By September 6, 2026 / 10:08 AM EDT / CBS News
Film legend Robert De Niro has been a fixture in Lower Manhattan for years, both living and working there. Reflecting on the area, he shared, “The East Side is another world to someone like me who’s Lower Manhattan.” For De Niro, the events of September 11, 2001, were deeply personal, as he described witnessing the attack while at a meeting in Midtown. Rather than heading to the airport for a planned flight to California, he returned downtown and watched the North Tower billowing smoke. “When the South Tower fell, I couldn’t believe it,” he added, confirming the event on CNN despite seeing it with his own eyes.
De Niro and correspondent Tracy Smith in Tribeca. CBS News
In the aftermath, De Niro saw his neighborhood transform into a ghost town. “The thing I remember most is the daily wetting down of the dust with sanitation water trucks to keep it under control,” he recalled. Lower Manhattan was blanketed in dust from Ground Zero, posing toxicity concerns for residents. De Niro taped his windows to avoid the toxic dust, which was indeed harmful. Photos from that time show ash-covered streets following the Twin Towers’ collapse.
Once the dust settled, De Niro and his business partner, producer Jane Rosenthal, sought ways to rejuvenate Lower Manhattan. Rosenthal expressed her initial fear, contemplating the future for her children. “But it’s also about how we can help,” she noted, considering that positive actions could result from their efforts. Although they had previously considered starting a film festival in Tribeca, 9/11 accelerated these plans.
By May 2002, only months after the attacks, the inaugural Tribeca Film Festival emerged, attracting large crowds and high-profile guests like Nelson Mandela. The event embodied hope and resilience, as De Niro stated, “It seemed like the right thing to do.” Rosenthal added, “It was about comforting neighbors and offering a future to look toward.” Over 150,000 attendees lined up for the festival’s debut, receiving exactly what they needed.
De Niro, determined and unwavering, never doubted the festival’s success. “I wasn’t thinking; I was just being,” he remembered, driven by instinct. Now, nearly 25 years later, Netflix premieres a documentary, ‘Tribeca 25,’ chronicling the festival’s history. Since its founding, the Tribeca Festival expanded beyond films to include concerts, filmmaker talks, panels, podcasts, virtual reality, and games, taking place across city venues.
Renowned for his passionate film roles, De Niro is equally fervent in political activism. At national “No Kings” rallies, he advocated for democratic values, urging attendees to move from protests to the ballot box. “We deserve a country without kings,” he declared.
The Tribeca Film Festival emerged from the 9/11 tragedy, and its founders continue to use art against perceived trauma in America. “We’re a festival born from war,” Rosenthal shared, targeting global audiences with the message: “We’re still here.” For De Niro, starting the festival was defiance against political climates, particularly the Trump administration. He criticized its actions, claiming they needed opposition to prevent further destruction.
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De Niro minimizes discussion of his contributions to Lower Manhattan’s recovery, believing the city speaks for itself. “I never feared it wouldn’t recover,” he confirmed, confident in the city’s revival.
In 25 years, the Tribeca Festival introduced thousands of films and generated substantial economic benefits for Lower Manhattan. It also launched directors like Ryan Coogler and Damien Chazelle, contributing significantly to the city’s recovery and cultural landscape. “I’m very proud of our accomplishments,” De Niro stated.
The festival’s uniqueness cannot be understated, and De Niro acknowledges its necessity. “Yes, we needed it,” he concluded.