March 26th, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

New York, NY – (March 26, 2012) – The 2012 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by American Express®, today announced its lineup for the 2012 Tribeca Talks® panel series. This year’s programs include the “Tribeca Talks: Directors Series,” “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie,” “Tribeca Talks: Industry,” “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper, hosted by Barnes & Noble” and the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival panel. New to the Festival is the “Beyond the Screens: Globalize Your Thinking” program, sponsored by OppenheimerFunds.

TFF also unveiled six new titles world premiering at the Festival. Narrative films Freaky Deaky and Future Weather and documentaries Portrait of Wally and Once in a Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story will screen as part of the “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” series, the documentary Wagner’s Dream will premiere as part of the new “Beyond the Screens: Globalize Your Thinking” series, and the narrative Knife Fight will have a special screening with an extended Q&A. Finally, TFF celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Avant-Garde Masters grants, created by the National Film Preservation Foundation and The Film Foundation to help preserve American avant-garde cinema, with a special screening and “Tribeca Talks” panel.

Tribeca Talks® will bring film enthusiasts together with some of the most influential and prolific directors, actors and industry leaders, including Academy Award®-winning actors Robert De Niro and writer-director-producer Judd Apatow, who will participate in a special tribute panel to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Universal Studios. Additional panels will explore topics examining a variety of film disciplines, from the technical to the thematic, including conversations with Academy Award®-winning actor Susan Sarandon; Academy Award®-nominated director Jim Sheridan and his daughter, Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter Naomi Sheridan; actors Rob Lowe and Christian Slater; industry leaders from ESPN and more. The Tribeca Talks panel series is open to the public and will take place throughout TFF, which will run from April 18 to April 29, 2012, at locations around New York City.

“One of my favorite things at Tribeca is the series of conversations that take place around the films and filmmaking,” said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. “This year we bring together a wide array of talented actors and filmmakers, as well as industry leaders, all of whom will no doubt offer our audiences rich and memorable experiences.”

Also part of “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” is the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s screening and panel discussion of the Academy Award®-nominated classic WarGames from director John Badham. TFF’s special events and discussions series is rounded out by the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival discussion on the resurgence of sports films and the redefined genre; the free “Tribeca Talks: Industry” panels, designed for industry professionals to explore the many topics at the forefront of the evolving film business; free “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper” panels, hosted by Barnes & Noble, which focus on the artistic process of screenwriting; a tribute panel celebrating 100 years of Universal Studios; and a joint TFF-Google Ideas discussion addressing the portrayals of illicit networks that traffic everything from narcotics and weapons to body parts and human beings.

“Tribeca Talks: Directors Series” will include one-on-one conversations with:

• Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and activist Michael Moore, interviewed by Academy Award®-winning actor Susan Sarandon.
• Academy Award®-nominated director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father), interviewed by his daughter, Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter Naomi Sheridan (In America). 

 “Tribeca Talks: After the Movie” will include:

• The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a long standing partner of Tribeca’s Film Festival and Film Institute, sponsors a screening of the Academy Award®-nominated film WarGames from director John Badham, which uses advances in national security and the vulnerabilities of new technology as the backdrop for a coming-of-age thriller; followed by a conversation with director John Badham, actress Ally Sheedy, Bitcoin Technical Lead Gavin Andresen, William D. Casebeer, PhD, Program Manager, Defense Sciences Office at DARPA (USAF, retired), computer hacker and inventor Pablos Holman and others about the historical relationship between military strategy and technical innovation, storytelling with gaming and simulation tools, and the challenges of depicting cutting-edge technology on the big screen. Moderated by Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff.  
  
