Arriving in the middle of a festival is always an eye-opening experience. The energy is high, people are beggining to suffer party-fatigue after the opening bashes, and the early hype on favorite films is fast turning into reality. When the festival also happens to be located in the greatest city in the world, things have the habit of becoming a little intense. In only its fourth year, the TFF is already screening over 200 films. With the help of almost 2000 volunteers, and with $5M invested in it, the Tribeca Film Festival has set its sights on becoming the biggest film festival in the world.

Attempting to absorb all that this festival has to offer has made this reporter a little woozy. With two to three red carpets and parties a day, a Budweiser bus flowing with brew, and the FIP lounge with food, drink and a wall of brand new iMacs (thanks to Apple) it somehow seems tough to fit in the films - especially when one has to get there an hour in advance for door sales. In fact, most of the films were sold out by Monday.

Luckily, Gray Line double decker buses (the very same ones that usually provide tourists with informational rides throughout the city) are taking people around all the venues below Chambers Street, although they were prevented from going through the narrow streets of Tribeca itself. For that you can hop in one of the pedicabs (aka rickshaws) provided by American Express.

IndependentFilm.com will soon be bringing you all the sights and sounds from the second week of the fest. Don't despair, the articles are coming. The photo galleries might not be working for you, but please don't fret, we are working on it.