Explain what you’re looking for as Festival Director.

I am always looking to be surprised. When you are watching literally hundreds and thousands of films per year you often see a lot of the same choices. It makes anything new and fresh really pop out. Whether it’s a story, character, even a single inventive shot, that jolt of “I’ve never seen this before” is what I live for, and it’s what I’m hoping to find in every submission.

What is the most common mistake you see in submissions?

Be as thoughtful about your festival strategy as you were about making your film. Know the festivals you are applying to, which ones are a good fit for the film you’ve made, what you hope to get out of each. It is a strategy for a reason.

What words of encouragement would you give to submitters?

I know the numbers can look daunting, but I promise there is a real path from blind submission to world premiere. I’ve watched it happen again and again. Every film in our lineup started the same way yours will: someone hit “submit” and hoped. Our programmers are your biggest allies. They’re out there hunting for discoveries, and when they find one, they want to throw the full weight of the festival behind it.

What’s the most gratifying thing about watching a storyteller get their start at Tribeca?

Being there at the very beginning of a filmmaker’s journey never gets old. There’s something magical about knowing that a career-changing moment can begin with one programmer watching one submission late at night and thinking, “Oh, this is special.” From that tiny spark, a film can go on to shape the wider culture. Getting to be part of that, again and again, is the best part of my job.

What excites you about the future of independent filmmaking and storytelling?

It’s a hard time right now. Between the political climate and the upheaval in our industry, it’s harder than ever to get work made. But these turbulent moments are often when the most urgent, inventive storytelling breaks through. When the old rules stop working, artists get to write new ones. That’s what excites me: the sense that anything is possible.

What’s the first film that left an impact on you?

The Little Mermaid is the first film I remember being aware of. It would have been the summer before I turned 6 in 1989 that we had a cut out from the newspaper about it hanging on the fridge and counted down the days until it opened. Then later I remember begging my mom to buy me the VHS from the grocery store when it came out. I still have that VHS.

What’s your go-to movie snack?

Milk Duds.

When you’re not programming Tribeca, what are you doing?

Reading! I’m proud to say I finished 14 books this “off season". but submissions are officially open, which means I’m back to watching movies every waking hour, literally.