BABY MAMA 

Wednesday, April 23-----It is only right that a film festival that is so closely associated with New York open with a New York film. That is what happens this evening as the 7th Tribeca Film Festival opens its movie marathon with the World Premiere of BABY MAMA, written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Michael McCullers.

The feminist comedy, which will be released by Universal Pictures later this month, , brings together some of New York's sharpest talent, including actress/writer Tina Fey (30 ROCK) and Saturday Night Live regular Amy Poehler. The film is produced by Lorne Michaels, the man behind the long-running NBC late night variety series, and John Goldwyn.

“As a film festival with a true commitment to New York City and its film community, what better way to open this year’s festival than with a New York production that brings together some of the city’s most beloved and creative talent,” said Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal.  “The creators of this film, both in front of the camera and behind, have been making audiences laugh for years."

BABY MAMA  was almost entirely filmed in New York City and is the feature debut of former Saturday Night Live writer  Michael McCullers.  Joining Poehler and Fey in the cast are Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Romany Malco, Maura Tierney, Holland Taylor and Sigourney Weaver. 

The film is the story of successful and single businesswoman Kate Holbrook (Tina Fey), who has long put her career ahead of a personal life.  Now 37, she’s finally determined to have a kid on her own.  But her plan is thrown a curve ball after she discovers she has only a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant.  Undaunted, the driven Kate allows South Philly working girl Angie Ostrowiski (Amy Poehler) to become her unlikely surrogate. 

The film, which will be followed by a Gala Opening Night soiree sponsored by the Festival and distributor Universal Pictures, is a definite audience pleaser that gets the Festival started on a good-spirited note of humanism and humor. Stay tuned.

Sandy Mandelberger, Tribeca FF Dailies Editor