Presenting Partner
Signature Partners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAXI DRIVER TO HAVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT THE 15th ANNUAL TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
Director Martin Scorsese to join stars Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, and writer Paul Schrader for post-screening conversation
NEW YORK, NY– March 18, 2016 –The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, announced today that Martin Scorsese’s powerful psychological thriller Taxi Driver will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on April 21 at the 15th edition of the Festival. Starring Robert DeNiro, Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, and Cybill Shepherd, Directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader and produced by Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips, the 1976 film was nominated for four Academy Awards®, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Robert De Niro; and two Golden Globes. One of TIME Magazines “all-TIME 100 Movies,” Taxi Driver was called “a brilliant nightmare,” by the Chicago Sun-Times and praised by the Village Voice as “a phenomenon from another day and age.”
Following the anniversary screening at the Beacon Theatre, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, and Paul Schrader will take part in a special conversation moderated by Kent Jones. Tickets will be available beginning March 24 at 10am EST by visiting beacontheatre.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 866-858-0008. The evening is sponsored by Infor. The Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 13-24.
“Taxi Driver is one of the most brilliantly disturbing movies ever made, and why I chose to go into film. It's had an indelible impact on pop culture, and its performances rank among the most memorable in cinema,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder, Tribeca Film Festival, and Executive Chair, Tribeca Enterprises. “It's a great honor to have the original cast at the Festival and to present this masterpiece to a new generation.”
"It’s odd to think that four decades have passed since we shot Taxi Driver on the streets of a very different New York City. It was made in a surge of energy, starting with Paul’s one-of-a-kind script, and I was working with an extraordinary group of artistic collaborators as anyone could ever hope for—Jodie, who was 13 years old at the time, and Bob gave the picture something precious, dangerous, and altogether remarkable. I’m honored to take part in the celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival,” said Martin Scorsese.
“It’s a great honor for TFF to revisit Taxi Driver. I’m very proud to have worked on this film with Marty, Jodie, Harvey, Cybill, Paul, Michael and Julia as well as the extraordinary cast and crew. I remain equally proud today," said Robert De Niro, Festival co-founder.
An alienated and quiet loner, taxi driver Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) works the night shift in Manhattan. After failing to land a date with Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a beautiful campaign aide for presidential candidate Palentine (Leonard Harris), an encounter with a 12- year old prostitute, Iris (Jodie Foster), and her pimp, Sport (Harvey Keitel), convinces Travis that the world is a rotten place. And as his frustration mounts, he assembles a cache of guns and then learns how to use them…with deadly accuracy.
Sony Pictures digitally restored and re-mastered Taxi Driver to 4K from the original negative, which was shown in a limited theatrical release. Taxi Driver is currently available on Blu-ray and digital from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Visit www.tribecafilm.com/festival for more information about TFF’s 2016 programs and the full line-up of films.
About the Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival, now in its 15th year, brings together visionaries across industries and diverse audiences to celebrate the power of storytelling. A platform for independent filmmaking, creative expression and immersive entertainment, Tribeca supports emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning filmmakers, curates innovative and interactive experiences, and introduces new technology and ideas through panels, premieres, exhibitions, and live performance.
Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Tribeca has evolved from an annual event to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan to a gathering place for filmmakers, artists, innovators, and the global creative community. Through programs that embrace storytelling in all of its expansive forms – from film and music to video games and online work, TFF reimagines the cinematic experience and explores how art can unite communities.
About the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Sponsors
As Presenting Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, AT&T is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of filmmaking through access and innovation – aiming to make this the most interactive film and storytelling festival in the country, where visitors experience the Festival in ways they never imagined. As one of the largest communications and entertainment companies, AT&T helps millions connect with entertainment, mobile, high speed Internet and voice services – virtually everywhere.
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TFF Press credentials:
Credentialing for the 15th Festival is now open through March 3rd, 2016:
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PRESS CONTACTS:
TFF/Rubenstein Communications:
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TFF/Tribeca:
Tammie Rosen, SVP of Communications, (212) 941-2003, trosen@tribecaenterprises.com
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