The Tribeca Film Festival announced its 2020 Shorts Program lineup Thursday including the world premiere of DreamWorks Animation’s To Gerard and projects with Benedict Cumberbatch, Dennis Quaid and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

As cancellations and postponements rock the entertainment landscape, Tribeca said it’s still a go. “We are tracking the COVID19 (coronavirus) situation closely. If we receive pertinent information that requires us to make any changes to the Tribeca Film Festival taking place from April 15-26, we will provide an updated statement. As of right now, there are no direct impacts to our festival.”  a spokesperson said Thursday.

The shorts roster for the 19th annual fest has 64 shorts from 20 countries, including 46 world premieres, selected from a record 6,100 submissions, organizers said.

Whoopi Goldberg again curated the animated portion. And back for a second year are two portrayals of diverse women from the Queen Collective by Procter & Gamble in partnership with Queen Latifah. Tribeca said that for the fourth consecutive year, 40% of the selections are directed by female filmmakers.

The 2020 shorts lineup is programmed by Sharon Badal and Ben Thompson.

“In this important election year we have a political doc shorts program that illustrates contemporary issues facing our country, as well as a music doc shorts program that’s very diverse,” said Sharon Badal, VP of Filmmaker Relations and Shorts Programming,

Tribeca Film Festival. “Everyone needs some escapism too, so our comedy shorts, sci-fi shorts, and New York shorts programs are back by popular demand.”

The short films will be presented in 10 competition programs – five narrative, four documentary and one animation.

The 2020 Tribeca Film Festival Shorts Program

Animated Shorts Curated by Whoopi Goldberg

Grandad Was A Romantic, directed, written, and by Maryam Mohajer. (UK) – New York Premiere, Short Animation. Grandad first fell in love with granny seeing her picture. It sounds like a fairy tale. All it needs is a happy ending. With Maya Naraghi.  

Umbrella, directed and written by Helena Hilario, Mario Pece. Produced by Helena Hilario. (Brazil) – New York Premiere, Short Animation. Inspired by true events, Umbrella is a short film that follows Joseph, a boy who lives in an orphanage and dreams of having a yellow umbrella.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, directed by Robin Shaw, written by Joanna Harrison, Judith Kerr. Produced by Ruth Fielding, Camilla Deakin. (UK) – World Premiere, Short Animation. A mysterious tiger turns up unannounced and invites himself in for afternoon tea. With David Oyelowo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tamsin Greig, Clara Ross, David Walliams.

Beyond Noh, directed by Patrick Smith, written by Patrick Smith, Kaori Ishida. Produced by Kaori Ishida. (USA) – World Premiere, Short Animation. Beyond Noh rhythmically animates 3,475 individual masks from all over the world.

Kapaemahu, directed by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson. Produced by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson. (USA) – World Premiere, Short Animation. Four mysterious boulders on Waikiki Beach have a hidden history; within them, there are legendary transgender healing spirits. In Hawaiian with English subtitles.

Bathwell in Clerkentime, directed, written, and produced by Alex Budovsky. (Colombia, USA) – World Premiere, Short Animation. This is the animated short that completes the trilogy about cuckoos from Clerkenwell going nuts. In this episode birds face problems with marriage, raising kids, and alcohol.

Friends, directed, written, and produced by Florian Grolig. (Germany) – North American Premiere, Short Animation. The “small” one is, well, small, and the “big” one is definitely very very big. They are friends.

To Gerard, directed and written by Taylor Meacham. Produced by Jeff Hermann. (USA) – World Premiere, Short Animation. A sprightly elderly man brightens the day of a little girl through magic.