New York City and Tribeca Film Festival Align with Fight Against Global Warming

New York City and Tribeca Film Festival Align with Fight Against Global Warming

Sixth Annual Festival Opens with Focus on Environmental Awareness

NEW YORK, April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg yesterday joined former Vice President Al Gore and Tribeca Film Festival co- founder Jane Rosenthal at a press conference opening the sixth annual Tribeca Film Festival, the largest international film festival in the U.S. and one of New York City's own cultural touchstones. This year the festival is using its global platform to raise awareness of the worldwide climate crisis with a screening of nine environmental films commissioned by SOS-Live Earth.

"If we act today, we can stop global warming and leave a brighter future for our children and grandchildren," Mayor Bloomberg said. "We cannot let global warming ravage our city and our planet-that's why I laid out a vision for New York's future on Sunday that will cut New York's greenhouse gas emissions by 30% between now and 2030. Al Gore has been leading this fight for years, and with the help of Live Earth and the Tribeca Film Festival's premiere of nine environmental films, our message can be delivered to more people throughout the world."

The SOS screening came days after Mayor Bloomberg announced his proposal for making New York City the world's first environmentally sustainable city. Known as PlaNYC: A Greener, Greater New York, the policy includes 127 initiatives to address challenges posed by population growth, aging infrastructure and increasing risks to the environment. Among the goals are housing an additional one million New Yorkers affordably and increasing access to parks, playgrounds and open spaces.

The Tribeca Film Festival takes place from April 25 to May 6, and features more than 200 movies shown in venues throughout the city. The festival, which celebrates film, music and culture, was founded in 2002 to help economically and culturally revitalize Lower Manhattan in the wake of the September 11 tragedies. Since then, it has earned the respect of the film industry and carved out its own place on the cinema landscape as a destination for visitors worldwide. In keeping with that goal, the festival is working closely with NYC & Company, the city's tourism marketing organization.

During the Tribeca Film Festival filmmakers and those who attend have an opportunity to engage in open discussions that range from artistic conversation to a dialogue on social initiatives-as in this year's partnership with SOS to shed further light on global warming. The SOS campaign is also staging this summer's Live Earth concert event, taking place on July 7.

Among the premieres included in the SOS screening are Malcolm Venville's Global Warming, which asks children to consider contemporary environmental issues, and the Foster Brothers' Africa. Speaking with Earth and Sky, which traces the effects of environmental change among the people of Africa. Also premiering is One Less Car, by the filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, about cyclists in New York. Ewing and Grady won last year's Tribeca Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Jesus Camp.

About NYC & Company:

Travel and tourism for New York City is a $24 billion industry that supports more than 330,000 jobs. NYC & Company has undergone a dramatic transformation since 2006, when the city's Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, pledged an additional $15 million in annual funds and provided unprecedented media and promotional resources. The new NYC & Company is the world's leading municipal tourism, marketing and events organization, dedicated to building New York City's economy and positive image in order to achieve 50 million visitors annually by 2015.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: NYC & Company

CONTACT: Kimberly Spell, +1-212-484-1247, or Chris Heywood,
+1-212-484-5458, both of NYC & Company

-------
Profile: intent