Music Doc Pallooza | Was Tribeca 2025 Was The Best Fest For Gen X?
Does anyone care about a wrap up? Well after a week like this was at the Tribeca Film Festival, you certainly should. I love covering the film festival for so many reasons… I am lucky enough to be of the group of New Yorkers that can remember the first day of the first year of the festival and when Jane Rosenthal reminded us that this is year 24 I was shocked.
The thing about Tribeca is that every year is quite different. This was the year that Gen X was completely celebrated. The only thing that could’ve make it more Gen X centric would be that BRATS which premiered last year, premiered this year instead. Let’s just say… I’m feeling less and less invisible at Tribeca as years go by. Billy Idol, Culture Club, Depeche Mode… the nostalgia was endless… and With Miley Cyrus’s premier we got a good dose of what the kids are into as well.
Being that I cover films with a style element, my husband Jayce and I were drawn first to the rock docs. Jayce covered the them more extensively in a separate substack post, so head there for much more. He’s a pretty good writer in case you haven’t heard (wink). The Billy Joel doc, the Billy Idol doc, Boy George & Culture Club, Depeche Mode, Metallica… the vinyl hasn’t stopped spinning this week and we realized that there is no Depeche Mode vinyl in the house so we are seeking to rectify that immediately. There’s a lot to cover there… so be sure to settle in.
The two style show-stopping numbers were clear. My Mom Jayne directed by Mariska Hargitay and Something Beautiful directed by Miley Cyrus. Both glamorous premiers were a thrill to be present at. (can we find out styling credits for Mariska and Miley) and the venues were iconic. Something Beautiful was at The Beacon with a sold out audience full of electric energy and the film was received with waves of joy. This film is a 50 minute visual explosion of over the top glamour and I dove much further into the creative elements of the film in a bonus episode with Miley’s makeup artist James Kaliardos. Head there for more
My Mom Jayne directed by Mariska Hargatay was the doc was the buzziest even though it wasn’t technically a premier… The film had already screened at Cannes, and this was the US Premier. I was expecting a typical, beautiful celebrity doc (not that there is anything wrong with that of course) but what the viewer gets is so much more. You may have heard the big reveal that the film provides, but even if you have… you will still be riveted as the truth of Jayne Mansfield’s life is revealed and the impact it had on Mariska. The film had the honor of showing at Carneige Hall and the sold out audience responded audibly when Jayne Mansfield says in the film that her dream was to one day play violin at Carnegie Hall. Everyone from Cher, to Brooke Shields, to Martha Stewart and many many more was at this screening. The film will be streaming on MAX beginning June 27.
CASINO had an anniversary and that’s exciting for us because it’s CASINO that inadvertently started this podcast. Keep your eyes peeled for a Bite Sized episode on Casino that we are working on. You know we love an anniversary.
The title Something Beautiful, Miley’s directorial debut is one hundred percent perfect for what you will see. I’ve talked about the other hot ticket event already on the podcast when I interviewed James Kaliardos, the makeup artist to Miley Cyrus, so check out that interview when you can for more details about the glam in this piece. The film is a glorious, over the top celebration of excess. It’s beauty, fashion, hair, makeup, creative design, and music like you’ve never heard from Miley. It’s 100 percent representative of what she has always wanted to give us and it was received with raptuous enthusiasm from her sold out audience. The Q and A moderated by Derek Blasberg revealed that a lot of her audience mistakenly thought they had bought tickets to a concert! One fan yelled out “Sing Live, Miley! We paid $800 for this!” to that, Miley happily grabbed the mic and sang the chorus of The Climb which seemed to satisfy the audience.
The biggest challenge of Tribeca is being everywhere at once. There is always the desire to create a clone of oneself so that everything can been seen and experienced. I have to say, I was really excited by the programming this year and as a woman of a certain age- I had plenty of options to satisfy me. There are more worlds to Tribeca that I personally don’t explore like the panels and parties, but they of course are there. And this year, there was TRIBECA X which looks to be a mini conference that will only grow. I’m excited for the future of Tribeca- it seems to as of last year had a bit of a refresh and I welcome it.