Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘In the Heights’ to open Tribeca Film Festival with screenings in all 5 NYC boroughs

NEW YORK — The Tribeca Film Festival will open its 2021 edition with the big-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights,” festival organizers announced Friday.

The highly anticipated movie musical will officially premiere on June 9 at the United Palace in Upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights, the same neighborhood where the movie is set. But for the first time ever, the festival’s opening night will also be screened simultaneously in open-air venues across all five boroughs.

The 12-day-event, which was canceled last year because of the pandemic, will mark its 20th anniversary and is the first major North American film festival to be held in person since last year’s lockdown, according to a news release.

“This will be an unforgettable night at the United Palace,” Miranda said in a statement. “We can’t wait to share this musical love letter to our community, with our community, in our community.”

The Warner Bros. adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical will hit U.S. theaters and HBO Max on June 11, two days after the festival kickoff.

Created and produced by Miranda, “In the Heights” takes place in the predominantly Latinx community and centers around a young bodega owner, played by “Hamilton” star Anthony Ramos, seeking a better life for himself. Miranda, who starred in the stage production, plays a supporting role in the film, along with Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera and Corey Hawkins.

“In the Heights is the quintessential New York story of hard-work, resilience, and triumph,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and CEO of the festival. “We are proud to feature this film as Opening Night where it can debut in its hometown in celebration of its New York roots and the Latinx community.”

The musical was a major hit on Broadway in 2008 and won four Tony awards, including best musical.

The movie version was shot in Washington Heights in the summer of 2018 and was originally slated to premiere last June, but it was pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was directed by Jon M. Chu, of “Crazy Rich Asians.”

“New York, and specifically Washington Heights, is the lead character in our film — its vibrancy and energy are unmatched,” Chu said in a statement. “How incredible that after a year of isolation, New Yorkers from across all boroughs will have an opportunity to see it first, together, and join us in the celebration of life coming back.”

The festival runs June 9-20.

———