Summer War by Alicia Scherson
The Tribeca Festival has announced its 2026 programming, unveiling a robust selection of films from Latin America and the Latinx diaspora that span political thrillers, musical dramas, and intimate documentaries.
Puerto Rican filmmaker Carlitos Ruiz-Ruiz is back at Tribeca with Summer of Three / Verano de tres, which will have its world premiere in the U.S. Narrative Competition. The film follows 17-year-old Javi, portrayed by his son, producer and co-writer Marcel Ruiz, who returns home to his native Puerto Rico after years away. His homecoming takes an unexpected turn when he meets Luife and Kiki, two social misfits who flip his entire world upside down.
Also joining the U.S. Narrative Competition for its world premiere is Joshua Z Weinstein’s Here I'm Alive, a neo-realist urban epic where migrants, sex workers, and dreamers hustle New York’s digital underbelly. Driven by underground rap and spiritual jazz, the film blends testimonies in English and Spanish from immigrants in New York City.
Headlining the Spotlight Narrative section is the world premiere of Killing Castro, directed by Eif Rivera. This political thriller reimagines Fidel Castro’s 1960 stay in Harlem as a tense encounter between surveillance and solidarity. Written by Thomas DeGrezia and Leon Hendrix, the film features a high-profile cast including Al Pacino, Mexican actor Diego Boneta, and Xolo Maridueña (who is of Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadorian descent), alongside KiKi Layne, following a young translator caught in a tightening web of power and proximity.
The International Narrative Competition features four Latin American and Caribbean co-productions from Mexico, Chile, Brazil, and Haiti.
Sad Girlz / Chicas tristes, the striking coming-of-age drama directed by Mexican filmmaker Fernanda Tovar, will have its North American premiere, following a double-winning world premiere at the Berlinale, where it was awarded both the Grand Prix of the International Jury for Best Film in Generation 14plus and the Crystal Bear for Best Film from the Youth Jury. The film is told through the eyes of two best friends whose bond is tested when they have drastically different reactions to a traumatic experience at a party.
Alicia Scherson’s Summer War / Guerra de verano, an adaptation of Roberto Bolaño’s The Third Reich, will have its world premiere. Set in 1989 Chile against the decline of the Pinochet regime, the film follows a wargame champion whose vacation takes a mysterious turn.
Aly Muritiba’s Funk represents Brazilian cinema. Starring Duda Santos alongside real-life musicians Lellê and MC Nem, this electrifying musical drama follows a young woman’s rise within the vibrant world of Brazilian funk. Also premiering is The Tropic Sun and His Eyes, directed by Elisee Junior St Preux, which follows a young man’s journey through Haiti to reconnect with his estranged father.
In the Documentary Competition, Eddie Sánchez makes his debut with Mexicanamerican, a poignant film that uses VHS home movies to trace his parents' journey from Mexico to the United States. Also featured is Jean-Michel, co-directed by Quinn Whitney Wilson and Viridiana Lieberman, which offers an intimate look at the Brooklyn-born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and his Haitian and Puerto Rican heritage.
In the Viewpoints section, the Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic co-production Matininó will have its world premiere. Directed and produced by Gabriela Díaz Arp, the film follows a multi-generational family of outspoken Puerto Rican women who take center stage as they conceive and perform fantastical film vignettes as a way to navigate painful pasts in a visually-arresting, kaleidoscopic documentary.
The 25th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival will take place June 3 – 14, 2026, in New York City.
