Freebies at the Tribeca Film Festival: Drive-Ins, Sports Fests, Street Fairs and More!

Hello Columbus Circle Hostel Guests and anyone who’s looking for interesting cultural events at the end of April! The one and only, not to be missed TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL is about to kick off and this year’s line-up truly sounds promising! Not only does it offer a wide variety of independent films (e.g. documentaries, narrative features and shorts) as well as family-friendly productions, The Festival also features panel discussions with personalities in the entertainment world and a music lounge produced with ASCAP to showcase up and coming artists.

Even though films screened during the Tribeca Film Festival do not come in cheap ;-( (they’re still worth the price though!), this year’s event also offers several movie showings and family events that DO NOT require any cash investment at all. YAY!

The three-day Tribeca Drive-In outdoor screenings will begin each night at 6 p.m. with pre-film events and a movie at sundown (about 8:15 p.m.) Seating is first-come, first serve at the World Financial Center Plaza, located at Hudson River’s North Cove near 200 Vesey Street.

April 22 – “El Espiritu de la Salsa” (“The Spirit of Salsa”)

Pre-show events: live salsa bands, salsa pros, salsa lessons, dance contests “and percussive revelry for all ages.”

The movie, a documentary about lonely hearts who meet weekly at Spanish Harlem’s Santo Rico Dance School, features music by Tito Puente, Eddie Santiago, Héctor Lavoe and Norah Jones.

April 23 – “Big”

Pre-show events: fortune tellers, carnival games, music, face painters and trivia contests. Sounds like fun, right?

The classic Tom Hanks comedy will be screened on Family Day by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment as part of the studio’s 75th anniversary.

April 24 – “The Birth of Big Air”

Pre- and post- show events: BMX street tricks and freestyle demonstrations and Mat Hoffman, a.k.a. “The Condor” in person.

The movie, a Spike Jonze documentary about BMX pro Hoffman, will make its world premiere at the ESPN at the Tribeca Drive-In event.

The Tribeca Film Festival’s street fair will overlap with the ESPN Sports Day, both scheduled May 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The street fair will takeover Greenwich Street from Chambers to Harrison streets with performers including the cast of Broadway’s “Wicked” as well as a massive Guitar “Play-in” led by Mike D of the Beastie Boys (who is a dad at Church Street School for Music and Art.)

The festival will be packed with other dancers, stilt walkers, puppets, storytelling, arts and crafts and a kite-making area. There will be a Tribeca Film Festival “red carpet” to walk and a screening of the movie “Snowmen.”

The fourth annual sports festival will be set on Duane Street between Greenwich Street and Hudson Street. Expect interactive sports-related games and demonstrations and appearances by Mr. Met and other icons.

Other Tribeca Film Festival free events include:

TRIBECA TALKS PEN TO PAPER
Barnes & Noble hosts this returning series of free events focusing on the art of screenwriting. Panelists include writers and writer/directors from the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival: Edward Burns, Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Dana Adam Shapiro, and more!

Hosted by Barnes & Noble at their Union Square location: 33 East 17th Street.

FILMMAKING EVENTS & WORKSHOPS AT THE APPLE STORE
For the sixth consecutive year The Apple Store, SoHo, is celebrating the spirit of independent filmmaking with the Tribeca Film Festival by hosting dozens of free events and workshops. The exclusive Meet the Filmmakers series, presented by Apple and indieWIRE, is not to be missed. Everyone’s invited, so be sure to check back for all the details.

Apple Store, SoHo – April 23 – May 1, 2010
103 Prince Street
New York City, NY 10012
www.apple.com/retail/soho/tribeca
Apple in-stores, the art awards and a few industry panels.

ART AWARDS
Every year, original artwork by several acclaimed artists is exhibited during the Festival and later serves as filmmaker awards for the 10 winning directors. Visit the ART AWARDS GALLERY from April 21 till April 28 for a special exhibition of worksby Yoko Ono, Stephen Posen, Maira Kalman, Ghada Amer, Reza Farkondeh, Maurizio Galimberti, Spencer Platt, Sheila Berger, and Valerie Hegarty.

Art Awards Gallery
Chanel Boutique SoHo
134 Spring St
www.tribecafilm.com/festival/events/art-awards

TRIBECA TALKS INDUSTRY panels
All are welcome at this series of free discussions surrounding issues of concern to today’s filmmakers, including the future of film distribution, stretching a production budget, how visual style affects genre, the challenges of documentary, and more.

For more info visit the Festival’s website at http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival!

If you want to experience New York to the fullest in April and May, make sure to check out at least a few of the inspiring, mind-opening and engaging events at THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL!!!