May 31st, 2024 TRIBECA FESTIVAL AND OPENAI ANNOUNCE SORA SHORTS'
Five Commissioned Short Films Created Using Sora Debut at 2024 Tribeca Festival
New York, NY, May 31, 2024 - Today, the 2024 Tribeca Festival and OpenAI announced a program to debut five original short films, marking the first time films made using OpenAI's text-to-video AI model Sora will be showcased at a festival.
By giving filmmakers access to Sora's capabilities, this initiative explores the developing space of generative AI as a creative tool. The group of award-winning filmmakers are Tribeca Festival alumni and, in the spirit of exploration, were only given a few weeks to complete their projects.
Tribeca is rooted in the foundational belief that storytelling inspires change. Humans need stories to thrive and make sense of our wonderful and broken world, said co-founder and CEO of Tribeca Enterprises Jane Rosenthal. Sometimes these stories come to us as a feature film, an immersive experience, a piece of art, or even an AI-generated short film. I can't wait to see what this group of fiercely creative Tribeca alumni come up with.
As part of the initiative, the cohort of filmmakers were educated about OpenAI's tools, given early access to Sora, and empowered to create a film on their own terms. Filmmakers were also required to adhere to the terms of the agreements negotiated with the DGA, WGA and SAG in 2023 with respect to the use of AI regardless of whether the films fell under the purview of such guilds. Participating filmmakers include: Bonnie Discepolo, Ellie Foumbi, Nikyatu Jusu, Reza Sixo Safai and Michaela Ternasky-Holland.
Its great to see how these filmmakers are extending their creativity with Sora, and we are honored for their works to debut at the Tribeca Festival, said COO of OpenAI Brad Lightcap. Were excited for their short films, and eager to learn how we can make Sora a better tool for all creatives.
The five films will debut on June 15 at the Tribeca Film Center Screening Room. Following the screening, Tribeca and OpenAI will host a conversation with the filmmakers about the importance of artists pushing boundaries, challenging ideas, and bringing stories to life in innovative ways.
Filmmaker bios can be found below.
For more updates on programming follow @Tribeca and #Tribeca2024 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Tribeca Membership or 2024 Tribeca Festival passes and ticket packages can be purchased at tribecafilm.com.
ABOUT TRIBECA FESTIVAL
The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 23rd year from June 5-16, 2024 in New York City.
In 2019, James Murdoch's Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.
ABOUT 2024 TRIBECA FESTIVAL PARTNERS
The 2024 Tribeca Festival is presented by OKX and with the support of our partners: AT&T, Audible, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Canva, CHANEL, City National Bank, Don Julio Tequila, Easterseals Disability Services, e.l.f. Beauty, Gilead, Indeed, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Mazda, NBC4 and Telemundo 47, NYC Mayors Office of Media and Entertainment, National CineMedia, New York Magazine, Spring Studios New York, Starbucks, The Wall Street Journal, TikTok, Variety, Vulture, Whalar, and WeTransfer.
Press Contacts
Annie Davis - adavis@tribecafilm.com
Corey Wilson - cwilson@tribecafilm.com
R&CPMK - TribecaFestival2024@rcpmk.com
Filmmaker Bios
Bonnie Discepolo
Bonnie Discepolo is a filmmaker and actor who writes and directs genre films about women's bodily autonomy. Discepolo's films feature grounded characters in heightened or magical worlds. Discepolo's films have played Tribeca, SXSW, Fantastic Fest, Overlook Film Festival and many more. Discepolo is an alum of Robert Rodriguez's Rebel Without a Crew the Series. In addition to writing and directing, Discepolo is an actor who can be seen on Fire Country, Chicago Med, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and Robert Rodriguez's Hypnotic. Discepolo is currently interested in stories about time travel, metaphysics and climate change.
Ellie Foumbi
Ellie Foumbi is an award-winning Cameroonian American filmmaker whose debut film, Our Father, the Devil, premiered at the Venice Film Festival. It went on to screen at over 50 international film festivals where it won several prizes. It received universal critical acclaim, including Independent Spirit Award and Gotham Award Nominations. Shes an alumna of Berlinale Talents and a BAFTA Breakthrough USA Fellow. Ellie was also named one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine. She holds an MFA in Directing from Columbia Universitys School of the Arts.
Nikyatu Jusu
Nikyatu Jusu is an independent writer, director, and tenured Professor in Film & Video at George Mason University. Her short films have screened at festivals nationally and internationally, marking her Sundance short film debut and foray into representation (CAA & M88) with her Black vampire film Suicide By Sunlight [2019]. Nanny [2022], Jusu's feature film debut, made her the second black woman director and Nanny the first
