De Niro is also being honoured for his contributions as a director, as a producer through his Tribeca Productions, and as a co-founder of the TribecaFilmFestival in New York.
And it's why Schwartz brought the movie to the TribecaFilmFestival last month--to build buzz, then find a buyer for the film who will ultimately get it distributed to theaters.
Although buyers often are distracted by the looming shadow of the Cannes FilmFestival, which begins May 16, "Tribeca is a good one to pay attention to, " said David Laub, who handles acquisitions for Oscilloscope Laboratories, a New York-based distributor that releases features and documentaries, often with a subcultural element.