Tribeca Film Festival opens with doc on 'Saturday Night Live' original Gilda Radner

Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, Lorne Michaels turn out for world premiere of Love, Gilda

The marquee of the Beacon Theatre, site of the Tribeca Film Festival opening night premiere of "Love, Gilda." Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

The 17th Tribeca Film Festival is officially underway, the event once again kicking off with the world premiere of a prominent documentary feature.

Tribeca co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal joined an array of stars at the Beacon Theatre Wednesday night to see Love, Gilda, about beloved comedian and Saturday Night Live original cast member Gilda Radner. SNL producer Lorne Michaels turned out for the premiere, along with several of Gilda's co-stars from the show's earliest days including Chevy Chase and Laraine Newman. Paul Shaffer, part of SNL's original house band, also came by. Tina Fey, one of Radner's successors on the show, introduced the documentary, which was directed by Lisa D'Apolito.
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She was so authentically herself and so regular, in so many ways.

--Tina Fey, introducing the world premiere of Love, Gilda

“She was so authentically herself and so regular, in so many ways,” Fey said of Radner. Referring to future comedians who watched Gilda growing up, she noted, “She was who she was on the TV. We all saw that and were like: ‘I want to do that, and it’s possible.’ It was an early example to me of how important representation is for everyone from every walk of life. Gilda was our equivalent of Michelle Obama."

D'Apolito gained access to home movies, audio recordings and Radner's journals for the film, creating a portrait of a complex performer who earned enormous success and created indelible characters but who struggled with body image and an eating disorder. Ovarian cancer would claim Radner's life in 1989 when she was just 42. 

​Tribeca programmer Dan Hunt calls Love, Gilda "a touching tribute to and a fascinating contemplation of the comedian’s enduring cultural impact."

Tina Fey at the world premiere of "Love, Gilda," on the opening night of Tribeca. Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Director Lisa D'Apolito at the world premiere of her film "Love, Gilda," on the opening night of Tribeca. Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

"Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels at the world premiere of "Love, Gilda," on the opening night of Tribeca. Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Billy Crystal at the world premiere of "Love, Gilda," on the opening night of Tribeca. Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Chevy Chase at the world premiere of "Love, Gilda," on the opening night of Tribeca. Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Paul Shaffer at the world premiere of "Love, Gilda," on the opening night of Tribeca. Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Tribeca co-founder Robert De Niro attends the festival's opening night film, "Love, Gilda." Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Laraine Newman at the world premiere of "Love, Gilda," on the opening night of Tribeca. Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Tribeca co-founder Jane Rosenthal flexes at the festival's opening night event, the world premiere of "Love, Gilda." Photo credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival