Tribeca 2026: Rare Birds | Interview with Lily Weisberg & Michael Bloom
New York–based filmmaking duo Lily Weisberg and Michael Bloom shared their excitement and sense of accomplishment about premiering their charming coming-of-age short film Rare Birds at the 25th Tribeca Film Festival.
As Rare Birds is celebrating its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, filmmaker Lily Weisberg and writer/producer Michael Bloom spoke with us about the origins of their charming coming-of-age short, their collaborative creative process, and the joys of working with a remarkable cast.
The film follows Candace, a determined 12-year-old who sets out to get her beloved camp counselor Jerry fired from his job at a local antique store so he’ll have more time to play basketball with her. According to Weisberg and Bloom, the project began with a simple desire to work with actors Zoe Ziegler (Janet Planet) and Tony Macht, whose chemistry inspired the film’s unusual premise. Weisberg described her love for stories featuring “a little girl bossing around an older boy,” citing films like Paper Moon as an influence.
The duo also told us about their fluid collaboration, with Bloom typically writing initial drafts before the script is passed back and forth until both filmmakers feel they’re “seeing the same movie together.” In terms of shooting location, the antique store setting was critical, leading to a months-long search across New York and Connecticut before they found the perfect location: Bowen Barn in upstate New York.
When asked about their inspirations, Weisberg highlighted filmmakers such as Ang Lee, Kelly Reichardt, and Luca Guadagnino for their attention to actors and environments, while Bloom noted that the team looked closely at short films during development to better embrace the unique possibilities of the format.
As New York-based filmmakers, premiering Rare Birds at Tribeca carries special significance. Bloom called it “an amazing honor,” while Weisberg described the selection as “a dream come true,” praising the festival’s longstanding support of emerging filmmakers.
Our team is on site for the 25th Tribeca Film Festival, from June 3 to 14, 2026.
