A Growing Connection Between Tribeca and Lisbon
The Tribeca Festival Lisboa concluded its second edition on Saturday, bringing together a variety of U.S. talent, including Meg Ryan, Kim Cattrall, Edie Falco, Giancarlo Esposito, Ed Westwick, Daniela Ruah, Piper Perabo, and director Stephen Kay, who is also her husband. The event was organized by Tribeca Enterprises and the Portuguese media group Impresa, and it has quickly become a significant platform for showcasing film and television talent in the region.
Co-organizers expressed their excitement about how the spirit of the New York festival is energizing the Portuguese film and TV industry. Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and CEO of Tribeca, reflected on the journey from the initial idea to the 25th anniversary of the festival. She emphasized the importance of continuous learning and the potential for growth through mentorship programs.
Rosenthal also shared her personal connection to Portugal, noting that her childhood in Providence, Rhode Island, included exposure to Portuguese culture through her family's proximity to Portuguese bakeries and the legacy of Senator Claiborne Pell, whose father served as a U.S. ambassador to Portugal.
Francisco Pedro Balsemão, CEO of Impresa, highlighted the success of the event and the desire to create year-round initiatives tied to Tribeca. He mentioned that this year’s edition featured more screening venues and talks focused on various aspects of filmmaking, aiming to bring the essence of the New York festival to Lisbon.
Expanding Opportunities and International Recognition
Several benefits of the Tribeca-Lisbon partnership were evident during the festival. For instance, Chazz Palmentiri, who attended last year with his documentary "A Bronx Tale: The Original One Man Show," plans to return to Lisbon for the first live performance of his show outside the U.S.
Tony Gonçalves, an executive producer of the festival, noted that this year's event was upgraded with individual ticketing, leading to most films being sold out. Cara Cusumano, Tribeca's Festival Director and senior VP of programming, pointed out the resonance between New York City and Tribeca, emphasizing the potential of Tribeca Festival Lisboa to make a similar impact.
Held in Lisbon's Beato Innovation District from October 30 to November 1, the festival showcased five films from the flagship Tribeca festival, alongside other U.S. independent and Portuguese films. Cusumano added that the timing of the festival aligns well with the buildup to the awards season, citing the Portuguese premiere of “Anora” as a key moment that put the festival on the map.
Highlighting Diverse Films and Talent
This year's festival opened with Julian Schnabel's "In the Hand of Dante," which included a tribute to Impresa Group founder Francisco Pinto Balsemão, who passed away in October. Other notable titles included Yorgos Lanthimos' "Bugonia" and Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, "Eleanor the Great." Mexican director Michel Franco attended the Portuguese premiere of "Dreams."
Two films from Tribeca's New York lineup had direct Portuguese connections: Lilian T. Mehrel's dark comedy "Honeyjoon," shot in the Azores, and Alberto Arévelo's Spain-to-Portugal road movie, "All We Cannot See." "Honeyjoon," which won the AT&T 2024 Untold Stories $1 million award, was produced by Portuguese producer Andreia Nunes and had its world premiere at Tribeca in June. Mehrel expressed her satisfaction with the film's recognition in both New York and Lisbon.
International talent praised Portugal, with Meg Ryan expressing interest in visiting Nazaré after watching Chris Smith's documentary series "100 Foot Wave," featuring Garrett McNamara. The event also highlighted rising international interest in Portuguese film and TV, with discussions about Netflix's "Turn of the Tide," featuring director Augusto Fraga and actors José Condessa and Joaquim d'Almeida.
Showcasing Local Talent and Industry Growth
Other Portuguese films screened during the festival included Antonio Ferreira's colonial war pic, "The Scent of Things Remembered," Duarte Neves' feature debut, "Match," and Fernando Vendrell's aviation pioneers drama, "Além do Horizonte – A Travessia," based on his series "Star Sailers."
Casting directors Cindy Tolan, Lucy Bevan, and Patricia Vasconcelos provided a masterclass and held casting sessions with Portuguese actors in preparation for Passaporte Lisboa, a casting festival in November. Vasconcelos, who curated this year's talks, expressed delight in covering a wide range of topics, including leveraging Portugal's tax incentives.
Podcasts were curated by Joana Beleza, who invited well-known podcasters to the festival, expanding its reach beyond the immediate audience. Latvian producer Matiss Kaza discussed making "Flow," which won the 2025 Animation Feature Academy Award, and how smaller countries like Latvia and Portugal can collaborate on international co-productions.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas praised the festival's impact, stating that he wants to create dynamism for the city and that Tribeca is an integral part of that vision.
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