CODE: SPE-11-1 PUB/POST: Tribeca - TONY, materials due: PRODUCTION: M. Piscatelli LIVE: 4.875” x 7.25” DESCRIPTION: Tribeca - Guide Cover TRIM: 5.375” x 7.75” Delivery Support: 212.237.7000 FILE: 01A-002278-01D-SPE-11-1.indd SAP #: AP.APSPE.11009.K.011 BLEED: 5.875” x 8.25” AMERICAN EXPRESS THE PROUDLY PRESENTS 2011 OFFICIAL TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL GUIDE TRIBECAFILM.COM APR 20 - MAY 1 REALIZE THE POTENTIALSM FEATURING FILM SUMMARIES | COMPLETE SCHEDULE | GUIDE TO MAKING THE MOST OF TRIBECA SPECIAL OFFERS FOR AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDMEMBERS CODE: SPE-11-2 PUB/POST: Tribeca - TONY, materials due: PRODUCTION: M. Piscatelli LIVE: 4.875” x 7.25” DESCRIPTION: Tribeca - EOS TRIM: 5.375” x 7.75” Delivery Support: 212.237.7000 FILE: 02D-002278-03C-SPE-11-2.indd SAP #: AP.APSPE.11009.K.011 BLEED: 5.875” x 8.25” 1 4/20 – 5/01 TRIBECAFILM.COM NEW York’s DOWNTOWN GET TICKETS GLOBAL CINEMA WHILE THE POPCORN IS STILL HOT. CARDMEMBERS CAN GET ADVANCE TICKETS TO THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL FROM 4/12 TO 4/16. VISIT TRIBECAFILM.COM/FESTIVAL OR CALL 1-866-941-FEST. ENTERING ITS 10TH SEASON THIS YEAR, the Tribeca Film Festival has become a signature New York experience with a built-in global reach. With the support of founding sponsor American Express, the Festival has developed into a unique platform for showcasing some of the best new voices, ideas and narratives in cinema today. The Festival’s range, depth and diversity reflect not only the fabric of New York but also the larger world community beyond. Tribeca has continuously redefined the traditional film festival experience while maintaining an integral relationship with its namesake neighborhood. Started by cultural pathfinders Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, the Festival was initially organized to promote the revitalization of lower Manhattan through the lens of the arts. REALIZE THE POTENTIALSM ©2011 American Express Company. 3 According to Rosenthal, that mission has not with the Festival’s nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute, changed over time. “It’s about community—the stars Toni Collette as a boy-genius misfit’s community of downtown and the community struggling mom. Also screening is Grey Matter, of New York. It’s about the community of one of the first feature-length films from Rwanda. filmmakers and audiences, and bringing The non-competitive Spotlight and Cinemania audiences some new voices and diverse sections feature both established and up-and- filmmaking.” At its center, she explained, the coming voices as well as recognizable subject CAROL CHANNING & Festival’s mission is to unite the industry and matter. A new section, Viewpoints, has been DORI BERINSTEIN CAROL CHANNING: community around the single idea of storytelling. added to this year’s slate. Showcasing an even LARGER THAN LIFE Having screened more than 1,000 films since its mix of features and documentaries, Viewpoints inception, Tribeca approaches this year’s Festival, was founded on the premise of offering snapshot which runs from April 20 – May 1, in dynamic perspectives of distinctive narratives from around stride. The 2011 lineup features work from some the world. Returning director Dori Berinstein 102 directors representing 32 countries, includ- described her documentary, Carol Channing: ing India, Iceland, Egypt, Spain, Haiti and Israel. Larger Than Life, as “a story that simply had to Forty-five world premieres will be showcased be told. When I got to know Carol personally among the 91 feature-length films—an elite and realized that this legendary entertainer was squad considering the fact that a record number as remarkable off-camera as on, I desperately JANE ROSENTHAL wanted to capture her stories on film. At 90, she is an unstoppable megawatt dynamo.” Another entertainment legend is spotlighted in Billy Corben’s Limelight, a behind-the-scenes look “ NEW VOICES AND at the rise and fall of New York club lord Peter DIVERSE filmmaking” Gatien. Said Corben, “You have the story of one man, Peter Gatien, and his New York nightclub empire set against the Giuliani revolution that BILLY CORBEN of 5,624 submissions were received for this transformed the city. The arc of Gatien’s story LIMELIGHT year’s competition alone. If anything, the 2011 perfectly parallels that of New York in the 1990s, lineup is about risk-taking and diversity, and aims and he was, in fact, collateral damage in this to present a fresh-eyed spectrum of cutting- culture war.” edge world cinema against the backdrop of New York. Said Rosenthal, “In terms of the cultural British filmmaker Stevan Riley’s Fire In Babylon landscape, we’re in one of the greatest cities in is a piercing work that traces the golden era the world and have the best audiences in the of West Indian