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2007 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL FEATURES FREE EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Tribeca Drive-In, Family Festival Street Fair and Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival’s “Sports Saturday"

Tribeca Drive-In, Family Festival Street Fair and Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival’s “Sports Saturday"

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[New York, NY – March 29, 2007] – – The 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express, will again present the community favorite and popular Tribeca Drive-In and Family Festival Street Fair. New this year and also free and open to the public is the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival’s “Sports Saturday,” a free, outdoor day of interactive sports related games and demonstrations. This year’s Tribeca Film Festival will take place from April 25 – May 6, 2007.

The free events are as follows:

TRIBECA DRIVE-IN OUTDOOR SCREENINGS – April 26-28, nightly at dusk (around 8:00 pm), World Financial Center Plaza.

The following films will be screened outdoors through the Tribeca Drive-In, the Festival’s classic outdoor screening series that entertains families and movie lovers of all ages. All are free and open to the public. The Tribeca Drive-In is co-sponsored by Aquafina and Yahoo! and hosted by Brookfield Properties, LMDC and HUD.

DIRTY DANCING –20th ANNIVERSARY – Thursday, April 26th
The Tribeca Film Festival and Lionsgate commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Dirty Dancing. A Dirty Dancing contest, movie trivia and karaoke will kick off the festivities at 7:30 p.m. with the screening starting at 8:30 p.m.

SURF’S UP – Friday, April 27th
The Drive-In goes Hawaiian with a special “work-in-progress” screening of SONY Pictures upcoming feature animated film Surf’s Up. Complete with a luau including food, fun, flame jugglers and music by The Custard Kings, movie goers will also have the opportunity to compete in a limbo contest and learn to hula dance. The luau begins at 7:30 p.m. with the screening starting at 8:30 p.m.

Surf’s Up is an animated comedy that delves behind the scenes of the high-octane world of competitive surfing. The film profiles teenage Rockhopper penguin Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf), an up-and-coming surfer, as he enters his first pro competition. Followed by a camera crew to document his experiences, Cody leaves his family and home in Shiverpool, Antarctica to travel to Pen Gu Island for the Big Z Memorial Surf Off. Along the way, Cody meets surf nut Chicken Joe (Jon Heder), famous surf promoter Reggie Belafonte (James Woods), surf talent scout Mikey Abromowitz (Mario Cantone), and spirited lifeguard Lani Aliikai (Zooey Deschanel), all of whom recognize Cody’s passion for surfing, even if it sometimes goes too far.
Cody believes that winning will bring him the admiration and respect he desires, but when he unexpectedly comes face-to-face with a washed-up old surfer named Geek (Jeff Bridges), Cody begins to find his own way, and discovers that a true winner isn’t always the one who comes in first.

PLANET B-BOY - Saturday, April 28th
B-boy’s from all over the world will be at the final night of the Drive-In for a special dance tribute to James Brown prior to the screening of this Tribeca Film Festival world premiere film. In addition audience members will be taught a few breakdance moves. Fab 5 Freddy is set to host with dancing begins at 7:30 p.m. with the screening starting at 8:30 p.m.

A powerful documentary about the vibrant global resurgence of break-dancing, Planet B-Boy goes inside the underground hip-hop dance scenes around the world, as the best crews prepare for the "The Battle of the Year" -- an annual "World Cup" of b-boying. Director Benson Lee combines spectacular dance footage with poignant insight explaining why these dancers make tremendous sacrifices for their art.

The Tribeca Drive-In is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Programs begin at 7:30 p.m., with screenings starting at 8:30pm.

TRIBECA FAMILY FESTIVAL STREET FAIR - Saturday, May 5

The Tribeca Family Festival, presented by American Express, will feature the annual Street Fair on Saturday, May 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. along Greenwich Street (between Hubert and Duane Streets). The fair, free and open to the public, promises to be a day of entertaining and interactive experiences for the entire family. Performers range from puppeteers and storytellers to dancers, stilt walkers, face painters and so much more! The Street Fair will also host over 30 restaurants, merchants and organizations from the Tribeca neighborhood.

Chess In The Schools, played on a life-sized chessboard, offers festivalgoers the opportunity to learn the finer points and nuances of the game, in addition to a team tournament and other activities.

At this time, the main stage will feature special performances by Dirty Sock Funtime Band, USA Shaolin Temple, The National Double Dutch League, Carnival Del Mundo, AudraRox, Louie Miranda, David Grover and the Big Bear Band and Suzi Shelton and the Boys. Also performing on stages along Greenwich Street will be local youth dance troupes, singers, showcase storytellers, puppeteers and performance groups from local schools. More acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

At the Family Festival Street Fair, American Express will once again roll out the welcome mat for families and children of all ages with a number of street fair attractions, services, and interactive activities allowing kids to be the star in their own movie posters or dress-up like film directors. This year's lineup will include a tent that houses storytelling, puppet shows, sing-a-longs and much more. Information Centers will be located near the north and south ends of the Festival, where American Express staff will hand out Family Festival schedules, general information and helpful maps identifying family-friendly merchants located in the Tribeca neighborhood. A private lounge located at the Tribeca Grill will be open from 10am – 3pm to American Express Cardmembers to relax and enjoy complimentary food and beverages. More information can be found at www.americanexpress.com.

