Controversial 9/11 film premieres tonight in New York

A British director's controversial film about the September 11 attacks is set to premiere in New York tonight.

United 93 recounts the story of the plane that was hijacked and eventually crashed in rural Pennsylvania before it could reach hijackers' intended target, after its passengers and crew fought back in a bid to retake the aircraft.

Paul Greengrass's movie will open the Tribeca Film Festival, which was founded in 2002 by Hollywood star Robert De Niro to rejuvenate lower Manhattan in the wake of the atrocities the year before.

Earlier this year a New York cinema pulled the film's trailer, which includes real news footage of another hijacked plane crashing into the city's World Trade Centre, after it upset audience members.

It reportedly drew calls of ``Too soon!'' when it was shown in Los Angeles, and heated debate followed about whether the film was appropriate.

De Niro yesterday defended United 93's inclusion at the festival, describing it as a "very, very good movie".

Some 91 relatives of the 40 passengers and crew who perished on the United Airlines flight will be at the screening.