• The world premiere of Freaky Deaky, a throwback to the decadent Detroit of the 1970s, where a disgraced cop gets a shot at a comeback when a young actress needs help taking down a powerful movie producer; followed by a conversation with director/ screenwriter Charles Matthau, and Freaky Deaky stars Christian Slater, Crispin Glover, Michael Jai White, and Andy Dick.
• The documentary The Virgin, the Copts and Me, where filmmaker Namir Abdel Messeeh sets out to investigate the phenomenon of supposedly miraculous Virgin Mary apparitions in Egypt’s Coptic Christian community. Facing opposition from producers and his family, he reimagines his film as a touching, hilarious portrait of family and heritage; followed by a discussion with director Namir Abdel Messeeh, filmmaker Sameh Zoabi, screenwriter/novelist/journalist Rula Jebreal, Associate Professor and Director of the Integrated Media Arts MFA Program at Hunter College CUNY Andrew Lund, on cultural identity and the prevalence of contemporary international filmmakers who delve into what it truly means to go “home.” Hosted by the Doha Film Institute. Moderated by film critic Glenn Kenny.
• The world premiere of Portrait of Wally, a documentary that follows Lea Bondi’s ancestors as they take on the Austrian government, billionaire art collectors, MoMA and NPR in their attempt to reclaim Bondi’s Egon Schiele painting “Portrait of Wally,” which was seized by Nazis in 1939; followed by a conversation with director Andrew Shea, critic and journalist David D’Arcy, Jane Kallir of Galerie St. Etienne, historian and attorney Willi Korte, and Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York Sharon Cohen Levin about the issues of provenance and the global sharing of art in museums. Moderated by Monica Dugot, International Director of Restitution and Senior Vice President at Christie's.
• The world premiere of Once in a Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story, a documentary that follows the now world-famous YouTube sensation elementary school chorus as they travel to perform the closing number of the 2011 Academy Awards®; followed by a conversation with director Jonathan Kalafer, PS22 chorus teacher Gregg Breinberg, Executive Director of the Office of the Arts and Special Projects at the New York City Department of Education Paul King, and more on how new media and technology in the classroom can breathe new life into students’ curricula, capture their attention, and spark eagerness to learn. Moderated by Tribeca Film Institute Education Program Developer Caitlin Meisner.
• The world premiere of Future Weather, inspired by a New Yorker article on global warming, which follows a teenage loner who becomes obsessed with ecological disaster, forcing her alcoholic grandmother to rethink their futures; followed by a discussion with writer/director Jenny Deller, producer Kristin Fairweather, Future Weather actresses Lili Taylor, Amy Madigan, Perla Haney-Jardine, and more on how an article about a scientific and environmental issue planted the seed for an intimate fiction film and inspired an environmentally sensitive production. Moderated by filmmaker Marshall Curry.
• A collection of American avant-garde classics by Abigail Child, Larry Gottheim, George Kuchar, Carolee Schneemann, and more—specially curated with TFF to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Avant-Garde Masters grants, which were created in 2003 by the National Film Preservation Foundation and The Film Foundation; followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers Carolee Schneemann, Abigail Child, Larry Gottheim, and TFF experimental film programmer Jon Gartenberg. Moderated by Assistant Director of the National Film Preservation Foundation Jeff Lambert.

“Beyond the Screens: Globalize Your Thinking”, sponsored by OppenheimerFunds, will feature:

• The world premiere of Wagner’s Dream, a documentary that follows perhaps the most ambitious project in the Metropolitan Opera’s famed history, the new staged production of opera’s most formidable masterpiece: Richard Wagner’s four-part Ring Cycle; followed by a conversation about this incredible artistic journey with filmmakers Susan Froemke and Bob Eisenhardt, the Met’s General Manager Peter Gelb, opera soprano Deborah Voigt and tenor Jay Hunter Morris. Moderated by “the Voice of the Met” Margaret Juntwait. 
• Let Fury Have the Hour, a documentary that brings together more than 50 big-name artists, musicians, writers, and thinkers who used their creativity as a response to the reactionary politics that came to define our culture in the 1980s, tracing a momentous social history from the 1980s to the present and imparting a message of hope; followed by a conversation with director Antonino D’Ambrosio, film collaborator and artist Shepard Fairey, the MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, playwright and activist Eve Ensler, comedian and author, Lewis Black, and more as they discuss the power of artistic expression. Moderated by filmmaker, Jim Jarmusch.
• The List, a documentary that follows Kirk Johnson, who recently returned from rebuilding teams in war-torn cities in Iraq as he advocates for a growing number of Iraqi citizens now targeted by radical militias because they aided the U.S. in the reconstruction effort; followed by a conversation with director Beth Murphy, film subject Kirk Johnson, Executive Director and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Paul Rieckhoff, and Marcia Tavares Maack, Assistant Director of Pro Bono Activities, Mayer Brown LLP about the current state of Iraqis seeking asylum and issues surrounding post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers and refugees. Moderated by The New Yorker’s George Packer. 

