The Tribeca Film Festival appears to have caught Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary fever with today’s announcement of their opening night film. Bao Nguyen’s Live From New York!, a documentary that explores SNL’s early years and follows its evolution into a comedy institution, will usher in the 14th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival, which runs April 15 to April 26.

Nguyen, who is a Tribeca alum and former New Yorker that currently resides in Saigon, Vietnam, was able to secure ‘SNL’ creator Lorne Michaels’ blessing for the project. Live From New York! is said to weave archival footage with stolen moments and exclusive commentary from show insiders. JL Pomeroy and longtime SNL costume designer Tom Broecker served as producers. Tickets for the opening night festivities will go sale March 23rd at tribecafilm.com/festival.

Tribeca Film Festival opens with a doc for the third year

This will mark the third year the festival has opened with a documentary. Mistaken for Strangers, a film (loosely) about indie rock band The National opened in 2013, and One9’s Time is Illmatic, which followed the rise of Queens, NY-born rapper NAS, kicked things off last year.

NBC 4 New York signs on as a sponsor

Absolutely picking up steam over the years, the Tribeca Film Festival was co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 following the attack on the World Trade Center. This year’s fest is presented by AT&T with other sponsors including Accenture, American Express, Bloomberg, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, BMCC, Brookfield Plaza, ESPN, IWC Schaffhausen, The Lincoln Motor Company, NCM Media Networks, The New York Times, Santander, United Airlines, VDKA6100 and newest addition, NBC 4 New York.

TFF 2015’s feature film slate is rumored to be coming the first week of March.

Photograph by Mary Ellen Matthews