Spike Lee's Kobe doc to screen at Tribeca

NEW YORK, March 19 (UPI) -- Spike Lee's "Kobe Doin' Work" is scheduled to have its world premiere at the upcoming 2009 Tribeca Film Festival in New York, organizers said.

The premiere of the ESPN Films production is to take place April 25 in lower Manhattan at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, which is part of the larger Tribeca Film Festival.

"'Kobe Doin' Work' brings together the legendary New York filmmaker Spike Lee and one of the biggest names in sports today, making it the perfect film for our Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival Gala," Nancy Schafer, executive director of the Tribeca Film Festival, said in a statement. "The Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival has become an eagerly anticipated staple of the festival and we look forward to showing films that embody the passion and spirit of sports."

"Kobe Doin' Work" takes a look at NBA star Kobe Bryant and features the first score written by Grammy-winning musician Bruce Hornsby, as well as the original song "Levitate."

"During last year's playoffs, Lee and his cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, spent the day with the Los Angeles Lakers superstar," festival organizers said in a news release. "With unlimited access to Bryant before, during and after the game, the result is a definitive portrait of one of the sport's greatest athletes."

Following its Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival premiere, "Kobe Doin' Work" will be televised May 16 on ESPN/ESPNHD.