By Maria Esteves – April 24, 2008

The Seventh Annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) 2008 Opening Press Conference, presented by American Express was held at the Borough of Manhattan Community College/Tribeca Performing Arts Center, New York, Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 10:00 am. TFF08 press conference speakers included New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York State Governor David Paterson, Chief Marketing Officer, John D. Hayes, American Express Company, Festival Co-founder Jane Rosenthal, Festival Artistic Director/Director Peter Scarlet, and Festival Juror Doug Liman, TFF. The conference announcements included the festival presentation of 120 feature films held in Tribeca and venues in New York City from April 23 - May 4, American Express additional five-year support commitment, and the TFF08 Jury.

TFF08 press conference showcased four premiere film trailers and filmmaker Q&A of PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL, directed by Gini Reticker; RAMCHAND PAKISTANI, directed by Mehreen Jabbar; WAR CHILD, directed by C. Karim Chrobog; BART GOT A ROOM, directed/written by Brian Hecker.

TFF08 Opening Press Conference, (from right-left), New York State
Governor David Paterson, TFF Co-founder, Jane Rosenthal, New York
City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Chief Marketing Officer John D. Hayes,
American Express Company.

TFF08 Opening Press Conference, New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, with Festival Artistic
Director/Director Peter Scarlet, TFF.

TFF08 Opening Press Conference, Chief Marketing
Officer John D. Hayes, American Express Company,
with Festival Artistic Director/Director Peter Scarlet, TFF.

TFF08 Opening Press Conference, Festival
Artistic Director/Director Peter Scarlet, TFF.

TFF08 Opening Press Conference, Festival Juror Doug Liman, Director,
at the podium with Festival Artistic Director/Director Peter Scarlet,
(right-end), Festival Co-founder, Craig Hatkoff, (left-end), TFF, and
Chief Marketing Officer John D. Hayes, American Express Company.