Cara Cusumano unveils Tribeca Festival’s 25th documentary lineup

The Tribeca Festival unleashed its 25th edition Wednesday night with a thunderclap: the world premiere of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s new music documentary, *Earth, Wind & Fire: To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World*. The opening-night film isn’t just a concert movie—it’s a prismatic look at the legendary band’s fight to survive a 2020 diagnosis, their legacy, and the weight of history. By pairing the band’s unshakable groove with Thompson’s signature storytelling, the film lands at a moment when live music, cultural memory, and health crises collide in urgent ways.

This isn’t happenstance. Tribeca’s move underscores how the festival has evolved from a post-9/11 healing project into a vital platform for music and social reflection. Founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, and Craig Hatkoff, Tribeca began as a neighborhood revival and grew into a cultural lifeline after the pandemic nearly killed live cinema. Now, with Questlove at the helm—himself a festival fixture and Oscar winner for *Summer of Soul*—the lineup signals a return to storytelling that pulses with rhythm, pain, and joy. The festival runs through June 14 and packs over 100 films, including premieres from directors like Rian Johnson, Lucy Walker, and more.

The music angle matters because Tribeca has quietly become a go-to for docs that soundtrack social change. Questlove’s film fits that tradition: it’s about a band’s survival, but also about how music carries communities through crisis. After years of virtual screenings, the festival’s return to Lower Manhattan—now more diverse and inclusive than ever—reflects a city and industry reckoning with access, equity, and art’s role in healing. With tickets selling out and celebrity sightings guaranteed, the festival isn’t just premiering movies—it’s reclaiming a sense of shared space in a fragmented world.