By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The New York City cinema event will host a number of genre premieres in June.
The 2025 edition of the Tribeca Festival, which runs June 4-15, has announced its full lineup of 118 feature films, including the titles in its genre-centric Escape from Tribeca section. The scary stuff and thrillers in that lineup are:
THE DEGENERATE: THE LIFE AND FILMS OF ANDY MILLIGAN (United States) – World Premiere. Before unsung gay NYC exploitation maverick Andy Milligan died of AIDS, he cranked out grindhouse-ready shock and so-bad-it’s-good schlock movies throughout the late 1960s and ’70s. Yet, as captured in this fascinating documentary, his life and on-set persona were messy, complicated, and unforgettable. Directed by Josh Johnson, Grayson Tyler Johnson. Produced by Carl Daft, David Gregory, Josh Johnson. A Severin Films Release.
THAT’S TRIBECXPLOITATION! THE ANDY MILLIGAN TIME MACHINE: Take a trip with Tribeca and Severin Films back to the heyday of Times Square grindhouse double bills, complete with vintage film trailers, to experience two long-lost Andy Milligan shockers: KISS ME, KISS ME, KISS ME! (1968), an unhinged domestic drama from Hell, and THE DEGENERATES (1967), a postapocalyptic blast of sordid debauchery.
DOG OF GOD (Latvia, United States) – World Premiere. Rotoscope animation sets the stage for this wild 17th-century look at a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst. Directed by Lauris Abele, Raitis Abele. Written by Lauris Abele, Raitis Abele, Ivo Briedis, Harijs Grundmanis. Produced by Raitis Abele, Kristele Pudane. With Jurgis Spulenieks, Agate Krista, Einars Repse, Regnars Vaivars.
MAN FINDS TAPE (United States) – World Premiere. Pulled in by a series of strange and unexplainable video clips, a brother and sister team up to investigate the events captured in the footage, only to discover a shocking secret that’s overtaking their small-town Texas community. Directed and written by Peter Hall, Paul Gandersman. Produced by David Lawson Jr., Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, Ashley Landavazo. With Kelsey Pribilski, William Magnuson, John Gholson, Brian Villalobos.
ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE (United States) – World Premiere. Fresh out of jail, a military veteran relocates to a small Ohio town where many of the residents have a horrifying social agenda, leading the hardened vet to enact his own brand of brutal justice. Directed and written by RZA. Produced by Paul Hall, RZA. With Shameik Moore, RJ Cyler, Paris Jackson, Blair Underwood.
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS (United States) – New York Premiere. An original animated action-adventure film set in the Predator universe. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and co-directed by Josh Wassung. Screenplay by Micho Robert Rutare and story by Trachtenberg and Rutare, based on characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas. Produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt. A Hulu Release.
QUEENS OF THE DEAD (United States) – World Premiere. On what should be a fun night at a Brooklyn warehouse party, an outbreak of flesheating zombies forces a ragtag group of drag queens, partygoers and party-throwers to band together and somehow survive the night. Directed by Tina Romero. Written by Tina Romero, Erin Judge. Produced by Matt Miller, Natalie Metzger. With Katy O’Brian, Jaquel Spivey, Tomás Matos, Nina West, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Margaret Cho.
The fest will also showcase the latest movies by a few notable genre/cult filmmakers:
In the Spotlight Narrative section:
SHAM (Japan) – World Premiere. When a young student shows signs of trauma, his parents act swiftly against his middle school teacher. But all may not be as it seems, leading the scales of justice to tip in fascinating, heartbreaking ways. Directed by Takashi Miike. Written by Hayashi Mori. Produced by Ken’ichi Wasano, Keiichi Hashimoto, Misako Saka, Shigeji Maeda. With Go Ayano, Ko Shibasaki.
In the International Narrative Competition:
REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND (Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, France) – North American Premiere. A retired spy reminisces on his career in this surreal throwback to the stylish spy romps of the 1960s, filled with sexy action and outlandish gadgets. Directed and written by Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani. Produced by Pierre Foulon. With Fabio Testi, Yannick Renier, Koen De Bouw, Maria de Medeiros. A Shudder Release.
More information about the fest and its films can be found at the official website.