“Tribeca Talks: Industry” will feature:

• Film and Brands, a conversation with filmmakers and strategic communications professionals about how brands and filmmakers are increasingly collaborating on film projects to achieve a range of objectives, from marketing and public relations to corporate storytelling and philanthropy. As the number of projects as well as the platforms for distribution increase, the bar has been raised for how to make these projects effective corporate storytelling pieces as well as quality filmmaking. Panelists include producer and director Brett Ratner, American Express’ Vice President of Global Media, Sponsorship and Experiential Marketing Rich Lehrfeld, GE’s Global Executive Director of Advertising and Branding Judy Hu, the Norman Lear Center’s Managing Director and Director of Research Johanna Blakley, Chief Marketing Officer of Chipotle Mexican Grill Mark Crumpacker and select filmmakers for a conversation about how they are collaborating and where this increasingly complex and sophisticated world is heading. Moderated by Jon Patricof, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tribeca Enterprises.
• Imagine More, sponsored by Canon, after a screening of Ron Howard’s production when you find me—the first Hollywood film inspired by a photo contest—Canon representatives and filmmakers will discuss the versatility of shooting with Canon cameras and creating films through collaborative storytelling. Panelists include Canon USA Technical’s Chuck Westfall, The Russian Winter director Petter Ringbom, CatCam director Seth Keal, CatCam and Knuckleball! cinematographer Charles Miller, and when you find me cinematographer Andre Lascaris,. Moderated by Kristin McCracken, VP of Digital Media, Tribeca Enterprises.

• Bloomberg returns with its signature program The Business of Entertainment. This year's discussion, "Going Global: Will Co-Production Save the Film Industry?" focuses on the recent rise of international co-production, exploring the benefits and obstacles of this often complex but rewarding strategy. Hear from major producers, financiers, and other key industry decision-makers. Panelists include co-producer of The Girl and CEO of Bonita Films Tania Zarak, Chairman and CEO of Endgame Entertainment James D. Stern, Chief Operating Officer of FilmNation Entertainment Milan Popelka, and producer and founder of Cine Mosaic Lydia Dean Pilcher. Moderated by Bloomberg News entertainment reporter Michael White.

• The Future is Short: Storytelling in the Digital Age, sponsored by GE / FOCUS FORWARD – Short Films, Big Ideas, a conversation with CINELAN, filmmakers and distributors on the power, art and business of short film storytelling at a time when platforms like Hulu, Netflix, Yahoo!, and the New York Times become commercially viable distribution outlets. Panelists include CINELAN co-founder and filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, filmmaker Annie Sundberg, Jason Spingarn-Koff of the New York Times Op-Docs series, Director Content Partnerships at YouTube Laura Lee, and others. Moderated by the Director of Film and Video at TED, Jason Wishnow.
• Does the Cloud have a Silver (Screen) Lining, sponsored by SAP, a conversation examining the best model for independent films to reach audiences and make money out of new distribution opportunities in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Panelists include Executive Vice President and CMO at Time Warner Cable Jeffrey A. Hirsch, Eugene Hernandez, Director of Digital Strategy, Film Society of Lincoln Center, John Sloss, founder of Cinetic Media and Sloss Eckhouse Law Co LLP, Stephanie Sharis, COO of SnagFilms, Inc., and others for a discussion about navigating today’s digital marketplace. Moderated by Senior Vice President of Media and Entertainment at SAP Richard Whittington. 
• New Filmmakers on Film, sponsored by Panavision, a discussion about Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program, which provides grants to artists that gives them the opportunity to shoot on film, instead of turning to digital technology. Panelists include Una Noche director Lucy Mulloy,Unmanned producer Casey Fenton, Kodak’s US Account Manager of Features and Post-Production Bob Mastronardi, cinematographer Guy Godfree, and Peter Brogna, Marketing, Panavision NY as they discuss the program and new opportunities for emerging talent. Moderated by Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program Manager, Mike Dallatorre.

“Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper hosted by Barnes & Noble” will include:

• Biography on Film, a discussion with writers and filmmakers who create biographical documentaries and must transform life events into film. Panelists include TFF filmmakers Ramona S. Diaz (Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey), Petter Ringbom (The Russian Winter), Andreas Koefoed (Ballroom Dancer),and Daniel A. Miller (Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie). Moderated by Basil Tsiokos, Documentary Consultant & Sundance Film Festival Programming Associate.
• The Pen Versus the Sword, a conversation examining how creative methods can cause social change. Panelists include TFF filmmakers Antonino D’Ambrosio (Let Fury Have the Hour), Raymond De Felitta (Booker’s Place: A Mississippi Story), and Stephen Maing (High Tech, Low Life). Moderated by film and culture critic Caryn James.
• Based on the Book, a conversation exploring adapting a book into a film that will examine the elements that best translate from the page to the screen and whether it is possible to create a version of the story that is better than the book. Panelists include TFF filmmakers Pen-ek Ratanaruang (Headshot), Charles Matthau (Freaky Deaky), Donald Rice (Cheerful Weather for the Wedding), and others. Moderated by Mark Adams, Chief Film Critic/Reviews Editor, Screen International.

