The Tribeca Attack! Tribeca Film Festival April 23 - May 4, 2008 Written by Frank J. Avella Opposite Photo: Melody Bates and Josh McLane by Krisztina Fazekas Click here for Tribeca Film Reviews

In 2001, following the World Trade Center attacks, Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival. In the seven years that followed, TFF has become quite the exciting celebration of cinema. It has also generated over $425 million in revenue for New York City!

The 2008 Tribeca Film Festival commences on Wednesday, April 23rd and will run through Sunday, May 4th. This year 122 feature motion pictures will be screened, including 55 world premieres. These films were selected from 2,329 entries.

Baby Mama


Speed Racer

Baby Mama, the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler comedy from Universal Pictures, will open Tribeca. The movie was filmed in New York City so it’s a perfect choice for a Fest that celebrates Gotham. Closing night boasts the Wachowski brothers’ Speed Racer, from Warner Brothers, starring Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci and Susan Sarandon. There will also be a gala showing of the new David Mamet film, Redbelt.

David Mamet's Redbelt

The Spotlight section focuses on films that have already acquired U.S. distribution but have yet to be released including work by such esteemed directors as: Oscar nominee Julian Schnabel; Guy Maddin and Tom Kalin. This section includes the powerful feature, Before the Rains, which is most impressive for four potent performances by Linus Roach, Rahul Bose, Nandita Das and Jennifer Ehle.

Ten highly touted festival favorites and award winners make up the Showcase section and 21 potentially controversial films will be shown as part of the Encounter section.

The Discovery section encompasses thirty documentaries from all over the world and the Midnight section boasts seven of the edgiest work in cinema today. In addition, the World Narrative and Documentary sections feature two dozen entries.

Quite a number of stars will appear at Discussion Series such as Tribeca Talks and Behind the Screens. They include: Sissy Spacek, Lou Reed, Emilio Estevez, Gloria Estefan and Isabella Rossellini. In addition the Restored/Rediscovered section will present a short film made by Federico Fellini in 1968. And a certain Stanley Kubrick masterpiece will receive a special discussion panel screening.

Thirty countries are repped by the 79 shorts that will be presented at this year’s Festival (there were 2,497 submissions). These films include such stars as: Matthew Modine; Mamie Gummer; Rider Strong; and Isabella Rossellini, who had a short film featured last year as well.

Tickets for 2008 Festival:

Tickets for the Festival will be $15.00 for evening and weekend screenings and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings. In addition, the Festival will offer a few select screenings with panel discussions for $25.00.

Select Pass and Package are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.tribecafilmfestival.org or by telephone, toll free, at (866) 941-FEST (3378). Single ticket sales begin for American Express Cardmembers on April 12, 2008, for downtown residents on April 18, 2008 and for the general public on April 19, 2008. Single tickets can be bought at the Main Box Office at 15 Laight Street, online and by telephone. The 2008 Festival will continue ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilmfestival.org.