At the end of the press conference and when asked by Lusa about plans for future editions, Mónica Serrano said that the intention is to continue the festival in Portugal, “and perhaps expand to other locations.”

“We don’t know what next year will be like; it’s discussed annually at the end of each edition. […] We have a partnership with Vilamoura and want to hold some parallel events in the country. We’re very interested in continuing, but it will depend on several factors, including our relationship with the American structure,” she explained.

The Tribeca Festival was founded in New York in 2001 by actor Robert de Niro and producer Jane Rosenthal as a meeting point for independent cinema and emerging talent, but it has gradually evolved into a storytelling event focused on sharing stories in different formats.

In 2024, the festival took place in Europe for the first time, and the organizers chose Lisbon as part of a strategy to expand the project, in partnership with the television network SIC, OPTO—both part of the Impresa group—and the Lisbon City Council.

Mónica Serrano explained that the budget for this second edition, including public support, will only be “shared” once the festival is over.

The Tribeca Festival Lisbon will feature nearly two dozen films, most in previews and previously announced, and conversations with international and Portuguese figures from the entertainment industry.

Hollywood stars

In addition to the previously announced presence of actresses Kim Catrall and Meg Ryan, actor Giancarlo Esposito, and director Julian Schnabel, the organizers revealed today a new group of guests, including producer and screenwriter Ava DuVernay, actresses Edie Falco and Veronica Falcón, and actor Ed Westick.

Director Augusto Fraga and some of the cast of the series “Rabo de Peixe,” actor Welket Bungué, musician Dino d’Santiago, comedians Guilherme Geirinhas and Ricardo Araújo Pereira, actress Daniela Ruah, and TV host Catarina Furtado will also be in attendance.

The film program will take place at the Teatro Ibérico and the Igreja do Convento do Beato, which have been adapted for film screenings, Mónica Serrano assured, responding to criticism in 2024 regarding the conditions in which films were shown in non-soundproofed rooms with uncomfortable seating.

“We don’t intend to have movie theaters; that’s not our goal. It’s to create something a little more communal,” Mónica Serrano clarified, promising a larger capacity and more comfortable seating at the venues.

This year, the Tribeca Festival Lisboa will offer three types of tickets, ranging from 15 to 65 euros for single or multiple film screenings, and 36 euros (with advance purchase) to attend each of the live talk and podcast sessions.

There is also a general pass for 255 euros, which grants access to the entire program. According to Mónica Serrano, it is practically sold out, with “a few hundred tickets” having been sold.

Mónica Serrano considers this precarious option to be “the most appropriate and adapted to most people,” and that 15 euros for a movie session allows for “a much more complete experience,” with access to Q&A sessions with guests.

This year, the organization also promises a program that is more open to the community, not just those interested in or working in the entertainment industry.

“The idea is to open up. There will be activities completely open to the public, performances, music, and a food court”—still to be announced—with free access. Anyone who wishes to do so will be able to circulate freely throughout the venue, except in areas with paid admission,” said Mônica Serrano.

The entire program for this second edition of the Tribeca Festival Lisboa is available at tribecalisboa.sic.pt.

Of the two founders of the New York festival Tribeca, only producer Jane Rosenthal has confirmed her presence.