It takes several individuals and supportive institutions to forge a lasting TriBeCa Film Festival. In late 2000, Nicole Bartelme met with MTV, then Co-Chair Tom Freston, North Fork Bank and actor Robert De Niro’s partner, Tracy Neiporent of the TriBeCa Grill to gain sponsorship for the TriBeCa Film Festival. She launched the TriBeCa Film Festival’s web site on November 30th, 2001 as a response to the attacks on 9/11 to bring artists together, renewal to lower Manhattan. In January 2002 the site was removed, relaunched April 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Trina Wyatt and Robert De Niro creating the immersive film festival it is today.