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Tribeca Film Festival brings action to NYC with free events and new films
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Catch events around the city April 22nd- May 3rd.
When it comes to entertainment, spring brings new life to the Big Apple. New Yorkers are treated to outdoor concerts, free events around the city, and my personal favorite, the Tribeca Film Festival. Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal started the festival in 2002, with hopes of bringing life back to downtown Manhattan after 9/11. It has quickly become one of the most important festivals in the world, meaning us New Yorkers get to reap all of the really cool benefits from having a film festival in our backyard. What benefits am I referring to? I’m so glad you asked…
Let’s start with the most important thing you want to hear placed in front of the word entertainment: FREE. Tribeca offers a bunch of free events to attend, starting with the three-night outdoor drive-in at the World Financial Center Plaza. The event starts on Thursday, April 25th, with a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Expect a huge pizza party and people dressed like their favorite turtle (yes, I’m serious). Friday night, catch Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Saturday you can see P-Star Rising, with a performance by The Electric Company. Doors open at 6 PM, and the films will begin at 8:15 all three nights.
On Saturday, May 2nd, be sure to hit up the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair on Greenwich Street, from 10 AM- 6 PM. It should be crowded with street performers, dancers, stilt walkers, jugglers, Broadway performances, arts and crafts, face painters, and more. Special performances by the cast of Broadway hits Shrek the Musical and In the Heights. Also on May 2nd, at the same time, check out North Moore Street for ESPN Sports Day. Catch all the local professional teams there with free giveaways and fun games all day.
In addition, for those a bit more focused on the entertainment industry, be sure to attend the free lecture events the festival has to offer at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square. Topics include various industry issues, such as transitioning from book to film, as well as how to find successful distribution in today's market. To see the full list of discussions, click here: Tribeca Talks.
Once again, everything listed above is totally free, so definitely make it a point to take advantage.
This year’s festival boasts an impressive lineup, with submissions from Woody Allen, Spike Lee, and Barry Levinson, just to name a few. This guide gives a detailed breakdown of where to catch what films, as well as ticket details. If all else fails, visit the Tribeca Film Festival's website for the most up to date festival info.
The coolest thing about being in a city hosting a film festival is the fact that this is the premier for the majority of these movies. After several of the screenings, there is even a Q & A session. Emerging filmmakers as well as established Oscar winners all step up to the same plate to be judged by the same panels. Some will make a huge splash, and some will never be heard from again, but you can be an active part of that decision by attending.
Let’s not forget, the original purpose of this festival was to breath life into an area that was hurting financially. Several years later, we are once again facing economic issues, and the industry needs the support of the film lovers of New York. These movies are all independently produced, meaning that they need our support much more than your average studio film. So what have you got to lose? Worst-case scenario, you get the chance to feel like an industry insider by catching a bunch of new films before they come out. You may even get to see a celebrity or two.
The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 22nd- May 3rd with events all around the city.
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