An Emersonian’s Guide to Tribeca

A double header of new TV documentaries co-written by World of Wonder co-founder and Emerson Trustee Randy Barbato ’82, LHD ’24, will premiere alongside a new feature film from director Amanda Kramer ’02 and several other Emersonian projects at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

Tribeca runs June 3-14 in New York City and will demonstrate the depth and breadth of Emerson alumni and faculty filmmaking. 

The festival will screen Not a Very Good Murderer and The Palladino Files — true crime documentaries co-written by Barbato and his longtime creative partner Fenton Bailey, and directed by investigative journalist Ronan Farrow. Barbato will do a talk-back following the June 10 screening.

Imaginal Disk, a “cinematic companion to Magdalena Bay’s eponymous album,” will screen in the Spotlight + category and will be followed by a discussion with Kramer and a performance by Bay. Paul Santagarda ’08 worked on the film as visual effects artist, Carl Stewart ’19 as key grip, and Avery Niles ’22 as colorist.

David Cross ’87 executive produced and stars in Lucy Schulman, a big-hearted comedy about a woman who moves in with her dad. Cross also executive produced and stars, alongside Bob Odenkirk, in Bob and David Climb Macchu Picchu, screening in the Feature Documentary group.

Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Stefani Robinson ’14 executive produced a new sitcom screening in the TV group: Adults, about 20-somethings in New York City. She also wrote and directed one episode. August Freirich ’12 edited or assistant edited the series and Eliot Thompson ’02 was dialogue editor. 

In the U.S. Narrative Competition, Cotton Fever was made by a multitude of Emersonians. A story of addiction and recovery set in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the film was produced by Dane Eckerle ’12, associate produced and edited by School of Film affiliated faculty member Chopra Gautam, associate produced by Emilie Estabrook ’23, and features actors Ari Mora ’22 and Mason Alban ’11 in the cast.

Michael Sagol ’96 produced and Dan Sbrega ’00, P ’30, executive produced The Accompanist, Zach Woods’ feature debut about a girl placed in an unconventional foster home, screening in the Spotlight Narrative group. Jedy (Shiheng) Xu ’19 worked as sound editor and non-degreed alum Benjamin Chacko ’11 was location consultant.

Also in Spotlight Narrative, Happy Hours, executive produced by Jenny Halper, MFA ’08, is a romantic drama starring Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson, about lovers reunited. The movie features Chloe Kerwin ’19 as Amy. Ian Blume ’99 edited.

The short narrative film Buckets, about a man’s obsession with a dating app match, was written, directed, produced, edited, and stars Drew Van Steenbergen ’11. In another story of a romantic pairing gone wrong, Jim Cummings ’09 executive produced and stars in DISC. And Annie Huang ’19 produced I Think About Killing You, about an athlete who has invasive fantasies about killing her abusive coach. Dimitri Christoforidis ’15 was gaffer on the short.

And in the Documentary Competition category, Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story was directed and produced by Stephanie Schwam ’92.

More Emersonians:

Spotlight Narrative

Julie Christeas ’99 produced and Marilyn Takal ’72 executive produced Act One.

The Revisionist was co-executive produced by Thomas Pettinelli ’13.

Sunita Mani ’08 is in the cast of Never Change!; Alice Airoldi ’19 was VFX editor.

Dominic Ottersbach ’99 was unit production manager and Hannah Levin ’05 was second assistant camera on In Memoriam.

Hope Ardizzone ’03 was charge scenic: New York for In the Hand of Dante.

The Leader was associate produced by Zachary Burgess ’22.

Spotlight Documentary

Mariana Franco ’22 was assistant editor on Odyssey.

Spotlight +

Courtney Carter ’13 produced The Symphony of Dance.

Matt Ardine ’05 was gaffer on Playing POTUS.

U.S. Narrative Competition

David Cross ’87 executive produced and stars in Lucy Schulman, a big-hearted comedy about a woman who moves in with her dad. Cross also executive produced and stars, alongside Bob Odenkirk, in Bob and David Climb Macchu Picchu, screening in the Feature Documentary group.

Scotty Anderson ’12 was casting director for both Mother Future Self and Ponderosa.

Ric Schnupp ’09 was re-recording mixer/supervising sound editor on Via Negativa.

Rhys Scarabosio ’22 was B camera operator on Here I’m Alive.

Shari Gaynes ’19 was property master on She Keeps Me Young.

Viewpoints

Anna Torzullo ’18 is in the cast of Human Theories.

Lilly Wachowsky ’90 executive produced Something You Should Know About Me.

Escape from Tribeca

Sean Patrick Henderson ’15 was additional dolly grip on Hallowarrior.

The festival publicist for The Haunting of Pennhurst is Jackie St. Thomas ’14.

Shorts

Marco Gentile, MA ’06 executive produced I’m Not Home.

Mack Fisher ’12 was cinematographer on Listen.

Dexter Demme ’25 produced One Night.

Kevin Peters ’11 was re-recording mixer/sound editor on Getar Hero.

First assistant camera on Rare Birds was Chloe Ramos ’19.

TV

Sean Bradley ’04 executive produced The Little Cult That Could.

Gala

Joseph Shahood ’10 did additional editing for Alicia Keys: Girl from Hell’s Kitchen, and Jessica Miller ’06 did additional editing for Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World).

A few parents of Emersonians also have projects screening at Tribeca:

Sally Klingenstein Martell, P ’27, was executive producer on Time Warp, screening in the U.S. Documentary Competition. Kelsey Grammer, P ’24, P ’27, plays Lord Fairfax in Young Washington, in the Spotlight Narrative group. Jon Gunn, P ’30, executive produced the film. And Nicholas Weinstock, P ’24 produced In Memoriam. 

Did we miss anyone? Let us know at alumni@emerson.edu.