The Tribeca Film Festival has announced its discussions line-ups as part of the Tribeca Talks Series and Behind The Screens: Films and Conversations about Truth, Clarity and Responsibility.

Tribeca Talks Special Events will include a politics/Hollywood discussion after the world premiere of Poliwood, featuring director Barry Levinson and actors including Josh Lucas and Matthew Modine; and a chat with Spike Lee, Stew and co-composer Heidi Rodewald for Lee's film of the Broadway musical Passing Strange.

Behind The Screens, in its second year, will include discussions with The Burning Season director Cathy Henkel, film subject Dorjee Sun of Carbon Conservation and New York Times environmental correspondent Elisabeth Rosenthal; Transcendant Man's director Barry Ptoley and futurist/inventor Ray Kurzweil and science journalist Robert Krulwich. And a discussion following Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB will feature DJ Matt Pinfield, director Mandy Stein, Tommy Ramone of the Ramones, Chris Frantz of the Talking Heads, music journalist Legs McNeil and musician/club owner Jesse Malin.

The new Tribeca Talks Pen To Paper series, hosted by Barnes & Noble, will focus on screenwriting. Speakers will include screenwriters Julian Kemp, Dave Callaham, Brian Kippelman, David Levien, writer/directors Raymond De Felitta, Gloria LaMorte and Paola Mendoza, and Jac Schaeffer.

Tribeca Talks: After The Movie will include former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey and director Kirby Dick talking about closeted politicians documentary Outrage; Steven Soderbergh and stars Sasha Grey and Chris Santos discussing The Girlfriend Experience; Crayton Robey discussing Making The Boys with guests including Village Voice columnist Michael Musto; and Creation director Jon Ameil and National Center For Science Education's Dr. Eugenie Scott following a screening of Inherit The Wind.

Other panelists include Dan Klores, Barry Levinson, Barbara Kopple and Albert Maysles on The Big Time to the Big Screen: 30 Years of Sports Filmmaking; andAlex Gibney, Rose Troche and Gary Winick on The Future Of Independents.

The Tribeca Talks: Industry series will include a digital workflow discussion, new marketing and distribution strategies with 42West's Cynthia Swartz and YouTube's Sara Pollack, and digital vs. film with Damien Chazelle and Julio DePietro.

'The Tribeca Talks panel series has always been one of the Festival's most compelling programs, examining issues and trends in society and the entertainment industry with some of the biggest names in film, art and media,' said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. 'This year we are proud to provide increased opportunities for audiences to continue their exploration of films and topics after screenings with thought-provoking conversations featuring filmmakers, actors and thought leaders, as well as increase the number of free events open to the public with the new Barnes & Noble panel discussions.'

The 2009 TFF runs April 22-May 3. For full conversation and panel schedules, visit www.tribecafilm.com/festival.

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