Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff 24 years ago, the Tribeca Festival had another successful year celebrating independent film from around the world. It has become one of the most significant film events in New York City, offering a wide diversity of emerging talent and a strong regional focus while also embracing an international outlook. Among this year’s narrative selections were three New York City–centered films making their world premieres—two of which audiences should definitely keep an eye on.

On a String marks an impressive debut from stand-up comedian, classically trained violinist, and now writer-director Isabel Hagen. After seeing the film, she’s certainly gained a new fan. Set in the Big Apple, the film explores life after college and in the classical music world. Hagen stars as Isabel, a Juilliard-trained violinist and freelance musician who still lives with her parents while stringing together gigs. Her world is disrupted by the return of her toxic ex-boyfriend Dave (John Kroner), now a New York Philharmonic cellist, who informs her about a viola position opening up in the elite symphony.

Sharp, witty, and refreshingly grounded, the film nails the feeling of being young, uncertain, and feeling lost. Hagen is charming and emotionally nuanced, and she clearly pours her heart into the project—every comedic beat lands. The supporting cast enhances the humor, including Dylan Baker, who plays Isabel’s father, and Eric Bogosian. One standout moment is the film’s opening scene, a hilariously awkward failed marriage proposal, with Isabel hired as the violinist. It sets the tone for the film’s well-timed awkward humor. At just 78 minutes, On a String is brisk, engaging, and full of heart. The live musical performances—by professional musicians—add authenticity and texture to this indie gem.

The Travel Companion, co-directed and written by Travis Wood and Alex Mallis, is a buddy comedy that centers on longtime best friends and roommates Simon (Tristan Turner) and Bruce (Anthony Oberbeck). One perk of Simon’s friendship with Bruce is the ability to grab free flights, thanks to Bruce’s job at an airline. Simon, a struggling documentarian, uses this fringe benefit to work on his film projects. But when Bruce starts dating Beatrice (Naomi Asa), a fellow independent filmmaker, the dynamic shifts. Simon grows slightly jealous as his own career prospects remain uncertain.

In their directorial debut, Wood and Mallis craft an effective, bittersweet story about friendship and its inevitable evolution. (Not all friendships are meant to last forever.) The film also offers a self-aware and amusing look at the realities of indie filmmaking. The humor is well-balanced with the emotional beats. Turner delivers a strong performance as a character stuck in a creative rut—his current documentary is about walls. (What makes walls so interesting?) Aside from some bland visuals, the film succeeds as a relatable portrait of friendship, with plenty of deadpan humor.

A Tree Fell in the Woods features a cast that includes some of Broadway’s brightest talent. Childhood best friends Debs (Alexandra Daddario) and Mitch (Josh Gad) escape to a cabin in the woods for a New Year’s Eve getaway with their spouses: Debs’s husband Josh (Daveed Diggs) and Mitch’s wife Melanie (Ashley Park). When a tree falls near the cabin—nearly killing Mitch and Debs—it sets the tone for an already awkward vacation that quickly unravels after the group witnesses a shocking act of betrayal. First-time writer/director Nora Kirkpatrick uses the scenario to explore the emotional ripple effects of infidelity.

Daddario and Gad share an appealing chemistry, but the film’s tone wavers; some comedic bits feel forced, and the story struggles to generate real dramatic tension. While the actors give committed performances, the script doesn’t offer enough depth to make a lasting impression. A subplot involving a mysterious booze, a kind of psychedelic truth serum, feels gimmicky rather than revelatory, further hindering the story’s momentum.