Love, Gilda has been announced as the Opening Night selection of the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.

The 17th installment of the Tribeca Film Festival will see the world premiere of Love, Gilda, on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.  CNN Films presents the feature length documentary– produced by 3 Faces Films in association with Motto Pictures–that offers a glance into the life of comedian Gilda Radner.  Before Radner was hired by Saturday Night Live, the comedian made her professional acting debut performing with the cast of Godspell in Toronto and was later hired by Second City and the National Lampoon Radio Hour.  Over 40 years later, Radner’s impact can still be felt today.

Directed and produced by Lisa D’Apolito with the support of the Gilda Radner estate, Love, Gilda, is the cinematic autobiography of the iconic woman in comedy, told in her own words and in her own voice.  The film weaves in audiotapes, rare home movies, diary entries, and interviews with her friends and those inspired by her including: Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Cecily Strong; SNL original cast members Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, and Paul Shaffer; as well as Lorne Michaels (SNL creator and producer), Alan Zweibel (SNL writer), Stephen Schwartz (Broadway composer); Andrew Alexander (CEO of Second City), and long-time friend and actor Martin Short.

An original cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1975-1980, Radner captivated audiences through her now classic comedic characters Roseanne Roseannadanna, Emily Litella, and Lisa Loopner.  These characters gave way to meteoric fame in television, movies, and on Broadway. It was only after Radner fell in love with Gene Wilder that she was diagnosed with cancer, leading to her tragic death in 1989.  Her legacy lives on through the work of Gilda’s Club.

“As a Festival that has always supported women’s voices and is largely run by women we are incredibly proud to celebrate the inimitable voice of Gilda during the opening night of our Festival,” said Jane Rosenthal, Co-Founder and CEO of the Tribeca Film Festival. “Gilda Radner was a powerful comedic force of nature who opened doors and thrilled audiences while becoming one of the most prolific comedians of a generation. Her cutting edge humor was only second to her dedicated leadership in cancer care with her eponymous Gilda’s Club.”

“Love, Gilda is the right film at the right time and the perfect way to open our Festival,” said Paula Weinstein, EVP of Tribeca Enterprises. “Gilda is a woman for the ages, an extraordinary talent in film, television, and theater who overcame her personal struggles to make us laugh, to make us cry. She understood the healing power of laughter not simply for her audience but in her own life as she struggled with cancer and lead the way for all of us to make the world a better place.”

“I fell in love with Gilda Radner while doing pro bono work at Gilda’s Club, the cancer support organization Gene Wilder founded in honor of Gilda, in Greenwich Village where I grew up,” fimmaker Lisa D’Apolito said.  “This started my journey to discover who Gilda was as a person and as a performer. Gilda inspired me and many other women with her remarkable spirit and unique talent that changed the world of comedy.  I’m grateful and honored to share the extraordinary legacy of Gilda Radner at the Tribeca Film Festival.”

Love, Gilda is produced by Bronwyn Berry, Meryl Goldsmith, and James Tumminia, with Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, Carolyn Hepburn (Motto Pictures), Alan and Robin Zweibel, Amy Entelis and Courtney Sexton (CNN Films) serving as executive producers.

Submarine is handling sales for the film.

The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival will announce the rest of the feature film slate on March 7.  Tickets for Opening Night go on sale on March 20 at www.tribecafilm.com/festival.