The Tribeca Festival announced it will expand its Tribeca NOW category to formally include social media creators for official selection, adding that it is the first major film festival to invite creator work alongside traditional festival categories. The festival, presented by OKX, will celebrate its 25th anniversary from June 3-14, 2026.
First introduced in 2014, Tribeca NOW served as one of the earliest festival platforms dedicated to online storytelling. The category previously spotlighted digital series, including “High Maintenance” before its HBO acquisition, Lena Waithe’s “Hello Cupid,” Shaina Feinberg’s “Dinette,” Elvira Lind’s Academy Award-nominated “The Letter Room,” and Barret O’Brien and Mark Duplass’ “The Long Long Night.”
According to the announcement, the expanded category will accept submissions from creators working across platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Submissions will be evaluated based on individual content pieces, a creator’s complete body of work, and their storytelling approach. The submission deadline has been extended to February 5.
Festival’s Digital Storytelling History
Tribeca has integrated emerging digital formats throughout its history. The festival featured mobile filmmaking with the Nokia 6682 in 2005, partnered with Maker Studios for YouTube-native series in 2012, showcased short-form storytelling on Vine in 2013, and presented Snapchat content from 2016-2017.
“Storytelling is evolving – and so is Tribeca,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and co-chair of the Board of Tribeca Enterprises. “For 25 years, we’ve been drawn to new forms of creative expression and the artists pushing those boundaries. Today’s creators are among the most inventive storytellers working in any medium.”
Creator-Centered Programming
The announcement builds on Tribeca’s Creator Vertical, launched in 2024 in partnership with Whalar Group, and the UpNext Creators initiative. The UpNext program made its in-person festival debut in 2025, bringing twelve creators to Tribeca’s venues with industry access traditionally reserved for filmmakers and official selections.
“This evolution of our signature NOW program will not just connect breakout digital storytellers with new audiences, but also with the traditional film industry, broader creative community, and potential future collaborators the way we have been doing for filmmakers and artists for 25 years,” said Cara Cusumano, Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming.
Tribeca X’s Content Creator/Influencer category, with submissions due February 24, focuses on creators using storytelling to connect brands with audiences. The category recognizes creators working at the intersection of creative content and brand partnerships.
Submissions for both the expanded Tribeca NOW category and Tribeca X Content Creator/Influencer category are available at tribecafilm.com/festival/submissions.
Cecilia Carloni, Interview Manager at Influence Weekly and writer for NetInfluencer. Coming from beautiful Argentina, Ceci has spent years chatting with big names in the influencer world, making friends and learning insider info along the way. When she’s not deep in interviews or writing, she's enjoying life with her two daughters. Ceci’s stories give a peek behind the curtain of influencer life, sharing the real and interesting tales from her many conversations with movers and shakers in the space.
The Tribeca Festival announced it will expand its Tribeca NOW category to formally include social media creators for official selection, adding that it is the first major film festival to invite creator work alongside traditional festival categories. The festival, presented by OKX, will celebrate its 25th anniversary from June 3-14, 2026.
First introduced in 2014, Tribeca NOW served as one of the earliest festival platforms dedicated to online storytelling. The category previously spotlighted digital series, including “High Maintenance” before its HBO acquisition, Lena Waithe’s “Hello Cupid,” Shaina Feinberg’s “Dinette,” Elvira Lind’s Academy Award-nominated “The Letter Room,” and Barret O’Brien and Mark Duplass’ “The Long Long Night.”
According to the announcement, the expanded category will accept submissions from creators working across platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Submissions will be evaluated based on individual content pieces, a creator’s complete body of work, and their storytelling approach. The submission deadline has been extended to February 5.
Festival’s Digital Storytelling History
Tribeca has integrated emerging digital formats throughout its history. The festival featured mobile filmmaking with the Nokia 6682 in 2005, partnered with Maker Studios for YouTube-native series in 2012, showcased short-form storytelling on Vine in 2013, and presented Snapchat content from 2016-2017.
“Storytelling is evolving – and so is Tribeca,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and co-chair of the Board of Tribeca Enterprises. “For 25 years, we’ve been drawn to new forms of creative expression and the artists pushing those boundaries. Today’s creators are among the most inventive storytellers working in any medium.”
Creator-Centered Programming
The announcement builds on Tribeca’s Creator Vertical, launched in 2024 in partnership with Whalar Group, and the UpNext Creators initiative. The UpNext program made its in-person festival debut in 2025, bringing twelve creators to Tribeca’s venues with industry access traditionally reserved for filmmakers and official selections.
“This evolution of our signature NOW program will not just connect breakout digital storytellers with new audiences, but also with the traditional film industry, broader creative community, and potential future collaborators the way we have been doing for filmmakers and artists for 25 years,” said Cara Cusumano, Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming.
Tribeca X’s Content Creator/Influencer category, with submissions due February 24, focuses on creators using storytelling to connect brands with audiences. The category recognizes creators working at the intersection of creative content and brand partnerships.
Submissions for both the expanded Tribeca NOW category and Tribeca X Content Creator/Influencer category are available at tribecafilm.com/festival/submissions.
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