And some of the creators being honored at Tribeca question how much their participation in a film festival could boost their livelihoods, since they already find exposure for brand deals on social media.
“All of these creators who are being represented, we have our own platforms and the videos get millions of views and comments,” said Eric Jeng, a TikTokker being honored at UPNEXT Creators. “I don’t think the creators need Tribeca. The creators need themselves to create their own content,” he added.
For many years Tribeca has actively responded to the changing way audiences engage with stories. It dropped “film” from its name in 2020 and brought different forms of storytelling into its fold including audio, video games, and virtual reality.
“Every year we sit down to figure out how to embrace all forms of storytelling, what that means for the future of the festival, and where else we should be paying attention,” said Brady.
