Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, today announced the 2026 NOW (New Online Work) lineup, Tribeca’s dedicated platform for digital-first storytelling. Tribeca NOW, in partnership with The Lighthouse (part of Whalar Group), takes place during this year’s Festival from June 3–14 in New York City. Passes and ticket packages are on sale now at TribecaFilm.com, with the Hudson Pass offering the premier festival experience, including VIP access and an invitation to Opening or Closing Night. Single tickets go on sale April 28.
With the expansion of Tribeca NOW, Tribeca becomes the first major film festival to open official submissions to social media creators across platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, signaling a broader industry shift in how storytelling is discovered, evaluated, and elevated. The 2026 slate features ten boundary-pushing creators whose work spans genres, formats, and platforms, united by distinct voices and a cinematic approach to digital storytelling. Submissions were evaluated holistically, recognizing not only standout individual pieces but each creator’s broader body of work, storytelling voice, and cultural impact.
This year’s Official Selections include: And They Were Roommates (@atwrtheseries), a New York City rom-com series; Shanked (@shankedshow), a chaotic country club workplace comedy; BK Coffee Shop (@bkcoffeeshop), a viral Gen Z satire set in Brooklyn; VHS Dates (@vhsdates), found-footage comedy about dating in the ‘80s; Sideline Archive (@sideline.archive), which uncovers forgotten stories through vintage sports memorabilia; That’s That on That (@tajrani), deep-dive portraits of the uncredited architects of Black history; Emmy Award-nominated journalism from Retache (@retachemedia); 15 Second Film (@15secondfilm), a micro-filmmaking experiment turning strangers into storytellers; Mechanical Pencil (@amari.k.jones and @palmerwilliams3), coming-of-age stories rooted in ‘90s Black cinema; and TIME 100 Creator and Emmy Award-nominated host Taylor Cassidy (@taylorcassidyj).
In addition to the Official Selections, Tribeca NOW will host a series of live events, including a screening and conversation with Keke Palmer (@keke) and Lawrence Murray (@lawrencesmurray) centered on KeyTV’s The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl, moderated by NOW Creator Taj Rani (@tajrani). The program also features the world premiere of two episodes of Keep The Meter Running from Kareem Rahma (@kareem), the beloved New York City taxi series making the leap from short-form social video to long-form storytelling on YouTube. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Rahma and producer Adam Faze (@adamfaze), moderated by New York Times pop music critic and Popcast host Jon Caramanica (@joncaramanica).
Returning for its third year, Whalar Group brings two dynamic live conversations to Tribeca NOW at The Lighthouse, Brooklyn’s premier campus for creators, spotlighting the evolving relationship between digital storytelling and Hollywood filmmaking. The signature Tribeca NOW conversation convenes leading voices from across film and creator ecosystems to explore how these worlds are converging in real time. In addition, Whalar Group and The Lighthouse also present “What’s Next,” a reunion panel with New York-based creators from Tribeca’s 2025 “Up Next” cohort, returning one year later to reflect on momentum, growth, and what comes after the breakthrough moment.
The 2026 program builds on that foundation while accelerating Tribeca’s investment in the creator economy. Recent initiatives include the launch of its Creator Vertical in 2024, in partnership with Whalar Group, and the UpNext Creators program, which made its in-person debut in 2025, bringing digital creators onto Tribeca’s red carpets and stages.
2026 TRIBECA NOW OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
And They Were Roommates | @atwrtheseries
Created by Emily Rose Lyons
A solo-produced New York City-set award-winning romantic comedy series proving that one person with a vision can do it all.
15 Second Film | @15secondfilm
Created by Jeb McCormick
A micro-filmmaking experiment that transforms strangers into storytellers in fifteen seconds flat.
BK Coffee Shop | @bkcoffeeshop
Created by Pooja Tripathi
A viral satirical series using Brooklyn café culture as a lens for the absurdities of modern Gen Z life.
Mechanical Pencil | @amari.k.jones
Created by Amari K. Jones & Palmer Williams III
Culturally grounded coming-of-age stories rooted in faith, community, and the enduring spirit of ’90s Black cinema.
Retache | @retachemedia
Created by Mariano Avila, Andrea Lerdo & Hillia Aho
An Emmy-nominated documentary project chronicling the overlooked human stories driving America’s reverse migration to Mexico.
Shanked | @shankedshow
Created by James Lynch, Patrick Farley & Mikey Smith
A chaotic country club workplace comedy blending The Office with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – and a golf cart.
Sideline Archive | @sideline.archive
Created by Hugh Coles
A documentary series using vintage sports apparel and forgotten memorabilia to uncover the stories that define fan identity.
Taylor Cassidy | @taylorcassidyj
A TIME 100 creator and Emmy-nominated host bringing Black history to mass audiences through bold, accessible digital storytelling.
That’s That on That | @tajrani
Created by Taj Rani
A sharp, deeply researched series shining a light on the uncredited contributors who shaped Black history and popular culture.
VHS Dates | @vhsdates
Created by Lee Citron and Trevor Worley
An Emmy-winning creative team delivers a found-footage satire exploring the universal, often hilarious pursuit of love in the 1980s.