The 10th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival opens this evening with a free world premiere screening of the Cameron Crowe documentary THE UNION, about the album collaboration between iconic musicians Elton John and Leon Russell. The film will be screened on a first come, first serve basis tonight at the North Cove at the World Financial Plaza, just yards away from Ground Zero. Elton John, Leon Russell and the band they assembled for the album will perform live immediately after the screening.

 Crowe, whose is also working on a Pearl Jam documentary, began shooting the "Union" doc in late 2009 to follow the collaboration between John, Russell and producer T-Bone Burnett. The film incorporates appearances by fellow album contributors including Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Booker T. Jones and lyricist Bernie Taupin. 

Although open to the public, the free screening will require a festival wristband for entry. Wristbands will be distributed to the public on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 4:00pm at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center. There will be a limit of two wristbands per person. More details are available at: www.tribecafilm.com

  Jane Rosenthal, one of the founders of the Tribeca Film Festival, called the screening a "special opportunity" to mark the 10th anniversary in a 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.”

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Circuit Editor