Sure, there are hundreds of great films to see at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, but there are also plenty of fun events, parties, and special premieres that you may not have heard about.
Hit the red carpet for gala premieres, mingle with the stars at Tribeca Talks panels and Meet the Filmmaker events, see movies under the stars at the Tribeca Drive-In, hang out with professional New York athletes at ESPN/Tribeca Sports Day, enjoy a day of outdoor fun at a family street festival, and get a first look at all of the festival's most buzzworthy films.
Hit the red carpet for gala premieres, mingle with the stars at Tribeca Talks panels and Meet the Filmmaker events, see movies under the stars at the Tribeca Drive-In, hang out with professional New York athletes at ESPN/Tribeca Sports Day, enjoy a day of outdoor fun at a family street festival, and get a first look at all of the festival's most buzzworthy films.
1. Gala Premieres
It wouldn't be the Tribeca Film Festival without a couple of gala Hollywood premieres. This year, the festival's opening night will feature the world premiere of Woody Allen's first film shot in New York since 2004, the comedy Whatever Works starring Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood.
On April 25th, the world premiere of Spike Lee's Kobe Doin' Work, a documentary that shadows Kobe Bryant during last year's playoffs, will open the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas.
The big event on closing night will be the premiere of the comedy My Life In Ruins starring Nia Vardalos and Richard Dreyfuss.
On April 25th, the world premiere of Spike Lee's Kobe Doin' Work, a documentary that shadows Kobe Bryant during last year's playoffs, will open the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas.
The big event on closing night will be the premiere of the comedy My Life In Ruins starring Nia Vardalos and Richard Dreyfuss.
2. 2009 Tribeca Community Kick-Off Party
Kick off the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival at a free party on April 20th at the Barnes & Noble at 97 Warren Street. Enjoy previews of the upcoming festival, free kids' entertainment, and the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to festival screenings.
3. Tribeca Drive-In
Enjoy movies under the stars at the Tribeca Drive-In, the free outdoor screening series at the World Financial Center Plaza from April 23rd through April 25th. On Thursday, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles invade Lower Manhattan for a giant family pizza party and screening of their 1990 film.
On Friday, see the incomparable Newman and Redford in their prime in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. On Saturday, see the new documentary P-Star Rising, which follows a former hip-hop star and single father as he helps his talented daughter Priscilla Star build a music industry career. Nine-year-old rapper and TV star Priscilla will perform. All drive-in programs begin at dusk (about 8PM).
On Friday, see the incomparable Newman and Redford in their prime in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. On Saturday, see the new documentary P-Star Rising, which follows a former hip-hop star and single father as he helps his talented daughter Priscilla Star build a music industry career. Nine-year-old rapper and TV star Priscilla will perform. All drive-in programs begin at dusk (about 8PM).
4. Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair
Spend the day at a free family-friendly street fair on Greenwich Street on May 2, 2009. Kids will enjoy live performances by Broadway stars and kid favorites like The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, activities, storytelling, stilt walkers, Madame Tussauds' wax figures, a Bubble Garden, an arts and crafts tent, hula hoop contests, dance-offs, food, games, and more.
5. Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day
Just around the corner from the Tribeca Family Festival, sports fans can enjoy interactive games, events, and opportunities to mingle with top New York athletes at Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day.
The New York Knicks will be there with the Knicks Groove Truck, the Knicks City Dancers, alum including John Starks, and lots of prizes. You can also check out the X Games BMX Jams Tour or test the speed of your slap shot with The New York Rangers and New York Islanders. Other featured guests will include Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, Mr. Met, the Street Team from Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, and more.
The New York Knicks will be there with the Knicks Groove Truck, the Knicks City Dancers, alum including John Starks, and lots of prizes. You can also check out the X Games BMX Jams Tour or test the speed of your slap shot with The New York Rangers and New York Islanders. Other featured guests will include Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, Mr. Met, the Street Team from Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, and more.
6. Tribeca Talks Panel Discussions
Every year, the Tribeca Film Festival hosts a series of special panels and discussions with filmmakers and stars. This year's line-up is bigger and better than ever before. The "Behind the Screens" and "After the Movie" series are special screenings of featured films followed by panel discussions with directors, actors, pundits, and film industry insiders. Topics will include filmmaking, the Scopes Monkey Trial, the Taliban, gay rights, punk music, prostitution, the financial meltdown, and much more.7. Filmmaking Events and Workshops at the Apple Store Soho
Some of the leading talents in the film industry will appear at Apple's Meet the Filmmakers series during the Tribeca Film Festival. Featured guests will include Spike Lee, Atom Egoyan, Natalie Portman, Eric Bana, Gael Garcia Bernal, Nia Vardalos, and many others. Apple will also be hosting free filmmaking workshops to help you learn how to bring your own vision to life.8. Transcendent Man
Transcendent Man is a new documentary about inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil. Kurzweil believes that humans and machines will fuse to create superintelligent, godlike beings over the next 30 years. Is he a genius or a crackpot? After the screening on April 28th, Kurzweil will join director Barry Ptolemy and science writer Robert Krulwich for a panel discussion about the film and Kurzweil's theories.
9. Actors Turned Directors
This year, two popular actors will present their first directorial efforts at the Tribeca Film Festival. Cheryl Hines of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame makes her directorial debut with Serious Moonlight, a quirky crime drama based on a script by Adrienne Shelly and starring Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Kristen Bell, and Justin Long.
Eric Bana's Love the Beast is a documentary tribute to his long-time love, a 1974 Ford XB Falcon Coupe nicknamed The Beast.
Eric Bana's Love the Beast is a documentary tribute to his long-time love, a 1974 Ford XB Falcon Coupe nicknamed The Beast.
10. Don McKay
There's a lot of festival buzz around the world premiere of the dark comedy Don McKay starring Thomas Haden Church, Elisabeth Shue, Melissa Leo, and M. Emmet Walsh. Haden Church plays a man who discovers shocking secrets when he is summoned back to his hometown by his dying high school sweetheart.
