Woody Allen's 'Whatever' opening Tribeca

Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood star in director's latest

By Gregg Kilday

Woody Allen's "Whatever Works" will open the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.

Allen's latest film, and the first that he has filmed in New York in four years, will raise the curtain on the fest on April 22.

"Works," starring Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr., will be released by Sony Pictures Classics in the summer.

"I fell in love with New York through Woody Allen's movies, and I am excited we are opening this year's festival with Sony Pictures Classics for the world premiere of Woody's 'Whatever Works,' " Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal said. " 'Whatever Works' is a uniquely funny addition to his body of work."

Allen called his film's selection "a lovely idea ... showing my film in a film festival in my own city. It's very exciting."

The fest is set to run April 22-May 3.

Freida Pinto Teams Up With Woody Allen

By Katey Rich:
Freida Pinto may have only had to stand around and look pretty in Slumdog Millionaire, but she's taking that questionable talent to the bank. She's now signed on for her post-Slumdog role, playing the ingenue in Woody Allen's untitled new project, which shoots in London this spring.

She's signing on along with Naomi Watts, according to Variety, and they'll both be joining Anthony Hopkins and Josh Brolin in the film. As usual with Woody Allen, we have no idea what the movie is about yet. But you have to wonder if Scarlett Johansson is pissed having been replaced by Pinto, the next next big thing to get her start with Allen.