The 14th Tribeca Film Festival will open in a few weeks, with big names like James Franco, Richard Gere, Katie Holmes and even Arnold Schwarzenegger expected to attend the event.

The festival was founded in 2002 in response to the 2001 attacks on The World Trade Center.

The festival founder Robert De Niro says its a way to help revitalize Lower Manhattan which was devastated by the falling towers.

"That's the reason we started it, so it' was essential. It has evolved over the years, obviously to what it is, and it will evolve into whatever it will become later on. Things are changing so much," De Niro said.

The Tribeca Film Festival kicks off on April 15 with "Live From New York," a documentary on the Emmy Award-winning comedy show Saturday Night Live.

The festival will see performances by Mary J. Blige, ballerina Misty Copeland and tap dancer Savion Glover, who will celebrate the life of Frank Sinatra with a concert following the screening of his latest biopic "On the Town."

The festival also features former CIA spy Valerie Plame and "We Steal Secrets" director Alex Gibney, who will join a panel on secrecy and power.

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