DATE=05/08/02

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

NUMBER=5-51581

BYLINE=JAMES DONAHOWER

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The lower Manhattan section of New York was devastated by the September 11th terrorist attacks, and its many neighborhoods are still struggling to recover. A new film festival aimed at speeding up the revitalization process and showcasing more than 150 films opened today (Wednesday). James Donahower is in New York with the story.

TEXT: It typically takes 18 months to put an event like the Tribeca Film Festival together. Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal, together with legendary screen actor Robert DeNiro, did it in less than four months. She says they were driven by both a sense of loss, and a sense of duty.

///ROSENTHAL ACT///

When you look out the window and there's a hole in the skyline and a hole in your heart. And that just propelled us to move faster and try to get the festival done and put on the best show we know how.

///END ACT///

The five day festival will feature 155 films, special concerts, a street fair and parties. But city and state officials are excited about the economic impact the festival is likely to make on the badly scarred Tribeca neighborhood. The Empire State Development Corporation estimates that the Festival will bring 30 to 50-thousand visitors to the downtown Tribeca area, fill as many as 10-thousand hotel rooms, and sell more than 30-thousand meals.

Co-founder Robert DeNiro, says the festival is, as he puts it, "the least he could do" for the city he loves, and the neighborhood in which he lives.

///DENIRO ACT///

We've always thought of doing it, then this seemed like the time to do it. Because Lower Manhattan needed help, and…it's that simple.

///END ACT///

The first annual Tribeca Film Festival is off to a roaring start. Mr. DeNiro's enthusiastic support and enormous reputation in the film industry has helped attract a host of celebrities -- Hugh Grant, Whoopie Goldberg, Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Kevin Bacon and dignitaries, including Former South African President, Nelson Mandela.

The festival will host four premieres, including the eagerly-awaited new Star Wars film, "Episode 2: Attack of the Clones."

Another film debuting at the Festival, "Insomnia", stars Academy Award winners Al Pacino and Hilary Swank. She expects this to be the first of many Tribeca Film Festivals.

///SWANK ACT///

I think the festival's going to be huge. I know so many people wanting to get tickets to movies in general down there. And I think Robert DeNiro is a very smart man. I think we can use another festival here, to be honest. You can never honor movies enough, I don't think. Especially good movies.

///END ACT///

The opening of the Tribeca Film Festival coincides with another landmark in Lower Manhattan's revitalization. The first signs of rebuilding at the site of the former World Trade Center have appeared: a construction fence has been erected around the area of 7 World Trade Center, and a groundbreaking is scheduled for June. The building collapsed on the evening of September 11th as a result of the terrorist attacks. (Signed)

NEB/NYC/JAD/BJS/RH