Spike Lee’s “Kobe” To Premiere at Tribeca

A scene from Spike Lee's "Kobe Doin' Work." Image courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival.

The Tribeca Film Festival has announced that Spike Lee’s basketball doc “Kobe Doin’ Work” will have its world premiere at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival as the gala premiere of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival. The premiere will take place on Saturday April 25, 2009.  The 2009 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will take place during the Tribeca Film Festival, April 22 through May 3, 2009 in lower Manhattan. You can view Tribeca’s lineup of feature films here and here.

“Kobe Doin’ Work brings together the legendary New York filmmaker Spike Lee and one of the biggest names in sports today, making it the perfect film for our Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival Gala,” said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival, in a statement.  “The Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival has become an eagerly anticipated staple of the Festival and we look forward to showing films that embody the passion and spirit of sports.”

The film examines NBA star Kobe Bryant. During last year’s playoffs, Lee and his cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, spent the day with the Los Angeles Lakers superstar. Following its Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival premiere, Kobe Doin’ Work will be televised May 16, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNHD.

“We are proud to kick off the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival with a documentary showcasing not only Spike Lee’s fervent love of basketball , but our collective commitment to great storytelling,” Keith Clinkscales, senior vice president ESPN content development and enterprises, said in a statement.  “‘Kobe Doin’ Work’ and the entire sports festival slate speak to the power of film and sports to inspire, motivate and transform.”

In its third year, the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival focuses on independent films about sports and competition. The previously announced titles that will screen as part of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival include Eric Bana’s “Love The Beast,” Jonathan Hock’s “Lost Son of Havana,” Erez Tadmor and Sharon Maymon’s “A Matter of Size,” Marshall Curry’s “Racing Dreams,” Carlos Cuaron’s “Rudo y cursi,” Mans Herngren’s “The Swimsuit Issue,” and Liz Mermin’s “Team Qatar.”

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On Saturday May 2, 2009, all 8 films will be screening at Tribeca Cinemas for the Tribeca/ ESPN Sports Film Festival Sportsday Marathon where diehard sports film enthusiasts can see up to five of the eight films in the program in one day. The following are the films featured in the 2009 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival. All titles have been previously announced in their respective sections as part of the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival film program. posted on March 17, 2009 |Share