First Time Go

I conclude Tribeca special coverage with one of my favorite films at the festival, CAITY (2026). To say Lindsay Calleran has been through some things to get her debut feature made is underselling it by a lot. Please read this First Person IndieWire article that Lindsay wrote; it gives a lot of important background to her story and how CAITY came to be.
I'm so impressed by so many different things: the resiliency she showed in both losing her father and getting this film made; the journey to sobriety; having the guts to put it all out there for the world to see.
Mostly, though, I'm impressed she made an absolute banger of a coming-of-age film. It has amazingly unique cinematography and an ending that you won't predict. It leaves you wanting to know more (and then feeling a little heartbroken after). That's great filmmaking.
Lindsay and I discuss:
the combination of a birthday, Tribeca premiere, and Father's Day when your debut feature is fictionalized version of your relationship with your father;
how much real life influenced the final film;
how she got into filmmaking;
the unique touches of cinematography in this film;
the incredible actors playing Caity and her father in this film, and somehow finding the chemistry between them;
if casting directors are underrated in indie films;
the EP/producer relationships for this film and the unique grant that made this film happen;
why we don't see more films like this in festivals and theaters;
what's next for her.
Lindsay's Indie Film Highlight: LONG'S LONG LOST & MINI MART (2025) dir. by Julian Doan
Links:
Follow Lindsay On Instagram

The Tribeca Film Festival helped organize this tremendous in-person panel with two New York filmmakers: Lily Weisberg, dir of RARE BIRDS (2026) and Maria Sofia Hernandez, dir of LA LUCHA DE LUCÍA (2026).
Recorded on June 9th at Spring Studios, we talk about their incredible films; the challenges of writing different types of characters; what BACKROOMS (2026) and OBSESSION (2025) mean for independent filmmakers; and more.
In this episode, we talk about:
the creation stories of LA LUCHA DE LUCIA and RARE BIRDS;
casting for the films and the role of social media;
how she was able to achieve such well-drawn out characters in RARE BIRDS and her advice for other filmmakers;
the challenges of writing both males and female characters;
what does a bad short film look like?
why Tribeca for their films?
what to do with their films now after a premiere at Tribeca (shout out to NoBudge!);
BACKROOMS and OBSESSION -- what does that mean for independent filmmakers?
how her experience as a director helps her as an actor;
what's next for them.

Lily's Indie Film Highlight: CAITY (2026), dir. by Lindsay Calleran
Maria's Indie Film Highlight: DADDY'S LITTLE MEATBALL (2026), dir. by Yael Grunseit
Links:
Follow Maria On Instagram
Follow Soonest Mended Productions, Lily's Production Company, On Instagram
Follow LA LUCHA DE LUCÍA On Instagram
MODERN SILENT SHORTS (Check out the tour this summer!)

If you're going to make a film about surfing in Senegal, I assume the viewer expects beautiful shots of surfing and the landscape of Dakar, Senegal's capital city. And man, does my guest, filmmaker and director, David Clancy, of NIO KO BOKK or THIS BELONGS TO ALL OF US (2026) deliver.
The film is a valentine to so many things: refugees, Senegal, surfing, and documentary filmmaking itself. David's story of creating the film relies so much on his exciting background, and it was a such a joy to hear about it from his spot now in the Canary Islands.
In this episode, David and I talk about:
why is he now in the Canary Islands and his wild career story;
how did this film come into existence;
when do documentaries require great cinematography?
his path focusing on social impact films and whether that's repeatable for other documentary filmmakers;
the requirements for social media as a documentary filmmaker and his advice to getting started;
the prism of surfing and refugees for THIS BELONGS TO ALL OF US;
the logistical challenges of making a surfing film;
why Tribeca?;
how do we see more films like this in theaters;
what's next for him.
David's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Jigar Ganatra
Links:
Follow David On Instagram
Follow David On YouTube

Watch This Episode On YouTube
Watch STRAIGHT TO HELL On Criterion Channel
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: STRAIGHT TO HELL (1987)
Director: Alex Cox
Writers: Dick Rude; Alex Cox
Stars: Joe Strummer; Dick Rude; Courtney Love
SYNOPSIS
Three bank robbers (Sy Richardson, Joe Strummer, Dick Rude) and a pregnant woman tear up a desert town.
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What a last month or so for Haiti and director Elisee Junior St. Preux's debut feature. Upon its release at the Tribeca Film Festival, THE TROPIC SUN AND HIS EYES (2026) received the Special Jury Mention for Best New Narrative Director alongside rave reviews. It is truly stunning filmmaking, offering both a realistic glimpse of Haiti and an expansive view of fatherhood.
Let's count the ways in which his month just aligns perfectly for this film: Haiti playing Brazil in its second World Cup today (there's special screenings of this film in Atlanta); Father's Day in the United States; and all of the plaudits received at its world premiere at Tribeca.
We only get more Haitian film directors at top festivals if people like Elisee care about elevating other voices, and he does that, too. Have a month, Elisee; I'm here for it.
In this conversation, Elisee and I discuss:
the vibe of the film and how he made Haiti essentially a character in the film;
why the topic of fatherhood for his first feature;
his emphasis on shooting in Haiti and the challenge of others trying to take away his deeply personal story;
the creation of what is now SOIL Pictures and how he focuses on uplifting Black voices;
"labs are very specific about what they want to get across" -- such important advice about going into a lab or a fellowship;
why Tribeca?
what's next for this electric filmmaker.
Elisee's Indie Film Highlights: MY FATHER'S SHADOW (2025) dir. by Akinola Davies, Jr; I LOVE BOOSTERS (2026) dir. by Boots Riley
Links:
Follow Elisee On Instagram
Elisee's Website