Robert De Niro, producer Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded Tribeca Film Festival, in 2001 as a response to 9/11 and their desire to revitalize lower Manhattan after the World Trade Center attacks. Since then, the festival has blossomed into the mammoth 12-day beast it is today, with its films seen by 2.3 million filmgoers over its eight-year existence.

The 2010 edition of the Tribeca Film Festival has already begun, holding fort at various cinemas across Manhattan until its conclusion on May 2. Over 5000 film submissions have been whittled down to 496 screenings, representing films from 38 countries around the world.

In the mix and making his documentary directorial debut was rapper/actor Ice Cube. New York MOOKS Report was in the audience for the world premiere of his feature Straight Outta L.A, and Cube himself dropped in from the west coast for the occasion.

The 51-minute documentary explores the history of the American football team the LA Raiders and their influence on the burgeoning west coast gangsta rap scene in the 1980s. If you check out old photos of Cube’s group N.W.A. you’ll notice them wearing a lot of Raiders gear, with Eazy-E, Dr Dre, DJ Yella, MC Ren and Ice Cube all fans and adopters of the Raiders’ “our way or no way” pirate attitude.

As well as examining the history of the team, with interviews from players, including Marcus Allen and Howie Long, as well as the team’s owner himself, Al Davis, Cube delves into west coast rap’s point of view via-his friends Snoop Dogg and Ice-T. You can check out an excerpt of the documentary, which is part of ESPN’s 30 For 30 series, here.

For a full list of screenings and all official info on Tribeca Film Festival, visit tribecafilmfestival.com.



Tags: , , , , , , , , ,