Tribeca 2008: An Insider’s Report

I’m a double agent at the Tribeca Film Festival, and your best hope for
reporting on more films than humanly possible.  I’m working as press,
hence the article before you, and also as a Theater Manger at the
festival.  Theater Managers have the best job ever, if you’re a film
buff.  We watch three films a day and get paid for it.  Don’t get me
wrong; it’s a lot of work. It’s my responsibility to get the film
started ontime, that means packing a 422-seat house to capacity without overselling, plus there’s keeping the director happy and occasionally running the Q & A after the film.  The best moment is when the film starts; I get to sit back and take in some of the finest films from around the globe.

Tribeca has gotten more selective this year, cutting their lineup by nearly 25% to 121 features.  They’ve also scaled back the price of tickets to $15, with many weekend and midnight shows at just $8.  Last year’s prices were a steep $18 a flick, which turned off many who had paid a somewhat normal New York price of $12 in 2006. They’ve also centralized the theater locations so people can walk to most screenings instead of making a mad dash via cab from 72nd St. to Canal.

Tribeca stands out as one of the top 10 film competitions in the world while maintaining a true dedication to international, alternative and political films.   As such, there are fewer Hollywood celebrities, who don’t necessarily need a festival to get distribution.  There are a few exceptions, like John Cusack who wrote and stars in the highly anticipated War Inc.  The Wachowski Brothers are also screening their live action Speed Racer adaptation on the festival’s closing night.  Plus, there is a documentary about the Public Theater’s Mother Courage, which includes backstage footage of Merrill Streep, Kevin Kline…

Oh No! I’ve fallen prey to the hype.  Don’t you do the same, check in with IonCinema for great interviews with people you’ve never heard of and will never forget.

Staff Writer Laura Newman

Photo by Fred Askew