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The 2026 Tribeca Festival kicked off its 25th anniversary edition at the Beacon Theatre with the world premiere of HBO’s Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World), a celebratory documentary exploring the group’s out-of-this-world music, visuals, metaphysics, and joy. The film’s director, Grammy- and Academy Award-winning Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, was joined by Earth, Wind & Fire members Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson, along with The Roots members Ray Angry and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, as well as musicians Flavor Flav, Chuck D, Jimmy Jam, and H.E.R.
Prior to the screening, Tribeca Festival co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal welcomed attendees to the opening of the 25th edition, reflecting on the festival’s beginnings and its evolution over the past 25 years.
