Spotlight on Tribeca Film Festival 2025
The Tribeca Film Festival, founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, celebrates storytelling in all its forms. Held annually in New York City, the festival showcases a diverse range of films—from independent features and documentaries to immersive experiences and short films.
Originally created to help revitalize Lower Manhattan after 9/11, Tribeca has since grown into a major cultural event. In addition to film screenings, the festival features industry panels, interactive media, and cutting-edge virtual reality. It offers a platform for both emerging voices and established filmmakers, fostering creativity, conversation, and community across the global film landscape.
📅 This year’s festival runs from June 4 through June 15, 2025.
World Premiere: Lemonade Blessing
One of the standout selections in the US Narrative Competition is the world premiere of Lemonade Blessing, a feature film directed by Chris Merola, a native New Yorker and recent graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. This marks Merola’s feature directorial debut. (EG-PR, 2025)
🎬 About the Film
Title: Lemonade Blessing
Running Time: 100 minutes
Language: English
Country: USA
Genre: Drama
🎭 Cast
Jake Ryan, Jeanine Serralles, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Miles J. Harvey, Michael Oloyede, Todd Gearhart, Keith William Richards
🎥 Producers
Chris Merola, Raza Rizvi, Aruba Sülzana, Samuel Ashurov
📖 Synopsis
Freshly tossed into a private Catholic high school by his devout mother, John (Jake Ryan) falls head over heels for a devious classmate who’s ready to push his faith—and morals—to the brink. What unfolds is a series of increasingly uncomfortable acts, all in the name of love.
🎟 Public Screening Schedule
| Date | Time | Venue | Location |
| Thursday, June 5 | 7:15 p.m. | SVA2 – Beatrice | SVA Theater, 333 West 23rd Street |
| Friday, June 6 | 9:00 p.m. | VEC-04 | Village East Cinemas, 181-189 2nd Avenue |
| Saturday, June 14 | 6:00 p.m. | VEC-04 | Village East Cinemas, 181-189 2nd Avenue |
| Sunday, June 15 | 11:15 a.m. | VEC-02 | Village East Cinemas, 181-189 2nd Avenue |
Chris Merola is a writer and filmmaker from Long Island, New York. Lemonade Blessing is his first feature film.
SA Examiner 