The 2025 Tribeca Festival kicked off Wednesday night with the world premiere of the highly anticipated HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So it Goes, an expansive and deeply personal portrait of the life and music of New York City icon Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting.
Co-directors Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin attended the event, along with Executive Producers Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, and Joel’s longtime band members Richie Cannata, Liberty DeVitto, and Russell Javors. Whoopi Goldberg, Mariska Hargitay, Steve Zahn, Caroline Aaron, Elizabeth Weber, and Tribeca jury members Mira Sorvino and Asher Grodman were also present.
Just before the screening, Tribeca Festival co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal took the stage to welcome the packed house of Joel fans to opening night, before teeing up Lacy and Levin to introduce the film. The remarks featured well-wishes to Joel and several references to his iconic songs, as De Niro confirmed he’s “in a New York state of mind,” and Lacy and Levin concluded with a heartfelt message to Joel: “we love you just the way you are.”
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