NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ By Tiffany Shipp/ Sunshine, Sachs & Associates) - The Tribeca Film Festival today announced that the first screening of the documentary, Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful will play as a work in progress screening at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by founding sponsor American Express.
Directed by filmmaker and photographer Phil Griffin and produced by Academy Award-and Emmy-winning producers @radical.media, the documentary was filmed on the road and behind the scenes with the band during their 2008 Lost Highway World Tour, which famously came to a close with a historic concert in New York City's Central Park and two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden. At the height of their success-with a number one album and a number one tour-and celebrating huge milestones, Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful susses out the secrets behind this legendary band's determined and charismatic leader Jon Bon Jovi, and band members Richie Sambora, David Bryan, and Tico Torres. The screening will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 9:30pm at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, with two additional screenings on Thursday, April 30, and Saturday, May 2, 2009; the Festival will run from April 22 through May 3.
"Nothing says rock 'n' roll more than Bon Jovi," said Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal. "This compelling documentary gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of one of the great rock bands and unveils how they have stayed on top for the past 25 years. Jon has been a stalwart supporter and remarkable friend to our Festival, making it incredibly exciting to premier the Bon Jovi Story at Tribeca."
"Throughout the process of working with Bon Jovi, I was amazed at the candor and humility Jon and his band showed me," said director Phil Griffin. "The result is not a neatly wrapped up bundle of staged interviews and musical interludes, but rather a series of open and sometimes difficult conversations, explored against a backdrop of music spanning 25 years. It is a film about the peace of Tico, the complexity of Richie, the drive of Jon and the brutal honesty of Dave. It is their willingness to share their stories that gives us what I hope is a very human story-that humanity is what I believe has seen this band stand the test of time."
Threading intimate band-member interviews with scenes of life on the road, director Phil Griffin's documentary vividly portrays how the band made it through the rough patches, how they reach consensus on their priorities, and how Jon leads them with strength and compassion. Avid Bon Jovi fans will find plenty of new reasons to be so devoted, but anyone can revel in this exploration of the work that goes into the success and longevity of this band's magnitude.
Bon Jovi has set the bar for more than two decades as one of the most successful rock bands in the world, and was 2008's top touring act in the world, coming in at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Tour chart. Globally, they have sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. Band members have long been known for their philanthropic activities, and, additionally, Jon Bon Jovi established a philanthropic organization, The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing about positive change and helping the lives of those in need one soul at a time.
Tickets are on sale for American Express Cardmembers on April 14, 2009, for downtown residents on April 19, 2009, and for the general public on April 20, 2009. Tickets can also be obtained through ticket package selection fulfillment, packages are currently on sale.
Ticket/Package Dates and Purchase Information
Advance selection ticket packages are currently on sale. All advance packages can be purchased online at www.tribecafilm.com/festiva or by telephone, toll free, at (866) 941-FEST (3378).
Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin for American Express Cardmembers on April 14, 2009, for downtown residents on April 19, 2009, and for the general public on April 20, 2009. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets located at the Tribeca Cinemas Ticket Window at 54 Varick Street, and the AMC Village VII Ticket Window at 66 Third Avenue. Downtown residents can only purchase tickets with a discount at the Tribeca Cinemas ticket window. Discounted packages can only be purchased online and by phone. The 2009 Festival will continue ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com/festival
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About the Tribeca Film Festival
Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, New York City to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture. The Festival's mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center.
Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. The Tribeca Festival has screened over 1100 films from over 80 countries since its first festival in 2002. Since its founding, it has attracted an international audience of more than two million attendees and has generated over $530 million in economic activity for New York City.
About the 2009 Festival Sponsors
As Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, American Express is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of film making, bringing business and energy to New York City and offering benefits that enhance the festival-going experience.
The Festival is pleased to announce the return of its Signature Sponsors: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Apple, Bloomberg, Brookfield Properties, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Delta Air Lines, iShares, NBC 4 New York, RR Donnelley, Snapple, The New York Times, Telemundo 47 and Vanity Fair.
The Tribeca Film Festival is also honored to welcome the following new Signature Sponsors: AMC, DIRECTV and Heineken.
Film stills for the 2009 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.
