By Maria Esteves – April 19, 2012

The 11th Annual 2012 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF 2012) presented by founding partner American Express Opening Day Press Conference Breakfast was held at the 92Y Tribeca, New York, Wednesday, April 18, 10:00 AM. TFF speakers who officially opened the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival included Chief Creative Officer Geoffrey Gilmore, Tribeca Enterprises; artistic director Frederic Boyer, and director of programming Genna Terranova, moderated by executive director Nancy Schafer. Questions posed to TFF programmers by international members of the press included “What is a competition film? What is this year’s festival theme? How many films were submitted? Are you allowed to have personal favorites? In what direction will TFF go?”

TFF 2012 held April 18 - 29, presents 106 features and 66 short films, panel discussions, special events, online screenings, real time video streaming, filmmakers and industry galas, and free events (Tribeca Drive-In, Family Festival Street Fair, Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, Tribeca Soccer Day). This year’s 39 festival jurors include Academy Award-Winning Producer/Director Irwin Winkler (Jury President), Patricia Clarkson, Hugh Dancy, Rosario Dawson, Dakota Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Susannah Grant, Kellan Lutz, Michael Moore, Mike Newell, Brett Ratner, Susan Sarandon, Olivia Wilde, and Shailene Woodley.

TFF2012 Opening Press Conference: (from right-left), TFF new programming team chief creative officer Geoffrey Gilmore, Tribeca Enterprises, executive director Nancy Schafer, artistic director Frederic Boyer, and director of programming Genna Terranova.

TFF2012 Opening Press Conference: (from right-left), speakers executive director Nancy Schafer, director of programming Genna Terranova, chief creative officer Geoffrey Gilmore, Tribeca Enterprises, and artistic director Frederic Boyer.

TFF2012 Opening Press Conference: speakers director of programming Genna Terranova, TFF, right, and chief creative officer Geoffrey Gilmore, Tribeca Enterprises.