Robert De Niro marked the opening of the 25th Tribeca Festival in New York on Wednesday, taking the stage to reflect on the festival’s mission and the power of storytelling at a pivotal cultural moment.
Quick Facts
- The Tribeca Festival runs June 3-14, 2026, in New York City
- Opening night featured Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire documentary
- The festival was founded by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal in 2001
- The 2026 edition includes 118 feature films, with 103 world premieres
De Niro, who co-founded the festival with Jane Rosenthal, spoke about Tribeca’s origins following the devastation of 9/11. “We’ve always recognized the power of storytelling to pull people together,” he said at the Beacon Theatre.
The actor emphasized the festival’s continued relevance, noting that its mission has become “especially important” as “monstrous leaders…are trying to force us apart for their own immoral, cruel and corrupt purposes.” While he did not name the president directly, De Niro told the crowd: “You know who I’m talking about.”
The opening night premiere showcased “Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs That’s the Weight of the World),” a documentary directed by Questlove that follows the legendary music group and its leader, Maurice White. The film features appearances from Stevie Wonder, Flea, and the Obamas, documenting the band’s influence on popular music. After the screening, Thompson and surviving band members performed Earth, Wind & Fire hits including “September” and “Shining Star.”
Rosenthal reflected on the festival’s resilience over the past 25 years. “I only thought we were doing this once to bring people back to lower Manhattan, and I can’t believe 25 years later we’re still standing here,” she said.
The 2026 edition brings a record 103 world premieres across Tribeca’s diverse programming, celebrating film, television, music, and storytelling across multiple mediums in New York.
Sources
- Variety — Robert De Niro’s opening night remarks and the Earth, Wind & Fire documentary premiere details
- Washington Times — Robert De Niro’s opening night speech and political commentary
- USA Today — Coverage of celebrities at the 2026 Tribeca Festival opening
- The New York Times — Tribeca Festival’s 25th anniversary and founding history
- Tribeca Film Festival official site — Festival dates, lineup details, and programming information
