American Express has invited us to cover the Tribeca Film Festival 2006. Needless to say we are honored - you will see more live blogging from the event as it unfolds in the next days and weeks across the network. Meanwhile an introduction into the festival itself.

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal in 2002 as a response to the 9/11 attacks. Fitting then, that the 2006 festival will open on April 25th with the world premiere of "United 93".

Written & directed by Paul Greengrass, "United 93" is the first feature film to explicitly deal with the events of 9/11. It follows the events on board United Airlines flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers and crew overpowered the hijackers. With a cast of unknown actors, and a script improvised around what we know happened, the film will play out in real time.

"The events of 9/11 had a massive effect on me, like everyone, and I wanted to use my position as a filmmaker to contribute something so they are not casually forgotten," said Greengrass. "United 93 tells one story of that morning and I hope that by showing the film at Tribeca, whose roots and inspiration grew in response to the devastation of 9/11, we will be reminded of the courage of all those on board."

The trailer for "Flight 93" (which can be seen here has already caused some controversy. In Los Angeles it apparently met with cries of "Too soon!" from the audience, and it was pulled from one AMC theater in New York following several complaints.

But those familiar with Greengrass' work will understand that he's not a sensationalist. He has experience depicting tragic historical events after directing the critically praised "Bloody Sunday and we can certainly expect his depiction of 9/11 in "United 93" to be less bombastic than Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center which is released later this year.

Most importantly, "United 93" was made with the full consent and co-operation of the victim's families. The Tribeca Film Festival world premiere will be exclusively for family members of United 93 victims and other 9/11 groups and organizations, as well as the filmmakers and festival founders. The film opens nationwide on April 28th.