Organisers behind the thirdannual Tribeca Film Festival have confirmed that Working Titles' live-actionversion of Thunderbirds willreceive its world premiere at the New York City event in May.

A spokesperson for thepicture's US distributor Universal Pictures neither confirmed nor denied thepremiere status, adding that it was conceivable there may be a public viewingbefore Tribeca. Thunderbirds isdue to open in the US on Aug 6.

Based on Gerry Anderson's1960s animated UK television series, the picture stars Bill Paxton as the headof International Rescue Bill Tracy and is directed by Jonathan Frakes, whosecredits include Star Trek: Insurrection and Clockstoppers. BenKingsley and Anthony Edwards also star.

Other festival highlightsinclude the first look at DreamWorks' upcoming animated picture Shark Tale, featuring the voices of Tribeca co-founder RobertDe Niro and Will Smith and due to open on Oct 1, and the New York premiere ofJim Jarmusch's series of vignettes Coffee & Cigarettes, which UA will release on May 14.

The third Tribeca FilmFestival runs from May 1-9 and will also include on-stage interviews withMartin Scorsese and Oscar-winning The Lord Of The Rings composer Howard Shore, as well as the launch of acultural exchange programme with South Africa.