cricket against the challenging world. So I think that’s fantastic for filmmakers.” backdrop of the times. “The West Indies were STEVAN RILEY unbeaten for 15 years straight and terrified the The Festival is divided into two competitive FIRE IN BABYLON opposition with their innovation of all-out pace categories, World Narrative and World bowling,” Riley explained. “And it’s no accident Documentary. Some highlights include the that their cricket revolution in the ’70s and ’80s cinema verité-influenced documentary Bombay coincided with the explosion on the world scene Beach, as well as Koran By Heart, a documentary of Caribbean artists such as Bob Marley and their on the high-stakes Koran-recitation competition shared mission for racial equality and civil rights.” held in Cairo each year. Jesus Henry Christ, one Riley went on to commend the Tribeca Film of four films in this year’s selection associated 5 Festival for adhering to such a brave selection dancing to ballroom music following a screening process. “Whereas others may checklist a film’s of Mad Hot Ballroom. Then there was the media friendliness or political persuasion, Tribeca surprise appearance of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the seems to me to encourage more testy and President of Liberia, for a screening of Pray the adventurous work.” Devil Back to Hell. One of Rosenthal’s most stand- alone memories, however, was pop legend Bono’s Indeed, beyond merely entertaining audiences, FIRE IN BABYLON special guest spotlight. “When we did these part of the mission of the Festival is to enlighten, concerts at Battery Park, Bono had basically inspire and arouse thoughts and ideas through promised to come. He ended up giving a speech content that aspires to promote new visions of instead of singing but he was quite magnificent,” how the world is constantly being reshaped and Rosenthal admitted. “It was courageous and transformed. “It’s always been about voices,” quite spectacular.” Rosenthal commented, “about the fact that film and art and music can take you places Since its inception, the Festival has hosted more and explain points of view beyond where any than 3 million attendees and has generated an politician can.” estimated $600 million in economic activity for the city of New York. When asked about future Added Berinstein, “Global storytelling is vital. It goals, Rosenthal said, “To keep doing what we’re can increase our understanding and appreciation doing, showing a diversified slate of pictures on of the value of the human condition. The Tribeca as many different platforms as we can.” Film Festival is on the forefront of bringing film to the world.” In true cinematic fashion, this year’s Festival will open with The Union, Cameron Crowe’s In addition to scouting for fresh talent, the documentary about the iconic music visionary Festival has a strong network of returning Sir Elton John. As a special bonus, the screening directors, actors and even music composers. will be followed by a free live performance from By creating a community within a community, the man himself. Tribeca nurtures the arts while cultivating and enabling the talent responsible for creating it. “We try to nurture all our alumni,” said Rosenthal, “that’s part of what festivals do.” GET TICKETS From the talent’s perspective, Riley agreed. “Tribeca’s support structure and communication is also top-notch so you feel that you’re part of a Tickets may be purchased online at community that is there to help you along.” tribecafilm.com or by calling (866) 941-3378. Looking back, Rosenthal recalled some of her Additionally, free online film screenings will be JESUS HENRY CHRIST personal Festival highlights. She described available for viewers nationwide via the Tribeca watching Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Hugh (Online) Film Festival. Grant ring in the inaugural year on the steps of City Hall. She also pointed to a few examples of overzealous audience participation—from a “drive-in” screening of Grease where attendees flocked to the show dressed as the film’s characters to a stunning panorama of 4,300 kids 7 Jac, what attracted you BEHIND to the project? I’ve always had a thing for mustaches! No, I have huge admiration for American Express THE SCENES and tremendous gratitude for their support of the Tribeca Film Festival, so I was honored when WITH MY MOVIE PITCH they asked me to participate in the project. I was completely charmed by John’s pitch and had so much fun bringing it to the screen. How did you take a short pitch EVERY MOVIE, from the biggest blockbuster to a shoestring short, and turn it into a short film? starts with a kernel of an idea. That idea turns into a pitch and from there, movies are born. As a strident believer in the power of storytelling to unite The first thing I did was transcribe his pitch.