Robert De Niro Convention in New York to Feature Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and More
You talkin’ about him? A multi-day festival celebrating Robert De Niro‘s 80 years on earth will hit New York this spring. The event, fittingly dubbed De Niro Con, will take place at New York City’s Spring Studios from June 14 – 16 and will feature screenings of 13 De Niro flicks, interviews with his many collaborators, an exhibit of items from his archives, the premiere of a short film, De Niro, New York, and other events. The celebration will wrap this year’s annual Tribeca Film Festival, which De Niro co-founded in 2002.
The films that will be screened include many of De Niro’s most beloved films — Raging Bull, The Deer Hunter, GoodFellas, Taxi Driver, The Godfather Part II, and Meet the Parents, among others — as well as the world premiere of A Bronx Tale: The Original One Man Show, which finds Chazz Palminteri portraying all 18 characters from the movie De Niro directed.
The centerpiece of the festivities is a 50th-anniversary screening of Mean Streets, which will include a post-movie conversation with De Niro and filmmaker Martin Scorsese moderated by Nas. Additionally, Quentin Tarantino will speak with De Niro after Jackie Brown, Billy Crystal will chat with him after Analyze This (moderated by Whoopi Goldberg), David O. Russell will make an appearance after Silver Linings Playbook, John Turturo will introduce The Good Shepherd, Christopher Walken will introduce The Deer Hunter, and GoodFellas screenwriter Nicholas Pillegi will discuss the film, among other special events. Full details are on the Tribeca Film Festival website.
“Robert De Niro is an acting icon,” Billy Crystal said in a statement. “He is one of my closest friends and working with him was one of the great experiences of my career. I’m really excited to honor him and his fantastic career this June.”
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 80 years of Robert De Niro, my dear friend and co-conspirator for the past 35 years, than by throwing a big bash for his fellow New Yorkers,” Tribeca co-founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal said. “From conversations with legends like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and David O. Russell to fan experiences, it is going to be a truly historic weekend as we pay tribute to a great talent.”
The convention’s exhibit, De Niro Is an Icon: An Exhibit & Immersive Film, will display 300 items from the storied actor’s archives. These include photos, scripts, costumes, storyboards, and other research materials. The short film, De Niro, New York, will blend together the actor’s many characters from 40 films.
The event will also include a De Niro trivia night, a De Niro Hero Sandwich Competition (in which bodegas battle for the best De Niro sandwich), and digital activations. There will also be panel discussions about De Niro’s endeavors in the restaurant business, his costumes, and other topics.
One event not planned: A get-together of all the De Niros from Neighbors. But there’s still time.