In addition, the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will include:

• Beyond the Playing Field, sponsored by Time Warner Cable, a conversation exploring the evolution of women’s sports inspired by the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Panelists include director Amy Berg, ESPN Films’ Libby Geist, producer and TFF co-founder Jane Rosenthal, and filmmakers from upcoming ESPN Films. Moderated by ESPN’s Chris Connelly.

Special Tribeca Talks events:

• 100 Years of Universal, available exclusively for American Express Cardmembers, a conversation celebrating 100 years of Universal Studios. Panelists include Academy Award®-winning actor and TFF co-founder Robert De Niro and writer-director-producer Judd Apatow. Moderated by Film Editor for Deadline Hollywood Mike Fleming.

• The world premiere of Knife Fight, a political satire that follows a campaign strategist who struggles to keep his wayward clients in office and out of the press; followed by an extended Q&A about presidential campaigns and how politics are spun with writer/director Bill Guttentag, writer and co-producer Chris Lehane, actor Rob Lowe, and campaign strategist Steve Schmidt. Moderated by MSNBC senior political analyst and co-author of Game Change Mark Halperin. 

• With Illicit Networks: Portrayals through Film, Tribeca Enterprises and Google Ideas team up for a conversation addressing Hollywood’s portrayals of illicit networks that traffic everything from narcotics and weapons to body parts and human beings. Experts, law enforcement participants, and survivors will use what we learn from film to examine the mysterious and misunderstood world of illicit trafficking. Moderated by Director of Google Ideas Jared Cohen. 

 

The full schedule for the 2012 Tribeca Talks series follows:

Michael Moore with Susan Sarandon
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker/activist Michael Moore will be interviewed by Academy Award®-winning actor Susan Sarandon.
DATE:  Sunday, April 22
TIME:  3:00 PM         
LOCATION: BMCC

Jim Sheridan with Naomi Sheridan
Academy Award®-nominated director Jim Sheridan will be interviewed by his daughter, Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter Naomi Sheridan.   
DATE:  Saturday, April 28
TIME:  2:30 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Avant-Garde Masters: A Decade of Film Preservation
The Avant-Garde Masters grants were created in 2003 by the National Film Preservation Foundation and The Film Foundation to preserve American Avant-Garde cinema. Funded by The Film Foundation, the program has helped save more than 90 films in its first decade, making many works available to audiences for the first time since their creation. The Tribeca Film Festival presentation celebrates the program’s 10th anniversary with classics by Abigail Child, Larry Gottheim, George Kuchar, Carolee Schneemann, and many more.   
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with filmmakers Carolee Schneemann, Abigail Child, Larry Gottheim and TFF experimental film programmer Jon Gartenberg. Moderated by Assistant Director of the National Film Preservation Foundation Jeff Lambert.
DATE:  Saturday, April 21
TIME:  5:30 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Freaky Deaky
Directed by Charles Matthau. (USA) – World Premiere.

A disgraced Detroit cop gets a shot at a comeback when a beautiful young actress needs help taking down a powerful movie producer. Extortion, treachery, and dynamite are just a few of the complications that stand between him and the woman he loves in Charles Matthau's adaptation of the classic Elmore Leonard novel. Billy Burke, Christian Slater, Crispin Glover, and Michael Jai White star.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director/screenwriter Charles Matthau, actors Christian Slater, Crispin Glover, Michael Jai White, and Andy Dick.
DATE:  Sunday, April 22
TIME:  3:30 PM
LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

The Virgin, the Copts and Me
Directed by Namir Abdel Messeeh. (France, Qatar) – North American Premiere.
Hosted by the Doha Film Institute.

 

In his feature debut, French-Egyptian filmmaker Namir Abdel Messeeh sets out to investigate the phenomenon of supposedly miraculous Virgin Mary apparitions in Egypt’s Coptic Christian community. But when the secular director faces opposition from skittish producers and his Coptic family, Namir turns the camera on his wonderfully smart-alecky mother and reimagines his film as a touching, uniquely hilarious portrait of family and heritage.
 

After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Namir Abdel Messeeh, filmmaker Sameh Zoabi, screenwriter/novelist/journalist Rula Jebreal, and Associate Professor and Director of the Integrated Media Arts MFA Program at Hunter College CUNY Andrew Lund on cultural identity and contemporary international filmmakers who explore diaspora identities and a journey to their roots. Moderated by film critic Glenn Kenny.
DATE:  Wednesday, April 25
TIME:  5:30 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

WarGames
Directed by John Badham (1983).
Sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as part of the TFI Sloan Film Program, now in its 11th year.

