James Franco and Gainsbourg in Tribeca Film Festival lineup

Just released, the initial schedule for the Tribeca Film Festival reveals 33 of the 85 feature films and 47 shorts presented at the ninth annual New York City event, April 21-May 2.

Some of the highlights include: Joann Sfar's Je t'Aime...Moi Non Plus, a biography of French music icon Serge Gainsbourg; William Vincent, starring James Franco as a criminal in search of a prostitute he's fallen in love with; Metropia, an animated sci-fi noir with the voices of Juliette Lewis, Stellan and Alexander Skarsgard; Lola, from Cannes award-winning director Brilliante Mendoza; and Open House with Brian Geraghty ( The Hurt Locker).

Among the special events, the 45th anniversary of David Lean's Dr. Zhivago will be celebrated with a newly restored print.

The festival provides exposure to 38 filmmakers making feature directing debuts with 46 world premieres. Tribeca decided to go smaller for 2010, cutting the 120 films previously screened down to 85, so the festival doesn't feel overwhelming. They represent 38 countries. These were chosen from a record 5,055 submissions.

Documentaries include views of the Russian mafia, the Rwandan genocide, and teens attempting to escape a polygamist compound. Also featured is the premiere of The Two Escobars, Jeff and Michael Zimbalist's intertwining profiles of Colombian druglord Pablo Escobar and fellow countryman Andres Escobar, who, though not related, shared a passion for soccer.

Similar to the Sundance and SXSW festivals, for the first time, 12 of the films screened will also be available by video-on-demand on cable and satellite feeds. The Tribeca Film Festival Virtual will allow viewers to see films, panel discussions and Q&As from the festival on the internet.

Films available on VOD through the TFF Virtual include Franco's William Vincent, Metropia, the Finland-set rugby documentary Freetime Machos and Road, Movie, about a trip across India in a beat-up old Chevy.

Films in the World Narrative and World Documentary competitions will be vying for prizes totaling $100,000. The Cinemania, Discovery, Encounters and Spotlight sections, galas and special events, will be announced in coming weeks.

The Tribeca Film Festival was co-founded in 2001 by Robert Ne Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff. Tickets cost $16 for evening and weekend screenings and $8 for daytime weekday and late-night films, lower than previous years.

http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/

RC