'Brian Wilson: The Long-Promised Road'
'Brian Wilson: The Long-Promised Road'

Tribeca Film Fest 2020 lineup: films on Brian Wilson, The Go-Go's, St. Vincent, Big Freedia, more

The Tribeca Film Festival has announced the lineup of its 2020 edition which runs April 15-26 in NYC. In addition to the opening night world premiere of Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President there are a number of other music documentaries and music-related films screening this year, including a few with live performances following the film (System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, DMX, The Go-Go’s).

Dates and venues for screenings have not been announced but festival passes and ticket bundles for the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival are on sale now, and individual screening tickets go on sale to the general public on March 17. Here are the notable music-related films:

Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road: World Premiere. The Beach Boys’ lead songwriter takes a drive around Los Angeles with Rolling Stone editor and longtime friend Jason Fine in this nonlinear cinematic memoir, as vivid and multifaceted as his music. With Brian Wilson, Bruce Springsteen, Sir Elton John, Linda Perry, Jim James, Nick Jonas, Gustavo Dudamel.

The Go-Go’s: New York Premiere. Through a wealth of archival material and candid interviews, Director Alison Ellwood takes us on a nostalgic look back at the Go-Go’s rise to fame in the 80s all the way to today, as the band collaborates on new music for the first time in nineteen years. With Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin. The Go-Go’s will perform after the screening.

Truth To Power: World Premiere. The Grammy-winning lead singer of System of a Down, Serj Tankian helps to awaken a political revolution on the other side of the world, inspiring Armenia’s struggle for democracy through his music and message. With Serj Tankian, Rick Rubin, Tom Morello, Shavo Odadjian, John Dolmayan, Carla Garapedian. SOAD’s Serj Tankian will perform after the screening, accompanied by the NYU Symphony Orchestra.

The Nowhere Inn: New York Premiere. What’s meant to be a documentary about St. Vincent’s music career devolves into a mind-bending distortion of reality once the singer hires her best friend Carrie Brownstein as its director. Deliriously warping the mockumentary template, Portlandia veteran Bill Benz’s directorial debut defies genre categorization.

Underplayed: World Premiere. From Delia Derbyshire to Alison Wonderland this inspiring music documentary portrays radical female artists breaking the rhythm of inequality in the electronic music industry and opening doors for the next generation. With Alison Wonderland, Tygapaw, Tokimonsta & Suzanne Ciani. After the movie, Brooklyn artist Tygapaw will perform.

Hydration: World Premiere. Hydration takes audiences backstage and behind the scenes of Pharrell’s ground-breaking Something in the Water festival, using music to bring together his divided hometown of Virginia Beach. Featuring live performances by legendary music artists Jay Z, Missy Elliot, Gwen Stefani and others. With Pharrell Williams, Gwen Stefani, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Pusha T, Dave Grohl, Snoop Dogg and more.

Ricky Powell: The Individualist: World Premiere. Ricky Powell boasts a quintessential New York story, rising to fame as a street photographer in the 80’s and 90’s and touring with the Beastie Boys, capturing some of the wildest moments in popular culture. With Ricky Powell, Natasha Lyonne, Debi Mazar, Mike D, Laurence Fishburne, Chuck D, LL Cool J, DMC.

Somebody Up There Likes Me: North American Premiere. A series of intimate conversations with Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, whose extraordinary music career placed him at the forefront of the British R&B explosion to rock ‘n’ roll stardom. Directed by Mike Figgis, with Ronnie Wood, Sally Wood, Imelda May, Damien Hirst, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Sir Rod Stewart, Charlie Watts.

Yung Lean: In My Head: World Premiere. When a Swedish teen rapper finds a rabid fanbase via the internet, international superstar Yung Lean is born. But as his fame grows, darkness settles in, blurring the line between reality and his own vivid imagination. With Jonatan Leandoer Håstad, Axel Tufvesson, Carl-Mikael Berlander, Benjamin Reichwald, Emilio Fagone, Oskar Ekman.

Don’t Try to Understand: A Year in the Life of Earl “DMX” Simmons: World Premiere. Hip-hop icon DMX returns from a recent stint in prison determined to reignite his career, but his comeback proves ill-fated when faced with the mounting pressures of fatherhood, faith and addiction. This unfiltered documentary presents an intimate glimpse into the man behind the public persona. DMX will perform live after the screening.

Freedia Got a Gun: World Premiere. After losing her brother to gun violence, New Orleans’ queen of bounce Big Freedia uses her national platform to shine a spotlight on gun reform in this achingly honest and human documentary plea for activism and reform. After the screening Big Freedia will talk with director Chris McKim and producers Charles Blow and Randy Barbato.

The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show: World Premiere. While the country was embroiled in a divisive election with racial tensions flaring, civil rights activist Harry Belafonte guest hosted The Tonight Show for one week in 1968 transforming it into a multicultural political experience. With Harry Belafonte, Whoopi Goldberg, Questlove, Tamron Hall. Following the film there will be a Q&A with Gina Belafonte, director Yoruba Richen and producer Joan Walsh.

The Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President screening will be followed by live performances from Willie Nelson, Nile Rogers, Paul Schaffer and more. The 2020 Tribeca Film festival will also host the NYC premiere of Judd Apatow‘s The King of Staten Island that stars and was co-written by SNL’s Pete Davidson, and the World Premiere of new Banksy documentary Banksy Most Wanted, and lots more. Check out the full 2020 TFF lineup here.