’s world can change.
Blood and Glory
A striking look into a deep-rooted issue; the disregard of our veterans, especially unhoused veterans that grapple with their PTSD and stigmas that women still face today, such as period stigmas on menstruation.
Last Meal
This short is a rich and sharp contrast of food imagery against hearing the harrowing crimes from some notorious serial killers is written and directed by Marcus Mckenzie and Daniel Principe. It also features the last meals of incarcerated individuals who suffered at the hands of the industrial prison complex.
Sometimes a film falls into your life, so when watching, it hits so close to home that it feels like it’s about your life. Of course, in reality, it’s just purely coincidental, as the fictional disclaimer goes. However— watching an advanced screening of As of Yet gave me deja vu.
The Ashley Edouard and Duplass Brothers produced film is the feature directorial debut of Chanel James and co-director and star Taylor Garron.
Although filmed during the surreality of the early months of the pandemic, As of Yet isn’t a pandemic film— it merely features it.
The film centers around Naomi (Garron) emotionally traversing as she’s in lockdown four months into the pandemic. On top of dealing with a problematic longtime friend and roommate, Sara (played by Eva Victor) fled to Florida, leaving Naomi alone in their Brooklyn apartment with her retrospective feelings.
Adding to an already tense situation is the socially aware uprising of last summer’s Black Lives Matter movement.
As the friends catch up, the political discussion only further drifts Naomi apart from Sara; strangely reminiscent (those who have kept up with Youthquake may remember a previous post I wrote about grieving the end of my 12-year old friendship). Despite the dissolution between Naomi and Sara, the palpable shift gives Naomi independence she didn’t know she needed into a possible developing romantic potential with someone she’s been sparking with online.
The possibility of a burgeoning romance is fun to watch. Reed (Amir Khan) and Naomi’s connection evolves as the duo frequently stays in contact to discuss popular binge-worthy shows like Law and Order: SVU and Peep Show (a personal favorite) through digital screens and digital dialogue. Something extremely vital during the height of personal disconnect due to the ongoing pandemic.
Watching As of Yet was hilariously therapeutic. Seeing Naomi go through the influx of emotions while picking up the pieces and coming to terms with outgrowing a crumbling friendship was a closure I never had but helped me realize the correct decisions are made while also making me laugh in the process. Watch it all pop off soon; As of Yet is a film that can’t be missed.
New Music Friday on Youthquake is always on shuffle, so here are some of the latest tracks you should hear and watch now.
🎧 Clairo Blouse
Last night, Clairo revealed her new single Blouse and her forthcoming sophomore studio album, Sling, via FADER Label/Republic Records. Clairo’s new album drops July 16th; written and recorded in upstate New York at Allaire Studios and co-produced by Golden Globe/GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Jack Antonoff.
🎧 Doja Cat Need to Know
Perhaps one of my most anticipated from global superstar and creative tour de force, Doja Cat as she releases her newest track, Need To Know. Also, its accompanying otherworldly music video, directed by Miles & AJ (Billie Eilish, MGK). It’s quintessential Doja, which is no surprise given the repeated hits she keeps giving. As I’ve said before, Doja Cat is next level as far as serving full conceptual art. The pop girls continue to snap.
Need To Know is taken from Doja’s highly anticipated forthcoming new album, Planet Her, which will be released on June 25th (two days before my birthday 👀) via Kemosabe/RCA Records.
TFF is just starting, and we have some fantastic films and documentary reviews coming your way. Including two documentaries on two music living legends— no big deal, just Brian Wilson and Ben Fong-Torres. I had the honor of viewing advanced screenings ahead of their Tribeca premiers; stay tuned for those coming real soon.
With love, your noughties girl. 💘