At the forefront of popular computer hacking in the 1980s, WarGames takes on advances in national security and the vulnerabilities of new technology as the backdrop for a coming-of-age thriller starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy. Almost 30 years after its release, John Badham and Lawrence Lasker’s Oscar®-nominated film speaks to contemporary concerns of modern-day network security, gaming technology, and hacking culture.
 

After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director John Badham, actress Ally Sheedy, Bitcoin Technical Lead Gavin Andresen and William D. Casebeer, PhD, Program Manager, Defense Sciences Office at DARPA (USAF, retired), computer hacker and inventor Pablos Holman, and more about the historical relationship between military strategy and technical innovation, storytelling with gaming and simulation tools, and the challenges of depicting cutting-edge technology on the big screen. Moderated by Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff.
DATE:  Saturday, April 28
TIME:  1:30 PM
LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

Portrait of Wally
Directed by Andrew Shea.  (USA, Austria) – World Premiere.
In 1939, Nazis seized control of Austrian art collector Lea Bondi’s beloved Egon Schiele painting “Portrait of Wally.” For 70 years the Bondi family fought to reclaim the painting in a battle that pitted them against the likes of the Austrian government, billionaire art collectors, MoMA, and NPR. Director Andrew Shea’s documentary is a fascinating and intricate detective story that highlights the struggle between doing what is right and doing what is convenient.
 

After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Andrew Shea, critic and journalist David D’Arcy, Jane Kallir of Galerie St. Etienne, historian and attorney Willi Korte, and Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York Sharon Cohen Levin about the issues of provenance and the global sharing of art in museums. Moderated by Monica Dugot, International Director of Restitution and Senior Vice President at Christie's.
DATE:  Saturday, April 28
TIME:  5:30 PM
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Once in a Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story
Directed by Jonathan Kalafer.  (USA) – World Premiere.
The PS22 chorus from Staten Island became world famous after their YouTube videos went viral. This feel-good documentary follows them to their big performance as the closing act at the 2011 Academy Awards® ceremony, where creative differences, lost voices, and homesickness threaten their performance. Can these 5th graders entertain the entertainment elite?
 

After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Jonathan Kalafer, PS22 chorus teacher Gregg Breinberg, Executive Director of the Office of the Arts and Special Projects at the New York City Department of Education Paul King, and more on how new media arts in the classroom can breathe new life into students’ curricula, capture their attention, and spark eagerness to learn. Moderated by Tribeca Film Institute Education Program Developer Caitlin Meisner. 
 

At the beginning of the program, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Kerry Kennedy will introduce the winner of the Speak Truth to Power student video competition, sponsored by the RFK Foundation and New York United Teachers. The winning short, Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement, will show prior to the screening and showcase student work within the Festival.
DATE:  Sunday, April 29
TIME:  3:00 PM
LOCATION:   SVA Theater 1

Future Weather
Directed by Jenny Deller. (USA) – World Premiere

Abandoned by her dreamer single mom, a teenage loner becomes obsessed with ecological disaster, forcing her and her grandmother, a functioning alcoholic, to rethink their futures. Inspired by a New Yorker article on global warming, Future Weather uses the refuge of science and the environment as a backdrop to examine the intertwining lives of three generations of women. Starring Lili Taylor, Amy Madigan, and Perla Haney-Jardine, this film received support from the Tribeca Film Institute’s TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
 

After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with writer/director Jenny Deller, producer Kristin Fairweather, actresses Lili Taylor, Amy Madigan, and more on how an article about a scientific and environmental issue planted the seed for an intimate fiction film, and inspired an environmentally sensitive production. Moderated by filmmaker Marshall Curry.
DATE:  Sunday, April 29
TIME:  5:00 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Let Fury Have the Hour
Directed Antonino D’Ambrosio. (USA) – World Premiere.

A generation of artists used their creativity as a response to the reactionary politics that came to define our culture in the 1980s. This dynamic and exhilarating documentary brings together more than 50 big-name musicians, writers, artists, and thinkers to trace a momentous social history from the cynical heyday of Reagan and Thatcher to today—and impart a message of hope. Featuring Chuck D, John Sayles, Eve Ensler, Tom Morello, Lewis Black, and many others.
 

After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Antonino D’Ambrosio, film collaborator and artist Shepard Fairey, the MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, and more as they discuss the power of artistic expression.
DATE:  Monday, April 23
TIME:  5:30 PM
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

The List
Directed by Beth Murphy. (USA) – World Premiere.
Supported by the Tribeca Film Institute.

