TRIBECA FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2021 JURY COMPETITION AND ART AWARD WINNERSThe Novice, Brighton 4th, and Ascension Take Top Honors in U.S. Narrative, International Narrative and Documentary Competitions
Chanel James and Taylor Garron Receive the Nora Ephorn Award for As of Yet
First-Ever Winners for New Award Categories: Geography of Robots Receives Tribeca Games Award; Vermont Ave. and Guardians of the River Honored for Podcasts
NEW YORK, NY- June 17, 2021 - The 20th annual Tribeca Festival, presented by AT&T, announced the winning storytellers in its competition categories at this year's awards ceremony today at Spring Studios. Awards were given in the following competition categories: U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, Documentary; Short Films, Immersive, the Nora Ephron Award, and the first-ever Podcast and Games categories. For the first time ever, Italian eyewear brand, Persol, presented the award to the 2021 Best Actor, U.S. Narrative recipient.
The awards ceremony honored the most diverse line-up of creators in Tribecas 20 year history and awarded $165,000 in cash prizes. The Festival, which had the honor of welcoming back in-person audiences, concludes on June 20th.
The top honors for feature films went to The Novice, Brighton 4th, and Ascension.
Chanel James and Taylor Garron won the Nora Ephron Award and a $25,000 prize for As of Yet. The award, created nine years ago, honors excellence in storytelling by a female writer or director embodying the spirit and boldness of the late filmmaker.
Tribeca honored innovation in storytelling with its Storyscapes Award, which went to Felix Gaedtke and Gayatri Parameswaran for Kusunda.
The inaugural Tribeca Podcast honors for the Non-Fiction Narrative Award went to Guardians of the River, and the Fiction Narrative Award went to Vermont Ave.
In the Games category, the first-ever Tribeca Games Award was given to Norco, created by Geography of Robots and published by Raw Fury.
It's been a challenging time for filmmakers, storytellers, and actors, and we're so proud to honor the perseverance and dedication many of them displayed while working through the many obstacles that arose as a result of COVID-19, said Cara Cusumano, Festival Director and Vice President of Programming. Each of these recipients truly embody the spirit of our creative community.
A special Virtual Award Winner Screenings series will be available for U.S. audiences via Tribeca at Home on Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20. Tickets can be purchased at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets
In addition to cash awards and in-kind services provided by sponsors, some award winners received the unique Tribeca Festival Art Award. Supported by CHANEL, the world-class artists donated work to honored filmmakers.
The winners of the Audience Awards, powered by AT&T, which are determined by audience votes throughout the Festival, will be announced next week.
The winners, awards, and comments from the jury who selected the recipients are as follows:
U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION
The Jurors for the 2021 U.S. Narrative Competition were Ana Lily Amirpour, Derek Cianfrance, Bryan Cranston, Andre Holland, and Erica Huggins.
The Founders Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature Film: The Novice, directed and written by Lauren Hadaway. Produced by Ryan Hawkins, Kari Hollend, Steven Sims, Zack Zucker.
Art Award: Meghan Boody's Opening Night, 2019 C Print Face Mounted to Mat Plexiglass and Back Mounted to White Plexiglass
Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film: Isabelle Furman, The Novice, directed and written by Lauren Hadaway. Produced by Ryan Hawkins, Kari Hollend, Steven Sims, Zack Zucker.
Special Jury Mention: Kali Reis, for her magnetic performance in Catch The Fair One. She kept audiences on the edge of their seats with her strength and vulnerability in a performance that always felt deeply honest.
Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film: Matthew Leone, God's Waiting Room, directed and written by Tyler Riggs. Produced by Tyler Riggs, Suvi Riggs.
Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film: Todd Martin, The Novice, directed and written by Lauren Hadaway. Produced by Ryan Hawkins, Kari Hollend, Steven Sims, Zack Zucker. Best Screenplay in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film: Hannah Marks, Mark, Mary, and Some Other People, directed and written by Hannah Marks. Produced by Hannah Marks, Pete Williams, Jon Lullo, Brendan Walter, Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams, Stephen Braun.
Special Jury Prize for Artistic Expression: Director Nana Mensah, Queen of Glory, for opening audiences up to an intimate and personal story, exploring cultural identity and family, with delicate nuance and humor and heart.
INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE COMPETITION
The Jurors for the 2021 International Narrative Competition were Lesli Klainberg, Melissa Leo, Delroy Lindo, Alexander Payne, and Peter Scarlet.
Best International Narrative Feature Film: Brighton 4th, directed by Levan Koguashvili, written by Boris Frumin. Produced by Irakli Rodonaya, Olena Yershova, Michel Merkt, Kateryna Merkt.
Art Award: Gus Van Sant's Devil in Hell, 2021 Encaustic on Paper
Best Actress in an International Narrative Feature Film: Bassant Ahmed & Basmala Elghaiesh, Souad, directed by Ayten Amin, written by Mahmoud Ezzat, Ayten Amin. Produced by Sameh Awad.
Best Actor in an International Narrative Feature Film: Levan Tediashvili, Brighton 4th, directed by Levan Koguashvili, written by Boris Frumin, Levan Koguashvili. Produced by Irakli Rodonaya, Olena Yershova, Michel Merkt, Kateryna Merkt.
Best Cinematography in an International Narrative Feature Film: Elisabeth Vogler, Roaring 20's, directed by Elisabeth Vogler, written by Fran ois Mark, Elisabeth Vogler, No mie Schmidt, Joris Avodo. Produced by Laurent Rochette.
Best Screenplay in an International Narrative Feature Film: Bo
