The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced the winners of its competition categories tonight at a ceremony hosted at the W Union Square in New York City. The Festival runs through May 1, 2011.

 

The world competition winners for narrative and documentary films were chosen from 12 narrative and 12 documentary features from 21 countries. Best New Director prizes were awarded for both narrative and documentary films, selected from all feature films by a first-time director throughout the program.  Awards were also given for the best narrative short, best documentary short and student visionary films in the short film competitions. This year's Festival included 93 features and 60 short films from 40 countries.

 

This year the Festival introduced new annual awards in the narrative competition for Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay, and in the documentary competition for Best Editing. Also announced at the awards were the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival feature and short film winners selected by the online audience. The winner of the Heineken Audience Award, determined by audience votes throughout the Festival, will be announced on April 30.

 

"It's wonderful to have reached our 10th edition and to be able to celebrate with all of these gifted filmmakers. We've been fortunate that as we have grown we have remained a place that welcomes a diverse range of stories told by compelling and exciting filmmakers," said Jane Rosenthal.  "We are truly honored that the community has supported the Festival all these years - the community of New York and the international film community." 

 

"We are truly pleased to have had such a great group of filmmakers at Tribeca," said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Festival. "Audiences and juries have responded so positively to the films and on behalf of the programming team I thank all our filmmakers for sharing their work with us and our audience."

 

Screenings of all winning films will take place throughout the final day of the Festival, May 1, at various venues. Specific times and ticketing information are available on the Festival website, http://www.tribecafilm.com/.

 

In addition to cash awards and in-kind services provided by sponsors including American Express, AKA Hotel Residences, Accenture, Persol, Apple, Company 3 and Kodak, the Festival presented the winners with original pieces of art created by seven acclaimed artists, including Robert De Niro Sr. and Nate Lowman.

 

Following are the jurors, the winners and their awards:

 

World NARRATIVE COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

 

The jurors for the 2011 World Narrative Competition were Souleymane Cissé, Scott Glenn, David Gordon Green, Rula Jebreal, Art Linson, Jason Sudeikis and Dianne Wiest.

 

• The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature - She Monkeys (Apflickorna), directed by Lisa Aschan, written by Josefine Adolfsson and Lisa Aschan (Sweden). Winner receives $25,000 and the art award "Anna Christie Entering the Bar, 1965-1967" by Robert De Niro Sr. Sponsored by AKA Hotel Residences. The award was given by Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro and Larry Korman from AKA Residences.

Jury Comments:  "Haunting, resonant, but never posed. Conventional shots become dangerous. With balanced storytelling that moves between danger and innocence, this film speaks of sex, adolescence, power, and ambition. It is original and authentic."

 

• Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film - Ramadhan "Shami" Bizimana as Yvan in Grey Matter (Matière Grise), directed and written by Kivu Ruhorahoza (Rwanda, Australia). Winner receives $2,500. The award was given by Rula Jebreal.

Jury Comments: "In a world shattered by genocide, this performance was so pure."

 

• Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film - Carice van Houten as Ingrid Jonker in Black Butterflies, directed by Paula van der Oest, written by Greg Latter (Germany, Netherlands, South Africa). Winner receives $2,500. The award was given by Rula Jebreal.

 

Jury Comments: "There are a million colors in this complicated performance. We award this honor for bravery and fragility, and for showing tremendous range and strength throughout."

• Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature Film - Luisa Tillinger, Artificial Paradises (Paraisos Artificiales) (Mexico).  Winner receives $5,000 and $50,000 in post production services provided by Company 3. The award was given by Rula Jebreal.

 

Jury Comments: "A beautiful portrait of landscape and emotion."

 

• Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature Film - Jannicke Systad Jabobsen, Turn Me On, Goddammit (Få meg på, for faen) (Norway). Winner receives $5,000. The award was given by Rula Jebreal.

 

Jury Comments: "This jury was unanimous. Hands-down this is the best screenplay."

BEST NEW NARRATIVE DIRECTOR:

The jurors for the 2011 Best New Narrative Director Competition were Paul Dano, Atom Egoyan, Zoe Kazan, Anna Kendrick, Rainn Wilson.

