AceShowbiz -

Robert De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival has picked "United 93" as the opening-night film on April 25. The drama flick, written and directed by Paul Greengrass, tells about the terrorist takeover of the airliner that crashed outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the heroic efforts of the passengers and crew on board.

Tribeca officials, furthermore, said that family members of those who were killed in the crash have been invited to attend the screening. As of the festival, it was first launched by De Niro in 2002 to help revitalize the Lower Manhattan district devastated by the terror attacks.

Speaking on the "United 93" selection as the festival opener, co-founder Jane Rosenthal remarked, "We are honored to showcase a film that portrays a story of bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who dedicated their lives that day aboard United Flight 93. ... 9/11 changed us, in indescribable personal ways, but also by forever altering our downtown community."