Last night's unforgettable evening started off at the BMCC Tribeca Pac with a star-studded red carpet for the world premiere of Mistaken For Strangers, the little indie doc spanning two continents from first-time filmmaker, Tom Berninger. Tom, along with his brother, Matt Berninger (you might know him as the lead singer of The National), were in attendance along with their producers Marshall Curry, Carin Besser and Craig Charland.

Celebrities such as Mira Sorvino, Paul Haggis, Richard Belzer, Josh Lucas, Ari Graynor, Riley Keough, and Josh Radnor walked the red carpet, adding just a little extra bit of glitz and glam to affair (sponsored by American Express®, with support from Fandango). However, our favorite moment from the carpet had to be the reunion of Tribeca’s own Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli. The two famously starred in Martin Scorsese’s New York, New York back in 1977.

After the screening, the Opening Night extravaganza continued over at the Highline Ballroom, where The National performed a special concert for the enthusiastic crowd. The Brooklyn-based band brought their trademark panache and artistry to the six-song set which included their new single, “Demons.” Here's a Vine that conveys the mood of the show far better than words (click on the sound button in the upper left corner for sound):

Forgive us for stating the obvious, but TFF 2013 certainly had an Opening Night to remember. What better way to kick off our 12th annual Festival than with a mix of cinema and music? Today our Festival line-up starts in full swing, and we couldn’t be more pleased with what we have to offer this year. We’ll see you downtown.