NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Considering that Manhattan-born Robert De Niro, who turns in 81 in August, has made 50 films set in New York City and co-founded the Tribeca Festival, it's about time that there's a major event for cinephiles that pays homage to his career: the appropriately-titled De Niro Con, running June 14-16 concurrently with the festival, which kicked off June 5 and runs until June 16.
The three-day event at the festival -- of which 1010 WINS is a media partner -- includes screenings and panels and conversations with filmmakers and actors.
There's also "De Niro Is An Icon: An Exhibit & Immersive Film," the former of which is a career-spanning gallery with more than 300 curated items from De Niro's personal archive, including photos, scripts, costumes, research material and storyboards.
Then there's an immersive short film comprised of clips from nearly 40 of De Niro's New York-set films called "De Niro, New York," which is exhibited on the six-screen, 52-speaker Hexadome. The film consists of hundreds of clips from the films and "re-edited together to form a new narrative starring De Niro's many on-screen personalities interacting with each other across decades, while creating a cinematic portrait of an artist and the city he calls home," according to organizers. The Tribeca Festival partnered with Little Cinema to create the film.
"I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 80 years of Robert De Niro, my dear friend and co-conspirator for the past 35 years, than by throwing a big bash for his fellow New Yorkers," said Tribeca co-founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal. “From conversations with legends like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and David O. Russell to fan experiences, it is going to be a truly historic weekend as we pay tribute to a great talent.”
Thirteen De Niro films will be screened as part of De Niro Con, including a screening of "Mean Streets," to mark its 50th anniversary, with a post-screening conversation with Martin Scorsese and De Niro, moderated by Nas at the Beacon Theatre.
There will also be a screening of "A Bronx Tale: The Original One Man Show" with an introduction by Chazz Palminteri; "Jackie Brown," followed by a conversation with Quentin Tarantino and De Niro; "Analyze This," followed by a conversation with Billy Crystal and De Niro, moderated by Whoopi Goldberg; and "Silver Linings Playbook" followed by a conversation with director David O. Russell. There will also be screenings of "New York, New York," "The Good Shepherd," "Goodfellas," "The Deer Hunter," "Meet The Parents," "The Godfather Part II," "Raging Bull" and Taxi Driver."
Crystal said De Niro "is an acting icon. He is one of my closest friends and working with him was one of the great experiences of my career. I’m really excited to honor him and his fantastic career this June."
