Filmmaker Kyle Vorbach spent the past year living his dreams: he moved to LA; published a book; produced a podcast; released a solo album; put on an art show; presented a Ted Talk; was interviewed on TV and more. Thing is, he faked it all. Hence the title of his uproarious social-experiment-turned-documentary: How I Faked My Life with AI.

However: knowing the ‘how’ only raises more questions.

Were Vorbach’s dreams ever real to begin with? Is his life better or worse thanks to AI? Or, better yet, forget Vorbach. What should WE do with this life-changing tech?

At Tribeca Festival 2024, one programming “first” drew unprecedented attention:  the “Sora Shorts” showcase, featuring five original short films all produced using OpenAI’s text-to-video AI model, aka Sora. 

Why does this matter? 

Storytelling as we know it may never be the same. 

Natalie Metzger, Spirit Award-nominated producer and Vanishing Angle’s VP of Development and Production, is a name to watch—that is, if you aren’t watching already. Known for producing festival favorites like Thunder Road (2018) and Greener Grass (2019), Metzger—and Vanishing Angle—are staples on the indie circuit, returning to major fests every year with exciting new projects.

Songs About Fucking—the ballad of bathrobe-clad musician/performance artist Marc Rebillet, directed by James Gallagher—premiered to cheering crowds at Tribeca 2023. While best not to overanalyze—Songs transcends its ostensible purpose and becomes something deeper … laced with rich streaks of genuine fun.

First-time director Jane M. Wagner just won an award at Tribeca 2023 for breaking the rules.  Her astonishing screenlife doc, Break the Game, confronts timely subjects—gaming, social media, mental health, trans visibility—all through a focus on a single gamer.