Tribeca Films Announces Spring 2026 Acquisitions Including Independent Spirit Winner Esta Isla,' Berlinale Award Winner Fwends,' And Mabel'

19/03/2026

March 19th, 2026

TRIBECA FILMS ANNOUNCES SPRING 2026 ACQUISITIONS INCLUDING INDEPENDENT SPIRIT WINNER ESTA ISLA,' BERLINALE AWARD WINNER FWENDS,' AND MABEL

Photo Courtesy of Esta Isla

NEW YORK - March 19, 2026 - Tribeca Films, the distribution label from Tribeca Enterprises and Giant Pictures, today announced three films picked up for U.S. distribution: Independent Spirit and Tribeca Festival award winner ESTA ISLA, directed by Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero; Berlinale winner FWENDS, directed by Sophie Somerville; and MABEL, directed by Nicholas Ma.

These films join previously announced 2026 acquisitions WE ARE PAT from Rowan Haber and REELING from Yana Alliata, forming a spring slate of festival standouts. Together, these five titles highlight bold storytelling and emerging voices from across the independent film community, reflecting the label's ongoing commitment to championing independent filmmakers and bringing distinctive, festival-lauded stories to audiences worldwide

With five upcoming releases from leading festivals around the globe, this slate reflects the breadth and creativity of the indie film landscape that Tribeca Films strives to champion, said Jane Rosenthal, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Tribeca Enterprises. We are proud to shine a light on emerging filmmakers telling groundbreaking stories, like Tribeca Festival prize winner ESTA ISLA, the first Puerto Rican film to win an Independent Spirit Award

Tribeca Films spring slate includes:

ESTA ISLA - A deeply personal and poignant portrait of the Puerto Rican experience that dives into the complexities of identity, resilience, and colonial legacy, ESTA ISLA became the first Puerto Rican film to win an Independent Spirit Award with the 2026 John Cassavetes Award. It had its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, where it was honored with Best Cinematography, Best New Director, and the Jury Award. Directed and produced by Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero. Executive Produced by Rafael Carretero, Annabelle Mullen, Valerie Steinberg, and Frankie Cueto. With Zion Ort z, Fabiola Brown, Xavier Morales, Te filo Torres, Audicio Robles, and Georgina Borri. Tribeca Films will release the film digitally in August.

FWENDS - When Jessies estranged friend from Sydney spontaneously arrives in Melbourne, they spend a weekend together to distract themselves from their many problems and their existential dread. FWENDS world premiered at Berlinale 2025 where it won the Caligari Award for stylistic and thematic innovation. It was nominated for Best Indie Film at the 2026 AACTAs. Directed by Sophie Somerville. Produced by Somerville, Carter Looker, and Sarah Hegge-Taylor. Executive produced by Brendan Donoghue, Amanda Maple-Brown, and Adrian Holmes. With Emmanuelle Mattana, Melissa Gan, and Jason Resoort. Tribeca Films will release the film digitally in September.

MABEL - No one gets Callie, an awkward pre-teen whose one friend, Mabel, is a plant. As Callie's obsession grows, she is put at odds with her mother and jeopardizes her first chance at a real friendship. MABEL premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival and received the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Award at NYU. Directed by Nicholas Ma. Produced by Luca Borghese, Ben Howe, and Helen Estabrook. With Lexi Perkel, Judy Greer, Christine Ko, Lena Josephine Marano, Quincy Dunn-Baker. Tribeca Films will release the film digitally on April 21.

WE ARE PAT - WE ARE PAT, which explores the legacy of iconic gender-nonconforming SNL character Pat, had its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, where it earned a Special Jury Mention for New Documentary Director. Directed by Rowan Haber and produced by Haber and Caryn Capotosto. Executive Produced by Alan Cumming, Adrian Salpeter, Bill & Ruth Ann Harnisch - The Harnisch Foundation, Jenny Raskin, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Pierre Hauser, Rebecca Lichtenfeld, Chandra Jessee, Marci Wiseman, Daniel J. Chalfen, Dawn Bonder, J Winkelried, Eric Kuhn, Beth Levison, Shauna Schmunk, Lilly Wachowski, Lauren Greenfield and Frank Evers, Stuart Ford, Lourdes Diaz, Caroline Libresco, and Meadow Fund. With Julia Sweeney, Kevin Nealon, Molly Kearney, Abby McEnany, Murray Hill, Nori Reed, Robin Tran, Sabrina Wu, Roz Hernandez, and more. Tribeca Films will release the film digitally on June 23.

REELING - After a life altering accident, Ryan struggles to fit in with old friends and family at a birthday luau on his family's homestead. As the pig slowly roasts in an imu pit and the partygoers cut loose, the celebration boils over when Ryan uncovers the missing memory of when his life took a tragic turn. REELING premiered at SXSW 2025. Directed by Yana Alliata. Produced by Jack Forbes and executive produced by Werner Herzog. With Ryan Wuestewald, Hans Christopher, and Nikki DeParis. Tribeca Films will release the film digitally in July.

These titles follow the February 2026 Tribeca Films release of Timour Gregory and Sasha Schneider's BEAM ME UP, SULU, and build on standout 2025 slate of nearly twenty releases including SERIOUS PEOPLE, WE CAN BE HEROES, THE PREMIERE, ONE NIGHT WITH ADELA, IF THAT MOCKINGBIRD DON'T SING, BEYOND THE GAZE: JULE CAMPBELL'S SWIMSUIT ISSUE, SUNFISH (& OTHER STORIES ON GREEN LAKE), STEALING PULP FICTION, SUZE and A BRONX TALE: ONE MAN SHOW.

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About Tribeca Enterprises

Tribeca Enterprises is a multi-platform media and entertainment company that owns and operates the Tribeca Festival, Tribeca Studios, and production company m ss ng p eces. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Founded in 2003 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, Tribeca Enterprises brings artists and audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, includin

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Tribeca Films Announces Spring 2026 Acquisitions Including Independent Spirit Winner Esta Isla,' Berlinale Award Winner Fwends,' And Mabel'

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