AFI Conservatory Alumni in the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival Lineup

The Tribeca Film Festival has announced the official lineup for its 25th edition, scheduled for June 4–15, 2026. We are excited to highlight AFI Conservatory Alumni who are premiering new projects throughout the festival, with entries featured in the Spotlight Narrative, U.S. Narrative, and Shorts Competition categories.

If your film is included in this year’s program and isn’t mentioned, please contact us at Alumni@AFI.com – we’d love to celebrate your accomplishment.

SPOTLIGHT+

PLAYING POTUS 

-John Rutland (AFI Class of 2007), Cinematographer

SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE

ICONOCLAST

-Michael Learner (AFI Class of 2022), Co-Producer

NEXT LIFE

-Drake Doremus (AFI Class of 2005), Director

THE REVISIONIST

-Andy Steinman (AFI Class of 2000), Executive Producer

TAKE ME HOME

-Farhad Ahmed Dehlvi (AFI Class of 2014), Cinematographer

THEY FIGHT

-Mark Jeevaratnam (AFI Class of 2017), Cinematographer

SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY

JEAN-MICHEL

-Jo Jo Lam (AFI Class of 2020), Cinematographer

STEALING MAGIC 

-Matthew Testa (AFI Class 2004), Director

-Diane Becker  (AFI Class of 2006), Producer

U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION

VIA NEGATIVA

-Saba Zerehi (AFI Class of 2014), Producer

INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE COMPETITION

THE TROPIC SUN AND HIS EYES

-Dawit Adera (AFI Class of 2021), Cinematographer

-Chenxing Zhang (AFI Class of 2021), Editor

WHAT IS TO COME

-Daniella Nowitz (AFI Class of 2014), Cinematographer

ESCAPE FROM TRIBECA

RECLUSE

-Bryce Holden (AFI Class of 2021), Cinematographer

I THINK ABOUT KILLING YOU

-Rob Spera (AFI Class of 1986), Executive Producer

NARRATIVE SHORT

IMPRINT

-Yumiko Fujiwara (AFI Class of 2018), Writer

-Kai Krause (AFI Class of 2015), Cinematographer

-Doriane Desfaugeres (AFI Class of 2018), Production Designer

-Mon Castro (AFI Class of 2023), Unit Production Manager

-Lily Guo (AFI Class of 2026), Associate Producer

RARE BIRDS

-Bettina Campomanes (AFI Class of 2022), Cinematographer

2026 INDIE TV NARRATIVE SHOWCASE

CVNT

-Angela Simmons (AFI Class of 2024), Production Designer

-Emily Henninger (AFI Class of 2024), Set Decorator

-Jose Daniel (AFI Class of 2024), Prop Master

VITAL STORIES

RECONSTRUCTING CHARLIE

-Sarah Pierpont (AFI Class of 2020), Cinematographer

TRIBECA NOW CREATORS SHOWCASE

VHS DATES

-Lee Citron (AFI Class of 2014), Creator

-Trevor Worley (AFI Class of 2014), Creator

AFI offers MFA courses in six disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. To learn more about attending the AFI Conservatory graduate film school, visit AFI.edu.