Cara Cusumano| Tribeca at 25 | Film, Gaming, Music, Podcasts & Culture take over NYC

Tribeca Festival Director Cara Cusumano joins Dope Interviews for a deep conversation about the evolution of one of the world’s most influential storytelling festivals.Cara talks about Tribeca’s 25-year journey from its roots after 9/11 to becoming a cultural hub for film, TV, music, gaming, podcasts, and immersive media. She breaks down the year-round process behind programming thousands of submissions, discovering future stars, and balancing creativity with the business of entertainment.The episode also dives into:The year-round grind of planning Tribeca and reviewing nearly 14,000 submissionsWhy Tribeca thinks beyond “movie festival” and leans into story in every formatHow 9/11 and Covid shaped Tribeca’s identity and role in New York CityWhy short films and midnight genre programs are where future legends often startHow the team balances curation, audience discovery, and FOMO in a packed scheduleWhat the rise of AI in film means for creators and how Tribeca is respondingHow to break into festival programming and get involved behind the scenesCara’s most memorable Tribeca moment, featuring a surprise Elton John performanceIf you care about film, media, festivals, or how creative communities are built, this episode gives you an inside look at the strategy, heart, and hustle it takes to keep a major festival moving for 25 years.Follow Dope Interviews for more smart, culture-driven conversations with the people defining what’s next.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dope-interviews--5006633/support.Follow Dope Interviews on X: https://www.twitter.com/dope_interviewsFollow Warren Shaw on X: https://www.twitter.com/thewarrenshawFollow Warren on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thewarrenshawRock "Dope Interviews" gear: https://19-media-group.myspreadshop.comLooking to book a vacation? Our travel partner Exquiste Travel & Tours has you covered: Call 954-228-5479 or visit https://exquisitetravelandtours.com/Discover our favorite podcast gear and support the show—shop our studio must-haves on our Amazon Affiliate page! https://www.amazon.com/shop/19mediagroupWant to join the conversation or invite us to your platform? Connect with us and share your vision (budget-friendly collaborations welcome)!  https://bit.ly/19Guest