Tribeca Film Fest comes to satisfying cl...

Tribeca Film Fest comes to satisfying cl...

Shelly (Aisling Loftus) and Donald Clarke (Thomas Brodie Sangster) in “Death of a Superhero”

Before the 11th annual Tribeca Film Festival began last week, cofounder Robert De Niro told the Daily News that he was proud of the way TFF has wound itself into the tapestry of the city. Thats a fair boast: while still relatively young, the festival has already begun to feel like a local institution.

Many of the grumblings that have dogged TFF since its inception can still be heard, particularly among critics used to more exact and esoteric programming at Sundance or Cannes or even the New York Film Festival. But and its a pleasure to be able to say this those complaints are no longer valid.

Its almost unheard of that a major film festival would actively resist definition. Sundance celebrates indie spirit. Cannes focuses on world cinema. Toronto is where you find your future Oscar winners. All are marketplaces designed for industry insiders who get high on buzz films that, often as not, flop in the real world.

In contrast, TFFs organizers have gone in the opposite direction: they want their festival to appeal to everyone. Buzz doesnt matter here; satisfaction does.

Undoubtedly, it took some time to settle into such a confident stance. But from the start, the founders have kept their ears open, accepting valid complaints and continuing to adjust to audienc e needs. Ticket prices have been lowered, venues made more convenient, films more carefully selected. As a result, they have now come closer than ever to achieving their goal: to make TFF a high-quality festival for the average New Yorker.

The key, of course, is understanding that theres no such thing as an average New Yorker. Our common bond is that we all have opposing interests, different tastes, and strong opinions. So how do you please us? By offering an unusually broad mix, carefully culled by experienced programmers like Geoff Gilmore (formerly of Sundance), Nancy Schafer (SXSW) and Frdric Boyer (Cannes).

Despite the many welcome changes, one of my favorite elements has existed since the start: the outdoor, drive-in movies. Free, open to all, and designed for wide appeal (The Goonies and Jaws were among this years picks), they are attended by thousands and represent the founders admirable commitment to communal inclusivity.

The impressive push for online content also free, in many cases is another example of mass outreach. TFFs organizers truly do believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate, in one way or another. (Well, almost everyone: The early years offered a greater emphasis on programs for children, and it would be wonderful to see the festival re-embrace family films with that level of enthusiasm again.)

Crucially, there are also plenty of worthy options for those who'd like to experience a traditional festival screening. This years standouts have ranged from the minutely intimate Korean documentary Planet of Snail to The Avengers, which is about to become the biggest film on the planet. As an unusually intelligent blockbuster, the latter was a savvy choice with which to close the week.

But its important to note that TFF didnt actually conclude with Saturdays flashy gala. It ends Sunday, with a final lineup that more aptly represents the festivals wide-ranging options. S ee the dark romance While We Were Here, and revel in Kate Bosworths increasingly interesting choices. Check out the effectively stark First Winter about hipster Brooklynites on a disastrous retreat if youre hoping to discover a tiny, offbeat indie. Shed some tears at the beautifully-acted adolescent drama Death of a Superhero. Or help yourself to the official best of the fest: all of this years award winners will be screening Sunday, too.

You wont find every film to be memorable; even the most established festival has its share of duds. But sifting for treasure is part of the fun. As TFFs founders have surely learned over the last decade, the risks are always worth taking when the rewards are so great.