The Storyland Theater tent will be abuzz with captivating storytelling and musical accompaniment. Next door, the Scholastic Book Fair will feature best-selling children’s books. The Kite Garden, sponsored by Delta Air Lines, will have kites available to fly high throughout the day.

Radio Disney AM 1560 returns to this year’s Festival with a program block on Center Stage, where their DJ will host family activities, giveaways and spin the hottest in today’s kids and tween music.

The Street Fair will also feature the Tribeca Fun Squad sponsored by Yahoo!. The Fun Squad will roam up and down Greenwich Street throughout the day interacting with festivalgoers.

All this, combined with jugglers, stilt walkers, face painting, arts & crafts, gigantic murals, banners created by children from downtown neighborhood schools and so much more make this a day not to be missed.

The Tribeca Family Festival will also offer free continuous screenings of films from the Family Film program, sponsored by American Express, at the Tribeca Film Center, 375 Greenwich Street. All screenings are non-ticketed and will be seen on a first come and first serve basis.

TRIBECA/ESPN SPORTS FILM FESTIVAL’S “SPORTS SATURDAY” –
Saturday, May 5

The Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will feature the first-ever “Sports Saturday” on Saturday, May 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. starting on N. Moore, between Greenwich and West Streets, and is free and open to the public. Together with the Family Festival Street Fair, “Sports Saturday” will give both parents and kids the opportunity to participate in engaging, interactive activities including:

From ESPN’s X - Games Consumer Products' Super Freestyle Tour, a BMX bike stunt show, where BMX bikers will fly through the air doing death defying tricks full of skill and courage. There will be multiple shows throughout the day as part of a full moto and vertical show. The NBA will have activities for all basketball fans young and old! Demonstrate your shooting ability and visit the Walk of Fame at their Pavilion.

Hockey fans will have the opportunity to meet N.J. Devil, mascot for the New Jersey Devils and Sparky, mascot of the New York Islanders. Both will be down in Tribeca greeting fans, signing autographs and giving away cool gear.

The New York Giants will set up their full interactive “Giants Experience” training camp, where fans can test their throwing and kicking skills; while the New York Jets will have their “Generation Jets Fest” along N. Moore Street, where fans can participate in a football theme park filled with obstacles and tests of skill such as the quarterback challenge and touchdown run.

Mr. Met will also be in attendance, in anticipation of the New York Mets 2007 season. In addition to meeting and taking pictures with fans, he will have tickets on hand for the next big home game.

The New York Red Bulls street soccer team will perform the most amazing stunts you will ever see with a soccer ball. ESPN Play Your Way is a youth fitness outreach program that inspires kids to be physically active by making up their own games and encourages creative recreational play. The Junior Tennis League in conjunction with the USTA will be hosting a tennis clinic for young players to hone their skills.


Venues and Tickets
AMC Theatres® is the official theatre partner for the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and will help the Festival expand its reach with two new screening venues: AMC Loews Kips Bay 15 and AMC Loews 72nd Street 1. Clearview Chelsea West is another key venue addition for 2007. In addition to these three new venues, festival screenings will take place at the following venues: AMC Loews 34th Street 14, AMC Loews Village 7, Regal Cinemas Battery Park Cinemas 11, Tribeca Cinemas, BMCC Tribeca PAC, Pace University Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, Drive-in at the North Cove, Tribeca Film Center and The Grand Theater @ Tribeca Grand.

Please visit www.tribecafilmfestival.org or call 866.941.FEST (3378) to purchase Festival Passes, Packages and individual tickets. Single tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at the Tribeca Film Festival box office, located at 15 Laight Street (between Varick and Avenue of the Americas, one block south of Canal Street) and additional satellite locations. Single tickets will be available to downtown residents (with proof of residency) at only the Tribeca Festival Box Office beginning on Friday, April 13th. Single tickets will be available for purchase to the general public online, by phone, and at the Box Office beginning on Saturday, April 14-Sunday, May 6.

About the Tribeca Film Festival:
The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff after the attacks on the World Trade Center to help economically and culturally revitalize Lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture. The Festival’s mission is to assist filmmakers to reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and the general public to experience the power of film, and to promote New York City as a major filmmaking center.

In its first five years, the festival attracted over one and a half million attendees from the US and abroad and created more than $325 million in economic activity for New York City.

The sixth annual Tribeca Film Festival will run from April 25th to May 6th, 2007. The Festival is anchored in Tribeca with additional venues throughout Manhattan, and includes film screenings, special events, concerts, a family street fair, and Tribeca Talks panel discussions. For more information on this year’s festival, as well as for highlights on the festival and filmmakers as it takes place, please visit www.tribecafilmfestival.org.

About the 2007 Festival Sponsors:
As Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, American Express is committed to expanding the Festival, bringing it to new audiences in compelling ways while offering Cardmembers and the general public special benefits that enhance the festival-going experience. As part of a long-term partnership with the Festival, American Express delivers on its Cardmembers’ passion for film, celebrates filmmakers, fosters community and brings energy and business to Lower Manhattan.

The Festival is pleased to announce the return of its Signature Sponsors: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, AMC Theatres, Apple, Aquafina, Bloomberg, Brookfield Properties, Budweiser Select, Delta Air Lines, Empire State Development/I Love New York, General Motors, Jameson Irish Whiskey, NBC4HD, RR Donnelley, The New York Times, Telemundo 47, Tribeca Grand Hotel and Vanity Fair.