"An unknown error occurred while opening the project" :o

Can someone save me!?

I've been working on this project for weeks.  After working earlier today, I shut down the program, and opened again a few hours later.  When I tried to reopen, I received the above message.  I closed the program, restarted the computer and am still getting the same message.

When I went to the auto-saved files, none of the versions from today would open either (had a ton of options as auto-save was set to every 3min, because it kept crashing when using image turbulence filter).  There were no auto-saved files from any other time in the last week (super strange, as I've been working daily, and watching it save every 3min--- where are all of those versions? no idea).  The next most recent auto-save file prior to today is from over a week ago, so would be losing a lot of work.

I tried importing the project into a new blank project to no avail.

I'm working on a brand new MacBook Pro 13" 2.4 GHz Intel i7, using Sierra 10.12.3

Premiere version 2017.0.2 v11.0, Tanq  (it appears that I am all updated)

Not running other software, and have no third-party effects.

Not sure, but I don't think I'm using Mercury Playback unless it comes loaded automatically.

Source footage is all from an iPhone.  Not sure of file-type or details... not a tech wiz, sorry. 

Please do help me if you can... I'm dying!

Thank you!