The Union to Open the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival

By Kristin McCracken | 0 Comments | March 02, 2011 02:15PM EST

Updated 4.20:
How-To: TFF 2011 Opening Night
Opening Night Rain Plan

Cameron Crowe's new documentary, chronicling the musical collaboration between Elton John and Leon Russell, will open the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival on April 20!

The Union: Elton John and Leon Russell

Elton John and Leon Russell from the The Union; photo credit: Joseph Guay

The first big piece of news about the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival has broken, and it’s a doozy. To open the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express®, we’ve assembled some serious talent: award-winning director Cameron Crowe, seminal rock keyboardist Leon Russell, and Elton John, with the latter performing live on April 20!

What do these three men have in common? Well, in 2009, Elton John teamed up with his longtime idol Russell to make an album called The Union, produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett. Director Crowe—himself an avid music fan, having explored the musician’s life in such classics as Almost Famous and Singles—decided to film their collaborative process, from writing through recording. The result is a documentary of the same name, the world premiere of which will be shown as the opening night film on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

"As a longtime fan of both artists, it was a pleasure to spend a year filming their collaboration,” said Cameron Crowe. “We can't wait to show it to one of the greatest audiences in the world, the Tribeca Film Festival.”

What’s more, with this year being the 10th edition of the Festival, opening night will be a free, outdoor screening—as a sincere thank-you to the New York City community for its ongoing support. After the film screens at the North Cove at the World Financial Plaza, the legendary Elton John will perform live for the audience. How cool is that?

“It’s a special opportunity to open our 10th Festival in this distinct and unique way—not only are we inviting the community to join us for the world premiere of Cameron Crowe’s film The Union, but to have Elton, whose music transcends generations, perform after is an extraordinary gift to our Festival and more specifically the downtown community,” said co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival Jane Rosenthal. “Cameron Crowe gives audiences unprecedented access into Elton John and Leon Russell’s artistic process in an emotional and realistic way.”

To us, it makes a lot of sense that the Festival would open with an examination of the artistic process, especially one so reliant on collaboration—that’s so much of what art is all about, whether you’re talking film or music. John’s lifelong lyricist Bernie Taupin, icons Neil Young and Brian Wilson, legendary R&B organist Booker T. Jones, and steel guitarist Robert Randolph all appear on the album, and the film includes cameos from Stevie Nicks and producer Don Was, who color the documentary with their love of making music.

"I'm absolutely thrilled that the documentary about 'The Union' will premiere opening night at the Tribeca Film Festival,” said Elton John.

Details will follow about how YOU can join us on opening night. We can’t wait to share The Union with you!

The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival will take place from April 20 to May 1. The feature film slate will be announced on March 7 and 14. Make sure you stay tuned for all the latest news:

Become a fan of Tribeca on Facebook.

Follow Tribeca Film Festival on Twitter.

Subscribe to the Tribeca Newsletter!