By Maria Esteves - April 22, 2009

The Eighth Annual 2009 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF09) Opening Press Conference presented by American Express was held at the Borough of Manhattan Community College/Tribeca Performing Arts Center, New York, Tuesday, April 21, 10:00 AM.  Press Conference speakers co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal officially opens the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Additional speakers included director Spike Lee, KOBE DOIN WORK, PASSING STRANGE, and festival juror actress Uma Thurman. The festival which runs from April 22 - May 3, presents 85 features and 46 short films, panel discussions, filmmakers and industry galas, and free events (Tribeca Drive-In, Tribeca Festival Family Street Fair, Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day).

This year's festival 32 jurors announced include Uma Thurman, Meg Ryan, Morgan Spurlock, James Franco, Todd Haynes, Bradley Cooper, Melissa Leo, Parker Posey, Adrien Brody and Rachel Maddow. The four festival filmmakers and trailers introduced were TIMER, directed by Jac Schaeffer; THE BURNING SEASON, directed by Cathy Henkel; RACING DREAMS, directed by Marshall Curry; and VAGAS: Based on a True Story, directed by Amir Nadiri. 

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, (from left-right), director Jac Schaeffer,
TIMER; director Cathy Henkel, THE BURNING SEASON; vp global sponsorship
and experiential marketing Rich Lehrfeld, American Express Company; festival executive director Nancy Schafer, TFF; director Spike Lee, KOBE DOIN WORK, PASSING STRANGE; festival co-founders, Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, TFF; festival juror actress Uma Thurman, festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff, TFF; director Marshall Curry, RACING DREAMS and director Amir Naderi, VAGAS: Based on a True Story.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, (from right-left), speaker festival
co-founder Robert De Niro, TFF, with festival co-founder, Jane
Rosenthal, TFF, and director Spike Lee, KOBE DOIN WORK, PASSING
STRANGE.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, speaker festival co-founder
Robert De Niro, and festival juror actress Uma Thurman, TFF.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, (from right - left), speaker vp global
sponsorship and experiential marketing Rich Lehrfeld, American Express
Company, with festival co-founders, Jane Rosenthal, TFF, and director
Spike Lee, KOBE DOIN WORK, PASSING STRANGE.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, speaker festival co-founder Craig
Hatkoff, TFF, with (from left-right), director Spike Lee, KOBE DOIN
WORK, PASSING STRANGE; festival co-founders, Jane Rosenthal,
Robert De Niro, TFF; and festival juror actress Uma Thurman, TFF.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, speaker director Spike Lee, KOBE
DOIN WORK, PASSING STRANGE with festival co-founders, Jane
Rosenthal, (left), and Robert De Niro, TFF.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, (from left-right), director Jac Schaeffer,
TIMER; director Cathy Henkel, THE BURNING SEASON; vp global sponsorship
and experiential marketing Rich Lehrfeld, American Express Company;
festival executive director Nancy Schafer, TFF; and director Spike Lee,
KOBE DOIN WORK, PASSING STRANGE.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, (from left-right), festival co-founder,
Robert De Niro, TFF; festival juror actress Uma Thurman, TFF; festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff, TFF; director Marshall Curry, RACING DREAMS
and director Amir Naderi, VAGAS: Based on a True Story.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, (from left-right), director Spike Lee,
KOBE DOIN WORK, PASSING STRANGE; with festival co-founders, Jane
Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, and festival juror actress Uma Thurman, TFF.

TFF09 Opening Press Conference, (from left-right), director Jac Schaeffer,
TIMER; director Cathy Henkel, THE BURNING SEASON; vp global sponsorship
and experiential marketing Rich Lehrfeld, American Express Company;
festival executive director Nancy Schafer, TFF; director Spike Lee,
KOBE DOIN WORK, PASSING STRANGE; festival co-founders, Jane Rosenthal,
Robert De Niro, TFF; festival juror actress Uma Thurman, TFF; festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff, TFF; director Marshall Curry, RACING DREAMS
and director Amir Naderi, VAGAS: Based on a True Story.