'Mistaken for Strangers,' starring The National, to open Tribeca Film Festival

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NEW YORK, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The rock music-themed documentary "Mistaken for Strangers" has been chosen to open New York's Tribeca Film Festival this spring, organizers said Thursday.

"Director Tom Berninger chronicles his experience on tour with his brother, The National's front man Matt Berninger, in this funny and affecting film," a synopsis said.

The movie's April 17 festival premiere will be followed by a special performance by The National.

"'Mistaken for Strangers' exemplifies the independent spirit and vitality that Tribeca is excited to showcase every year," Geoff Gilmore, the festival's chief creative officer, said in a statement. "We are thrilled to open with a film that embodies the journey of an independent filmmaker, and is at its core a highly personal and lighthearted story about brotherly love. It will be a great night of both indie film and music."

"We're really happy to premiere this movie at Tribeca, as New York has been home to us for these past 15 years," Matt Berninger said. "I was happy to give my brother whatever access he needed. I just didn't expect this movie to include shower scenes."

"When my brother asked me along on tour as a roadie, I thought I might as well bring a camera to film the experience," said Tom Berninger. "What started as a pretty modest tour documentary has, over the last 2 1/2 years, grown into something much more personal, and hopefully more entertaining. It's a huge thrill to be showing this movie at the Tribeca Film Festival."

The festival will run through April 28.