 

• Best New Narrative Director - Park Jungbum, writer and director of Journals of Musan (Musan Il-gi) (South Korea). Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by American Express; $50,000 in post production services provided by Company 3; and the art award "Double Happiness" by Nate Lowman. The award was given by Zoe Kazan and Jessica Igoe from American Express.

 

Jury Comments: "This film is an extraordinary study of an outcast, one that examines a complex journey with compassion and grace. The jury was unanimous in honoring this rare film, which is both emotionally arresting and an important social document. We are proud to commend this auspicious debut from an extremely talented filmmaker."

 

•o   Special Jury Mention - Kivu Ruhorahoza, writer and director of Grey Matter (Matière  Grise). The announcement was made by Anna Kendrick.

Jury Comments: "For its audacious and experimental approach, this film speaks of recent horrors and genocide with great originality. We wanted to give a special commendation to this filmmaker for his courage and vision."

 

World DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

The jurors for the 2011 World Documentary Competition were Amir Bar-Lev, Michael Cera, RJ Cutler, Abigail Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Louie Psihoyos and Peter Scarlet.

• Best Documentary Feature - Bombay Beach, directed by Alma Har'el (USA, Israel). Winner receives $25,000 and the art award "Nathans" by Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao. The award was given by Louie Psihoyos.

 

Jury Comments: "Our unanimous award for the film's beauty, lyricism, empathy and invention."

• Best Editing in a Documentary Feature - Purcell Carson, Semper Fi: Always Faithful (USA). Winner receives $5,000. The award was given by Amir Bar-Lev.

Jury Comments: "The film skillfully weaves journalistic investigation with emotional personal narrative."

BEST NEW DOCUMENTARY DIRECTOR COMPETITION:

The jurors for the 2011 World Documentary Competition were Margaret Bodde, Jared Cohen, J.D. Heyman, Lauren Hutton, Annie Sundberg.

• Best New Documentary Director - Pablo Croce for Like Water, (USA). Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by American Express; and the art award "Path to the Stage" by Inka Essenhigh. The award was given by Lauren Hutton and Jessica Igoe from American Express.

 

Jury Comments: "The film opens up a violent world in an unexpected way through its sensitive and seamless portrayal of its complex hero, ultimate fighter Anderson Silva."

 

• o Special Jury Mention - Michael Collins, director of Give Up Tomorrow (UK, USA). The announcement was made by Lauren Hutton.

 

Jury Comments: "A powerful work of investigative journalism. We honor the filmmakers six years of hard work in illustrating how a society can clash with justice, and the impact on an individual life. Everyone should see this film."

Short Film Competition Categories:

 

The 2011 Best Narrative Short Competition jurors were Nora Ephron, Ceci Kurzman, Denis Leary, Fran Lebowitz, David O. Russell, Paul Schneider and Jimmy Wales.

 

• Best Narrative Short - Man and Boy, directed by David Leon and Marcus McSweeney, written by David Leon and Rashid Rasaq (UK). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Persol; 5,000 feet of film stock donated by Kodak; and the art award "Gold Dust (Undeclared) by Taryn Simon. The award was given by Denis Leary and Victor Melendez from Persol.

 

Jury Comments: "The jury liked this film's marriage of brilliant acting, superb technical prowess, and provocative subject matter, and it's a movie memorable for upending expectations."

 

Special Jury Mention - The Terms, written and directed by Jason LaMotte (UK)

 

Jury Comments: "Dark, original and beautifully written."

 

The 2011 Best Documentary and Student Short Competition jurors were Ahmed Ahmed, Agnes Gund, Zoe Kravitz, Nicole Lapin, Lisa Shields, Christine Vachon and Patrick Wilson.

 

• Best Documentary Short - Incident in New Baghdad, written and directed by James Spione (US). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Persol; 5,000 feet of film stock donated Kodak; and the art award "Big Penny" by Tom Otterness. The award was given by Nicole Lapin and Victor Melendez from Persol.

 

Jury Comments: "The winner is a film that bravely explores the residual effects of experiencing trauma in war in a truthful and fearless manner. Using a mixture of archival and current material, this timely film is the story of one man's struggle to reconcile war, his place in it, and the legacy he will pass on to his children."

 

• o Special Jury Mention - Guru, written and directed by Jonathan VanBallenberghe (USA).