After leading rebuilding teams in war-torn cities in Iraq, Kirk Johnson returned to America to establish and advocate for a growing number of Iraqi citizens now targeted by radical militias because they aided the U.S. in the reconstruction effort. TFF alum Beth Murphy (Beyond Belief) creates an affecting portrait of an unlikely but passionate humanitarian who has championed the cause of Iraqi refugees largely ignored by the U.S. government.
 

After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Beth Murphy, film subject Kirk Johnson, Executive Director and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Paul Rieckhoff, and Marcia Tavares Maack, Assistant Director of Pro Bono Activities, Mayer Brown LLP about the current state of Iraqis seeking asylum and issues surrounding post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers and refugees. Moderated by The New Yorker’s George Packer.
DATE:  Tuesday, April 24
TIME:  5:30 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2 

Wagner’s Dream
Directed by Susan Froemke. (USA) – World Premiere.

For perhaps the most ambitious project in its famed history, the Metropolitan Opera commissioned visionary director Robert Lepage to stage a new production of opera’s most formidable masterpiece: Richard Wagner’s four-part Ring Cycle. Shot over five years, Susan Froemke’s documentary captures the unprecedented challenges of bringing Lepage’s electrifying production to life. Featuring such opera luminaries as Deborah Voigt, the film is a rare and engrossing look at the artistic process.
 

After the Movie: Stay for a conversation about this incredible artistic journey with filmmakers Susan Froemke and Bob Eisenhardt, the Met’s General Manager Peter Gelb, opera soprano Deborah Voigt and tenor Jay Hunter Morris. Moderated by “the Voice of the Met” Margaret Juntwait.
DATE:  Wednesday, April 25
TIME:  6:00PM
LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

Film and Brands
Brands and filmmakers are increasingly collaborating on film projects to achieve a range of objectives from marketing and public relations to corporate storytelling and philanthropy. As the number of projects as well as the platforms for distribution increase, the bar has been raised for how to make these projects effective corporate storytelling pieces as well as quality filmmaking. Join producer and director Brett Ratner, American Express’ Vice President of Global Media, Sponsorship and Experiential Marketing Rich Lehrfeld, GE’s Global Executive Director of Advertising and Branding Judy Hu, the Norman Lear Center’s Managing Director and Director of Research Johanna Blakley; and Chief Marketing Officer of Chipotle Mexican Grill Mark Crumpacker for a conversation about how they are collaborating and where this increasingly complex and sophisticated world is heading. Moderated by Jon Patricof, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tribeca Enterprises.
DATE:  Friday, April 20
TIME:  2:30 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Imagine More
Sponsored by Canon.

Project Imagin8ion was the first photo contest to inspire a Hollywood film, resulting in the Ron Howard production when you find me, shot using Canon cameras. Join us for a screening of this short film, followed by a discussion with Canon representatives and filmmakers about the versatility of shooting with Canon cameras and creating films through collaborative storytelling. Panelists include Canon USA Technical’s Chuck Westfall, The Russian Winter director Petter Ringbom, CatCam director Seth Keal, CatCam and Knuckleball! cinematographer Charles Miller, and when you find me cinematographer Andre Lascaris,. Moderated by Kristin McCracken, VP of Digital Media, Tribeca Enterprises.
DATE:  Sunday, April 22
TIME:  2:30PM
LOCATION:  SVA Theater 2

The Business of Entertainment
Sponsored by Bloomberg.

Bloomberg returns with its signature program The Business of Entertainment. This year's discussion, "Going Global: Will Co-Production Save the Film Industry?" focuses on the recent rise of international co-production, exploring the benefits and obstacles of this often complex but rewarding strategy. Hear from major producers, financiers, and other key industry decision-makers. Panelists include co-producer of The Girl and CEO of Bonita Films Tania Zarak, Chairman and CEO of Endgame Entertainment James D. Stern, Chief Operating Officer of FilmNation Entertainment Milan Popelka, and producer and founder of Cine Mosaic Lydia Dean Pilcher. Moderated by Bloomberg News entertainment reporter Michael White.
DATE:  Monday, April 23
TIME:  2:30 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

The Future is Short: Storytelling in the Digital Age
Sponsored by GE / FOCUS FORWARD – Short Films, Big Ideas

As the Internet and other platforms like Hulu, Netflix, Yahoo!, and the New York Times become more commercially viable as distribution outlets for good stories told through film, the opportunities for creating original short-form content have never been bigger, or more lucrative. What do content producers want from original episodic or serial programs, and how do filmmakers who've dipped their toes in short-form storytelling, even as brief as three minutes, feel about the work they've done? Where might it all be headed? Join CINELAN co-founder Morgan Spurlock (Mansome), filmmaker Annie Sundberg (Knuckleball!), Jason Spingarn-Koff of the New York Times Op-Docs series, Director Content Partnerships at YouTube Laura Lee, and others to discuss the power, art, and business of short-form storytelling. Moderated by Jason Wishnow, Director of Film and Video at TED.
DATE:  Tuesday, April 24
TIME:  2:30 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Does the Cloud have a Silver (Screen) Lining?
Sponsored by SAP.

