Idina Menzel, Tom Hanks & More Set for 2016 Tribeca Film Festival

The 2016 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced its lineup of panels and conversations with some of the industry's most critically and commercially successful filmmakers, artists, and executives including J.J. Abrams, Andrea Arnold, Anthony Bourdain, Francis Ford Coppola, Katie Couric, Alfonso Cuarón, Jodie Foster, Ricky Gervais, Catherine Hardwicke, Donna Karan, Baz Luhrmann, Patti Smith, Joss Whedon, Olivia Wilde, Samantha Bee, and more. The Tribeca Talks program will run during the 15th edition of TFF, taking place April 13-24.

Tribeca Talks: Directors Series, intimate one-on-one discussions with acclaimed directors, this year includes Alfonso Cuarón, Jodie Foster with Julie Taymor, Joss Whedon in conversation with Mark Ruffalo, J.J. Abrams speaking with Chris Rock, Andrea Arnold, and Baz Luhrmann with Nelson George. New to this year's Festival is Tribeca Talks: Storytellers, which features pioneering creators who work across mediums to tell their stories. Francis Ford Coppola, Idina Menzel and Patti Smith join previously announced participants Tom Hanks and Tina Fey for the program. Also debuting for 2016 is Tribeca Talks: Daring Women Summit Powered by the Li.st, a day of conversations with some of the most influential women in arts and technology who will share stories from their illustrious careers and unconventional paths to success, as well as their support and mentorship of other women in their respective fields. Participants include Google Entertainment Industry Educator in Chief Julie Ann Crommett, producer and actress Olivia Wilde, fashion designer Donna Karan, FRESH OFF THE BOAT Showrunner Nahnatchka Khan, among others.

TFF also announced five additional feature films and two previously announced titles that will screen during the Festival as part of the Tribeca Talks: After the Movie series, which gives audiences a chance to listen to and participate in a conversation with filmmakers, actors, and influencers following screenings of their films. The program features the world premiere of Special Correspondents and a discussion with writer and director Ricky Gervais, actor Eric Bana, and additional cast, and the world premieres of documentaries I Voted? with writer/director Jason Grant Smith and executive producer Katie Couric, Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent with subject and chef Jeremiah Tower and executive producers Anthony Bourdain and Lydia Tenaglia, and Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe with the creators and subjects of the film. Equity will have its New York premiere, followed by a conversation with director, and winner of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival's Nora Ephron Prize Meera Menon. Also featured as part of Tribeca Talks: After the Movie series are the previously announced Contemporary Color, followed by a conversation with directors Bill and Turner Ross led by David Byrne, and Starring Austin Pendleton, featuring a panel with star and subject Austin Pendleton and actors from his career as an actor and director.

"Storytelling is an expansive medium with the power to advance conversations and issues long after the credits roll," said Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President, Tribeca Enterprises. "The Tribeca Talks series gives audiences the chance to continue those conversations as well as hear from legendary figures in film, music, and more."

This year's Tribeca Talks series offers audiences the opportunity to hear from some of the top storytellers in the world about their craft, recent and upcoming projects, and innovations across mediums. Additional programs include returning favorites "Tribeca Talks: Master Class," conversations focusing on a specific sector of the filmmaking process and other special "Tribeca Talks" events including Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival conversations.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos