Isabella Rossellini's directorial debut, Green Porno, makes science sexy -- but that wasn't her intention. "My goal is not to educate people," she said. "It's to make them laugh."

Last night as part of her Filmmaker Talk at the Tribeca Film Festival, Rossellini screened episodes of her short film series, in which she appears dressed as a giant insect in each one in order to illustrate how they mate.

 "I didn't even think -- Oh, I'm a female, I can only play a female spider. It was just so far out, I didn't think I had to respect gender," said Rossellini about casting herself against type. "I'm a ham... I'm going to play male when I can because it was just the extra little laugh."

Continue reading "The Tribeca Film Festival - Isabella Rossellini Makes Science Sexy in Green Porno" »

•Is it time for a fiesta? Variety's Dave McNary reports that Filmax has acquired international sales rights and theatrical rights for Spain to Simon Brand's immigrant drama Paraiso Travel, while John Hopewell delivers news that IFC has picked up North American rights to the Spanish-language film Fermat's Room.

•Melvin Van Peebles tells Variety that the plot of his film Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha is all in the title.

•Alissa Simon says the William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines vehicle Bart Got A Room is a refreshingly PG take on coming-of-age films like Superbad.

For more exclusive Tribeca news, check out Variety's Festival Central.