 

Jury Comments: "Congratulations to a film that started in one direction and ended up going in another. This unexpected journey was well crafted and followed a unique character for whom we were rooting."

• Student Visionary Award - Rooms, written and directed by Joanna Jurewicz (USA). Winner receives MacPro Desktop with Final Cut Pro and a 24-inch monitor provided by Apple; and the art award "Study: Northern City Renaissance (Mass MoCA #79N)" by Stephen Hannock. This award was also given by Ahmed Ahmed.

 

Jury Comments: "A simply told story with great depth that examines an average day in the life of an ordinary person living through other people. We applaud this director for her focus, attention to detail, and nuanced acting."

 

• o Special Jury Mention: Eva - Working Title, written and directed by Dor Fadlon (Israel)

 

Jury Comments: "Characterized by bold directorial choices, this film is a disturbing and intriguing story of an actor's struggle, and examines the price paid for realizing one's dreams. We congratulate this filmmaker for his ability to fully realize this story in a unique structure."

TRIBECA (ONLINE) FILM FESTIVAL CATEGORIES:

The 2011 Tribeca (Online) Film Festival winners were voted on by visitors to tribecafilm.com.

• Tribeca (Online) Film Festival Best Feature Film: Donor Unknown, directed and written by Jerry Rothwell (UK). Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by American Express, and the art award "Untitled" by Sarah Crowner. The award was given by Geoffrey Gilmore and Jessica Igoe from American Express.

 

• Tribeca (Online) Film Festival Best Short Film: Dungeon Master, directed by Shiloh & Rider Strong (UK). Winners receive $5,000, sponsored by Accenture. The award was given by Geoffrey Gilmore and Dr. Gavin Michael from Accenture.

Full List of Eligible 2011 TFF Films in Each Category of Competition:

 

World Narrative Feature Competition:

• Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature: 12 films
• Best Actress in a Narrative Feature: 12 actresses
• Best Actor in a Narrative Feature: 11 actors
• Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature: 12 films
• Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature: 12 films

 

World Documentary Feature Competition:

• Best Documentary Feature: 12 films
• Best Editing in a Documentary Film: 12 filmmakers

 

All feature sections, first time directors with films making their North American, International, or World Premiere

 

• Best New Narrative Director: directors selected from 17 films
• Best New Documentary Director: directors selected from 17 films

Short Films in Competition:

• Best Narrative Short: 35 films
• Best Documentary Short: 14 films
• Student Visionary Award: 10 films

For more information on all of the films in the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, please visit tribecafilm.com.

 

Tickets for 2011 Festival:

Tickets for the Festival will be $16.00 for evening and weekend screenings, and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings.

 

Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin for the general public on Monday, April 18, 2011. Single tickets can be purchased online at http://www.tribecafilm.com/, or by telephone, toll free, at (866) 941-FEST (3378), or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Tribeca Cinemas at 54 Varick Street, Chelsea Clearview Cinemas at 260 West 23rd Street, and AMC Village VII at 66 3rd Avenue. The 2011 Festival will continue ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only. Discounted ticket packages can only be purchased online and by phone. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at http://www.tribecafilm.com/.

 

About the Tribeca Film Festival:
Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture.

 

The Festival's mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. 

 

The Tribeca Festival has screened over 1100 films from over 80 countries since its first festival in 2002. Since its founding, it has attracted an international audience of more than 2.3 million attendees and has generated an estimated $600 million in economic activity for New York City.

  

About the 2011 Festival Sponsors:

As Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, American Express is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of filmmaking, bringing business and energy to New York City and offering Cardmembers and festivalgoers the opportunity to enjoy the best of storytelling through film.

 

The Festival is pleased to announce the return of its Signature Sponsors: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Apple, Bloomberg, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Brookfield, Caesars Atlantic City, Heineken USA, LG Electronics USA, NBC 4 New York, NCM Media Networks, New York Nonstop, RR Donnelley, Stolichnaya Vodka, The New York Times, Time Warner Cable, and Vanity Fair. The Tribeca Film Festival is also honored to welcome the following new Signature Sponsors: Accenture, Bing, Cadillac, Doha Film Institute, JetBlue Airways, and Magnum Ice Cream.