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"Founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, the Tribeca Film Festival is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. For 2011, the festival is ramping up its digital efforts and introducing the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival. \nThe Tribeca (Online) Film Festival aims to bring features and short films to audiences around the world and hopes to help redefine how we think about online film festivals. We had a chance to preview the new Tribeca (Online) website and speak with people at Tribeca about the digital and social media initiatives that will coincide with festival's film screenings.\nFestival of the Future\nTechnology has fundamentally changed the ways that films are made \u2014 not just with the advent of special effects but also by lowering the cost of equipment. Digital cameras and digital distribution has lowered the barriers to entry, not just for making films but also for getting those films to the public.\nFilm festivals continue to be an important outlet for filmmakers who want to showcase their works and seek audiences and investors. No longer just limited to physical film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca or SXSW, filmmakers can also target online audiences.\nMany of the major film festivals understand that an online component is going to become an important part of future festivals \u2014 and future films in general. For 2011, Tribeca is hoping to take its digital strategy to the next level by connecting audiences and filmmakers.\nThe Films\n\n\n\n\nLast year, Tribeca tested the digital waters by offering access to some of its films via digital platforms including the web and video on demand. For a set fee, users could get an all-access pass to various Tribeca features and shorts. Tribeca's chief creative officer, Geoffrey Gilmore, tells us that the initiative didn't go far enough. To really help rethink and redefine what an online film festival is required a different approach.\nRather than offering an \"online pass,\" users will be able to reserve free tickets for any of the six feature films that will be offered online via the new Tribeca (Online) Streaming Room. Films will have three to five screening windows and the number of \"seats\" per window will be limited \u2014 just like at the regular festival. Users can reserve a seat virtually at TribecaOnline.com. American Express card members can start reserving seats on April 12 and the general public will get access on April 18.\nEach window lasts 24 hours, meaning the user has the freedom to tune in to the film at the time that best suits their needs. Films can be viewed in a web browser or on the iPhone or iPad. Tribeca is using HTTP adaptive streaming, which means that the better quality the connection, the better the stream will look on an iPhone or iPad.\nThe feature films that will be screened via the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival include:\n\nDonor Unknown, directed by Jerry Rothwell (North American premiere)\nFlowers of Evil, directed by David Dusa\nMy Last Round, directed by Julio Jorquera\nNeon Flesh, directed by Paco Cabezas\nNew York Says Thank You, directed by Scott Rettberg (world premiere)\nRabies, directed by Aharon Keshales\n\nA larger collection of short films from 2011 and the past will also be available online. Viewers will be able to rate the films they watch online and the film that garners the highest rating will win a special $25,000 online feature film award and a $5,000 online short award.\nFilmmaker Feed, Tribeca Q&amp;A and other Social Initiatives\n\n\n\n\nThe online screenings are only one part of the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival. Festival goers online and off can take advantage of the revamped Tribeca website to engage in conversations with directors and Tribeca staff.\nThe Filmmaker Feed is Tribeca's way of letting festival goers connect with the filmmakers. Each filmmaker page includes the official trailer for their film, embedded Twitter and Facebook streams, and access to other links. Some filmmakers who have YouTube channels will be recording and publishing videos during the festival \u2014 these videos will show up directly on their filmmaker feed page.\nThe aggregation of social channels for a particular film or filmmaker is a nice touch by Tribeca, and the site presents the feed in a manner that is easy to follow and quick to load.\nTribeca Q&amp;A\nTribeca Q&amp;A, which launches today (March 21), is a way for online audience members to ask questions of filmmakers or Tribeca programmers while also engaging with the overall online community.\n\n\n\n\nUsers can submit their questions to the filmmakers or film experts and then vote on what questions they want to see answered. The top-rated questions will be submitted and answered by the panelists.\nThe panelists include Zach Braff, Brian Williams, Tribeca's Jane Rosenthal and Geoffrey Gilmore, Whoopi Goldberg and more. It's a great opportunity for online audiences to ask real questions of those in the industry.\nLive From ...\nTribeca will be live streaming certain events from the festival \u2014 including the opening press conference, the award show and the red carpet. The red carpet will be live streamed 24/7, which means users can tune in day or night to see how things look in New York City.\nTribeca is going to stream multiple panels from the festival as well, which really ads value to the overall online experience. Even regular festival attendees can't always attend panels, and having select panels available online is a treat.\nGood First Steps\nWe really like the plans and initiatives that Tribeca has in place for the 2011 film festival. Aggregating existing social channels and making films viewable on devices like the iPad help the experience fit more seamlessly into existing digital and social lifestyles.\nMoreover, by allowing the opportunities for film goers and filmmakers to connect and engage in conversations, there is a value add that extends to those attending the festival in person.\nGoing forward, we'd like to see more filmmakers embrace online screenings. It's scary to put a film online, sure, but it's also a great way to get buzz and word of mouth publicity. For filmmakers that are seeking distribution, going online and screening in person at a festival like Tribeca opens up a ton of opportunities that might not otherwise be available.\nWe would love to see more film panels and Q&amp;A sessions live streamed to the site. Likewise, it would be great if the Q&amp;A could take place as a more real-time event in the future. Going through a selection process makes sense, but the best conversations tend to happen in the moment.\nWhat do you think of the way Tribeca is approaching the digital space? Would you like to participate in an online film festival as a viewer or filmmaker? Let us know.\nInterested in more Media resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics. \nImage courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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