NEW YORK, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a star-studded red-carpet scene and the paparazzi are in full-force during the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF): photographers struggle to get the best shots that will appear online and in print,  camera crews reach over the red carpet rope to get full-body shots of the best-dressed actors and reporters scramble to interview filmmakers and producers.

But this isn't your typical red carpet scene. The Tribeca Kids Access, a group of elementary and middle school students from the neighborhood, and The Art Institute of New York City Digital Filmmaking & Video Production students are collaborating, now for the eighth year, to document one of the nation's most prestigious film festivals.

As established and budding filmmakers and actors make their way to Festival events, the Tribeca Kids Access reporters are interviewing and asking them the tough questions, and Digital Filmmaking & Video Production students from The Art Institute of New York City are behind the cameras capturing their responses.

A team of 22 students will film select TFF events during the 12-day festival (April 20 – May 1) under the experienced leadership of producer/project manager and The Art Institute of New York City graduate Len Carter.  

"I can recall being in their shoes not so long ago which is why I enjoy being able to come back and help guide the new crop of students," said Carter, owner and executive producer of Phoenix Entertainment & Media Communications. "This is an experience of a lifetime for these students."

The Art Institute students will film premieres, seminars and the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair, providing the edited footage to the Festival as quickly as possible. They will have the educational experience of editing the footage under a tight deadline to fulfill the "client's" requirements. Some of the footage may even be provided to media outlets by the Festival.

"Working behind the scenes at the Tribeca Film Festival in such a capacity is an excellent, hands-on learning experience for the students. They get to apply what they've learned in class alongside seasoned industry professionals," said Tad Graham-Handley, president of The Art Institute of New York City.

"It's great to be able to provide this unique experience to the Tribeca Kids Access program," said Peter Downing, Creative Director and Producer of the Tribeca Family Festival. "The student camera crews and personnel from The Art Institute of New York City have continuously provided terrific coverage of our events, and we are pleased to welcome them back this year.  We look forward to seeing the results of their hard work."

To learn more about The Art Institute of New York City, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/newyork.  

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 45 education institutions located throughout North America. The Art Institutes system is America's Leader in Creative Education providing an important source for design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University.

SOURCE The Art Institutes