Tribeca Film Festival Showcases U.S. Premiere of 'Spider-Man 3'

The Tribeca Film Festival has announced Spider-Man 3, directed by Sam Raimi, will have its U.S. Premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express. Spider-Man 3, a Columbia Pictures film which opens in theaters worldwide on May 4, will celebrate the first-ever star-studded gala premiere in Queens, Peter Parker's hometown. Stars of the film, including Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, will land in New York, their final destination after an eight-city international tour and join a crowd of 3,000 people at the UA Kaufman Astoria 14 in downtown Astoria on Monday, April 30th. With a marching band leading the stars to the 'black carpet' and local fans lining the streets, this spectacular premiere will be one of several events throughout the festival, celebrating "Spider-Man Week in NYC," presented by Columbia Pictures and NYC & Company. For more information on Spider-Man Week NYC activities, please visit www.spider-manweeknyc.com.

In addition to the U.S. premiere in Queens, the Tribeca Film Festival will also present, with Columbia Pictures, simultaneous screenings in the other four boroughs. These free advance screenings will be open to the public and details about how these tickets can be secured will be released as the event approaches.

"Tribeca is thrilled to be premiering Spider-Man 3 and to be a part of 'Spider-Man Week in NYC,'" said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Festival. "Bringing exciting and new events to NYC and its community is one of the major goals of the festival. Hosting the U.S. Premiere of Spider-Man 3 in Queens and celebrating the release throughout the festival will give us the opportunity to reach out to a new community as well as to the devoted fan-base of the Spider-Man series."

"Tribeca Film Festival is the perfect way for Peter Parker to be welcomed back home with the U.S. Premiere," said Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment. "It allows us to reach our goal of bringing the full Spider-Man experience to the heart of the film community and the city of New York. We're also proud to be thanking the people of the City of New York by holding free screenings in the other boroughs with the Tribeca Film Festival -- it's a great opportunity for all Spider-Man fans and movie buffs to help us kick off the summer movie-going season."

In addition to the premiere and citywide screenings, the Festival will host Spider-Man Saga Screenings. These will be the best way to prepare for the latest chapter in the life, loves, and adventures of Peter Parker. Night owls will enjoy the midnight screenings of both Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 on Tuesday, May 1st and Wednesday, May 2nd, respectively, while die-hard fans can start their weekends early with a back-to-back doubleheader on Thursday, May 3rd before heading out to the very first screenings of the new film on Friday, May 4th. These screenings will all feature an exclusive sneak peek of Spider- Man 3 and other fun surprises.

Tribeca Talks, the Tribeca Film Festival panel series, will also honor the superhero during the Festival with two discussions inspired by the highly anticipated blockbuster:

  *  Does Whatever a Spider Can will feature those that bring Spider-Man to
     the big screen -- filmmakers Avi Arad, Laura Ziskin, Kevin Feige and
     Grant Curtis.  (Tuesday, May 1st at 4pm)

  *  Heroes for Hire will focus on the colossal success of superhero movies
     with both children and adult audiences. This panel will feature such
     superhero creators as Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, Elektra), Mike
     Richardson (President, Dark Horse Comics/Ent.), and Joe Quesada
     (Illustrator, Writer, EIC of Marvel.) (Thursday, May 3rd at 4pm)

In Spider-Man™ 3, based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. When his suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter as well. Under the influence of the suit, Peter's pride and overconfidence take hold and he begins to neglect the ones he cares about the most. As two of the most-feared villains yet, Sandman and Venom, gather unparalleled power and a thirst for retribution, Spider-Man's greatest battle is the one within himself -- he will need to rediscover who he is and what makes him the hero people love.

Columbia Pictures Presents A Marvel Studios/Laura Ziskin Production Spider-Man™ 3 starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, James Cromwell, Rosemary Harris, and J.K. Simmons. The film is directed by Sam Raimi. The screenplay is by Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent and the screen story by Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi; based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The producers are Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Grant Curtis. The executive producers are Stan Lee, Kevin Feige, and Joseph M. Caracciolo. Spider-Man 3 opens worldwide on May 4.

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.

The Tribeca Film Festival is also honored to welcome the following new Signature Sponsors: AARP, Axium, Montblanc, Target, and Yahoo!.

For press inquiries regarding the Tribeca Film Festival, please contact Nicole Quenqua Adler at (212) 843-8288 and Tammie Rosen (212) 941-2003. Film stills for the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival are available at www.image.net. If you are not an image.net media user yet, please register using the following referral code: 2604.

SOURCE: Columbia Pictures

CONTACT: Nicole Quenqua Adler, +1-212-843-8288, or Tammie Rosen,
+1-212-941-2003, for the Tribeca Film Festival

Web site: http://www.spider-manweeknyc.com/
http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/