Tribeca Bosses Stand By Transgender Comedy

Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives, about a group of transgender women who seek revenge after being beaten up, is due to be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in April (10).

Its inclusion has angered members of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), who are offended by the use of the word "trannies" and claim the film wrongly represents transgender females.

But festival executives have refused to bow to pressure from GLAAD and are sticking by plans to show director Israel Luna's film at the upcoming event.

In a statement, bosses say the Tribeca board of directors is "proud of its ongoing commitment to bring diverse voices and stories to its audiences".

The festival was founded by De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2002 in a bid to rejuvenate downtown Manhattan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

This year's (10) event kicks off with the world premiere of Shrek Forever After on 21 April and runs until 2 May.