What to see at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival

If this year’s crop of summer blockbusters aren’t scratching your movie-going itch, the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival is back with a trove of diverse and innovative fare. 

There are character-driven indies with Hollywood stars, a documentary about one of the world’s greatest sports figures of all time and an entire mini-festival celebrating Tribeca co-founder Robert De Niro. 

Here are 10 films and events I’m most looking forward to at the Tribeca Film Festival, which runs June 5-16.

“¡Casa Bonita: Mi Amor!”

Who can forget Cartman’s trip to the magical restaurant Casa Bonita on “South Park”? But the Mexican eatery is not just the stuff of animated blobs who say “Screw you, guys! I’m going home!” — it’s a real place in Colorado. This new documentary reveals “South Park” creators’ Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s mighty efforts to save the favorite spot from closing.

“Between The Temples” 

The fabulous breakout star of the Oscar-nominated “Triangle of Sadness,” Dolly De Leon, is one of many top-drawer comedic talents in director Nathan Silver’s latest film, including Jason Schwartzman, Carol Kane and Robert Smigel (a k a Triumph the Insult Comic Dog). It’s about a Jewish cantor whose grade school music teacher, in a twist, becomes his new Bat Mitzvah student.  

“Federer: Twelve Final Days”

Tennis fans will remember the emotional image of 20-time grand slam winner Roger Federer crying on a bench with rival Rafael Nadal as he retired at the 2022 Laver Cup. It was a moment the sports world knew was coming, but wasn’t at all ready for. This doc, well-described by its title, goes behind the scenes of the end of the global superstar’s on-court career.

“Lake George”

Carrie Coon is, for my money, one of the best working actresses in entertainment today. Extraordinary on HBO’s “The Leftovers” years ago (and on Broadway) too often she ends up in projects not worth of her talents (such as, sorry, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”). “Lake George,” a darkly comic road trip noir written and directed by Jeffrey Reiner and co-starring Shea Whigham, is right up her alley.

“BRATS”

A member of the 1980s clique of hot young actors dubbed the Brat Pack, Andrew McCarthy looks back on that formative time in his and other stars’ careers in Hollywood — and how it paved the way for where they are today. The doc features interviews with the likes of Emilio Estevez, Jon Cryer, Lea Thompson, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy and Demi Moore.

“Sacramento”

Another road trip comedy — why not? — features indie stalwarts Michael Cera and Kristen Stewart (who was terrific in the recent “Love Lies Bleeding”). But the movie about a spontaneous adventure from Los Angeles to Sacramento, stars and was co-written by Michael Angarano. 

“Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes”

Elizabeth Taylor is an enduring object of old-Hollywood fascination. Here, her life story is, for the first time, told through recently recovered, never-before-heard audio tapes (and video – this is still a movie, after all) that have quietly been in the possession her biographer for decades. 

“Daddio”

Forget the debacle that was “Madame Web.” Dakota Johnson is an often wonderful, deep-feeling actress who is at her best outside the narrow confines of big studio pictures. In “Daddio,” a cab ride with a driver, who is played by Sean Penn, takes her to more enlightening places than her Manhattan apartment. 

“Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge”

This documentary tells the life story of Diane von Furstenberg, the legendary fashion designer who created the wrap dress. But far more than just a chronicling of runaway runway success, the film delves into her childhood as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, and the ups and downs of her early years trying to get a foothold in an exclusive industry.

“De Niro Con”

Robert De Niro, a co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, turned 80 last year. And in honor of the milestone, he will be honored with a whole convention celebrating his immense body of work. There will be screenings of classics such as “Godfather Part II,” “Mean Streets,” “Raging Bull,” “Goodfellas” and “Taxi Driver.”

And the multi-day event will also include talks with his famous collaborators, including Martin Scorsese, Christopher Walken, Billy Crystal, Quentin Tarantino, Whoopi Goldberg and Chazz Palminteri. It’s an “only in New York, kids” lineup.