The Sundancing of Tribeca

We realize this may not be a popular or particularly fair comparison. But lost in the hype surrounding this year’s 5th anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival, which kicked off yesterday, and its debut of the controversial United 93 is something that is perhaps endemic of all well-meaning festivals — music, film or otherwise: Commercialization, or, more accurately, mass appeal. Sundance, a festival that began as a celebration of independent, outside film, has become what a lot of people we talk to say is more about the scene than the films themselves.