We have seen the major studios launch cloud-based solutions to respond to shifting consumer content consumption patterns. The emergence of the tablet as a serious “screen” and the proliferation of online digital platforms provide filmmakers and distributors unique opportunities to develop a direct audience relationship. In this landscape, what’s the best model for independent films to reach audiences and make money out of new distribution opportunities? Join Jeffrey A. Hirsch, Executive VP and CMO at Time Warner Cable, Eugene Hernandez, Director of Digital Strategy, Film Society of Lincoln Center, John Sloss, founder of Cinetic Media and Sloss Eckhouse Law Co LLP, Stephanie Sharis, COO of SnagFilms, Inc., and others for a discussion about navigating today’s digital marketplace. Moderated by Richard Whittington, senior VP of media and entertainment at SAP.
DATE:  Thursday, April 26
TIME:  2:30 PM         
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

New Filmmakers on Film
Sponsored by Panavision.

Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program has helped young directors and cinematographers break into the industry for the past 25 years, supporting films such as Requiem for a Dream and Napoleon Dynamite. While a growing number of filmmakers turn to digital technology, Panavision’s grant program still offers artists the chance to shoot on film by providing them with exclusive camera packages with legendary Panavision lenses, as well as a wide range of digital cameras. Join Una Noche director Lucy Mulloy,Unmanned producer Casey Fenton, Kodak’s US Account Manager of Features and Post-Production Bob Mastronardi, cinematographer Guy Godfree, and Peter Brogna, Marketing, Panavision NY as they discuss the program and new opportunities for emerging talent. Moderated by Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program Manager, Mike Dallatorre.
DATE:  Friday April 27
TIME:  2:30 PM
LOCATION:  SVA Theater 2

Biography on Film
In biographical documentaries, the personal moments and drama of an individual’s life are captured in interviews and every day or behind-the-scenes footage. Seems simple, but in reality there is also the equally important influence of writing and storytelling. Join us as TFF filmmakers Ramona S. Diaz (Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey), Petter Ringbom (The Russian Winter), Andreas Koefoed (Ballroom Dancer), andDaniel A. Miller (Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie), and more discuss the unique ways in which they explored the life of a real individual and shaped that person’s story into a film. Moderated by Basil Tsiokos, Documentary Consultant & Sundance Film Festival Programming Associate.
DATE:  Friday, April 20
TIME:  1:00 PM         
LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square

The Pen Versus the Sword
Social change can be implemented through a variety of creative methods—from artists who write and create work that makes people look at society from a new perspective, to bloggers spreading information, opinions, and images to those who need it most, to regular individuals speaking out. Hear from TFF filmmakers Antonino D’Ambrosio (Let Fury Have the Hour), Raymond De Felitta (Booker’s Place: A Mississippi Story), and Stephen Maing (High Tech, Low Life) on how writing and action can make an impact in the world. Moderated by film and culture critic Caryn James.
DATE:  Saturday, April 21
TIME:  1:00 PM         
LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square

Based on the Book
Successfully adapting a book to a film can be a challenging task. What are the elements that can best translate from the page to the screen? How faithful must the adaptation be to the original work? Is it possible to create a version of the story better than the book? TFF filmmakers Pen-ek Ratanaruang (Headshot), Charles Matthau (Freaky Deaky), Donald Rice (Cheerful Weather for the Wedding), and more discuss their experiences adapting fiction to film. Moderated by Mark Adams, Chief Film Critic/Reviews Editor, Screen International.
DATE:  Sunday, April 22
TIME:  1:00 PM         
LOCATION: Barnes & Noble 33 E 17th Street at Union Square

ESPN Films: Beyond the Playing Field 
Sponsored by Time Warner Cable.

