Since its launch in 2002, the annual Tribeca Film Festival has grown significantly — expanding from a five-day to a 13-day festival in just five years, making it the fastest-growing North American film event.
The festival, founded by the actor, is now in its fifth year and organisers say that some of this year’s films will deal the events of September 11 2001.
Kicking off the Tribeca Film Festival is the premiere of “United 93,” a Universal Pictures dramatisation of the hijacked plane which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against their hijackers.
De Niro told reporters: “If it was not opening the festival, it would seems strange.”
“It’s important to see because it’s kind of a playback of what happened and you know what’s going to happen (but) still it’s sort of, you have to see the movie.”
Several other films at Tribeca share the same theme, including documentaries “Saint of 9/11” about a fire department chaplain killed at the World Trade Centre and “The Heart of Steel” about volunteers who helped after the attacks.
The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff as a response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Conceived to foster the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture, the Festival’s mission is to promote New York City as a major filmmaking center and help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience.
The 2006 Festival, presented by American Express, will take place from April 25 – May 7, 2006. Reflecting the festival’s continued growth, it will expand this year to more neighborhoods throughout Manhattan and feature screenings, special events, concerts, a family street fair, and panel discussions. For more information, please visit http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/
For press inquiries regarding the Tribeca Film Festival, please contact Tammie Rosen at (212) 843-8008. For additional information on the festival please visit the press section at http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/
