Opening this year's Tribeca Film Festival will be a Saturday Night Live documentary called "Live From New York!". The film is being directed by Bao Nguyen. It's quite fitting, seeing as how SNL is in the midst of celebrating its 40th anniversary, which NBC will air a special episode of on Sunday, February 15. There are a ton of SNL stars appearing for the episode, including Eddie Murphy, Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, Chevy Chase, Adam Sandler, Derek Jeter, Will Ferrell, Dan Aykroyd, Kristen Wiig, and OMG BILL MURRAY!
From the documentary's website:
Saturday Night Live has been reflecting and influencing the American Story for 40 years. Live From New York! explores the show’s early years, an experiment from a young Lorne Michaels and his cast of unknowns, and follows its evolution into a comedy institution. The film looks at SNL as a living time capsule, encompassing decades of American politics, media, tragedy, and popular culture with an irreverent edge.
Archival footage is interwoven with stolen moments and exclusive commentary from SNL legends, journalists, hosts, musical guests, crew and others influenced by the comedy giant.
Live From New York! captures what has enabled SNL to continually refresh itself over nearly 800 episodes and keep America laughing for 40 years.
Producer Lorne Michaels said about the documentary, "After 40 years, the timing just felt right."
Robert De Niro, who has hosted SNL several times and is a Tribeca Film Festival co-found, said in a statement, "The selection of 'Live from New York!' to open the 14th Tribeca Film Festival is personally gratifying to me on several level. Having hosted SNL three times, and guested on several occasions, I speak from a first-hand experience about 'SNLs' rightful place in our culture as well as a welcome addition to our Festival."
The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 15 to April 26. Live From New York! will show on April 15.