ESPN Films has become an industry heavyweight in the genre of sports filmmaking. With the success of  30 for 30, ESPN Films has broken away from what was traditionally thought of as a sports film and redefined the genre. By showcasing stories of passion, triumph, and loss, the resurgence of sports-themed films has never been stronger. Inspired by the 40th anniversary of Title IX, ESPN Films will air a series of nine documentaries in spring/summer of 2013 that will highlight women in sports, all by female storytellers. Join us for a conversation on the evolution of women’s sports with director Amy Berg, ESPN Films’ Libby Geist, producer and Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal, and filmmakers from upcoming ESPN Films. Moderated by ESPN’s Chris Connelly.
DATE:  Saturday, April 21
TIME:  2:30 PM
LOCATION: SVA

100 Years of Universal
Special event exclusively for American Express Cardmembers

In celebration of 100 years of Universal Studios, join us for a conversation with iconic actors and directors Robert De Niro and Judd Apatow as they share their favorite moments and memories from Universal’s extraordinary history. Moderated by Film Editor for Deadline Hollywood Mike Fleming.
DATE:  Thursday, April 19
TIME:  3:00 PM         
LOCATION: BMCC

Knife Fight - (regular ticket price)
Directed and written by Bill Guttentag. (USA) – World Premiere

Rob Lowe is Paul Turner, a maverick political strategist struggling to keep his wayward clients—including a philandering Kentucky governor and a California senator being blackmailed—in office and out of the scandal sheets. This tightly wound dramatic satire from two-time Oscar®-winning director and TFF alum Bill Guttentag (Nanking) shows us what our political leaders are really made of. With Julie Bowen, Eric McCormack, Jennifer Morrison, and Carrie-Anne Moss.
Join us for a conversation with writer/director Bill Guttentag, writer and co-producer Chris Lehane, actor Rob Lowe, and campaign strategist Steve Schmidt as they discuss presidential campaigns and how politics are spun. Moderated by MSNBC senior political analyst and co-author of Game Change Mark Halperin. 
DATE:  Wednesday, April 25
TIME:  6:00 PM
LOCATION: BMCC

Illicit Networks: Portrayal through Film - (free)
Tribeca Enterprises and Google Ideas team up for this unique free panel addressing Hollywood’s portrayal of illicit networks that traffic everything from narcotics and weapons to body parts and human beings. Experts, law enforcement participants, and survivors will use what we learn from film to examine the mysterious and misunderstood world of illicit trafficking. At a moment when illicit networks are increasing physical and systemic violence and 2 percent of the world’s trade is in illicit goods, this panel of experts will separate fact from fiction to launch a critical dialogue. Moderated by Jared Cohen, Director of Google Ideas.
DATE:  Wednesday, April 25
TIME:  2:30 PM
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Tickets for 2012 Festival:
Tickets for the Festival will be $16.00 for evening and weekend screenings, and $8.00 for all late night and weekday matinee screenings.

Advance selection ticket packages and passes are now on sale for American Express Cardmembers, and go on sale Monday, March 12 for the general public. All advance selection packages and passes can be purchased online at www.tribecafilm.com/festival, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin Tuesday, April 10 for American Express Cardmembers, Sunday, April 15 for downtown residents, and Monday, April 16 for the general public. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Tribeca Cinemas at 54 Varick Street, Clearview Cinemas Chelsea at 260 W. 23rd Street, and AMC Loews Village VII at 66 3rd Avenue. The 2012 Festival will continue offering ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only. Discounted ticket packages can only be purchased online and by phone. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com.

About the Tribeca Film Festival:

The Tribeca Film Festival helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enabling the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. It is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture, the Festival brings the industry and community together around storytelling.

The Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,300 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 3.7 million attendees and has generated an estimated $725 million in economic activity for New York City.

About the 2012 Festival Sponsors:

As Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, American Express is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of filmmaking, bringing business and energy to New York City and offering Cardmembers and festivalgoers the opportunity to enjoy the best of storytelling through film.

The Tribeca Film Festival is pleased to announce the return of its Signature Sponsors: Accenture, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Apple, Bloomberg, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Brookfield, Cadillac, Caesars Atlantic City, ESPN, Heineken USA, JetBlue, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Magnum® Ice Cream, NBC 4 New York, NCM Media Networks, New York Nonstop, Stolichnaya Vodka, The New York Times, Time Warner Cable, as well as its Cultural Partner the Doha Film Institute. The Festival is also honored to welcome the following new Signature Sponsors: BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin, Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Focus Forward - a partnership between GE and CINELAN, and OppenheimerFunds.

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PRESS CONTACTS:

TFF/Rubenstein Communications:            
Brady Littlefield, (212) 843-9220, blittlefield@rubenstein.com 

TFF/Tribeca Enterprises:             
Tammie Rosen, VP of Communications, (212) 941-2003, trosen@tribecaenterprises.com