Friday, May 4-------The 6th annual Tribeca Film Festival, announced its jury awards at a gala dinner last evening at Jing Fong restaurant in New York's fabled Chinatown. The World Competition winners were chosen from 18 narrative and 16 documentary features from 25 countries. Two awards were also given to honor New York films, which were chosen from 14 narrative and eight documentary features.  Of the 62 short films in competition, awards were given for best narrative, best documentary and student visionary film. In addition to cash awards and in-kind services provided by sponsors including: Budweiser Select, Apple, Delta Air Lines, Bloomberg, Empire State Development Corporation/I Love New York, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation - the Festival presented the winners with awards created by acclaimed artists.

2007 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

My Father My Lord

·         The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – MY FATHER MY LORD (Hofshat Kaits), directed by David Volach (Israel).  Winner receives $50,000 cash and the art award "Maternal Nocturne,” created by Stephen Hannock. The Award was presented by Benj Whitehouse and Festival co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal.

·         Best New Narrative Filmmaker – TWO EMBRACES (Dos Abrazos), directed by Enrique Begne (Mexico).  Winner receives $25,000 cash and the art award “Reach,” created by Kiki Smith.  The Award was presented by actress Edie Falco and Nancy Smith, Vice President, American Express Global Media and Sponsorship Marketing.

·         Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Lofti Edbelli in MAKING OF (Akher film), directed by Nouri Bouzid (Tunisia, Morocco).  Winner receives two business elite ticket vouchers for anywhere Delta travels.  Award presented by Steve Scheper and Catalina Sandino Morena.

·         Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Marina Hands in LADY CHATTERLEY, directed by Pascale Ferran (France, Belgium).  Winner receives two business elite ticket vouchers for anywhere Delta travels.  Award presented by Steve Scheper and Catalina Sandino Morena.

·         Best Screenplay – MAKING OF (Akher film), written and directed by Nouri Bouzid (Tunisia, Morocco).  Winner receives $15,000 cash and the art award “Reel to Reel,” created by Joel Perlman.  Award presented by Ruben Rodriguez and Marwan Hamed.

Taxi to the Darkside

• ·         Best Documentary Feature – TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE, directed by Alex Gibney (U.S.A.).  Winner receives $25,000 cash and the art award “Chuck Close SPII,” created by Chuck Close.  Award presented by Benj Whitehouse and director Raoul Peck. 

·         Best New Documentary Filmmaker – A STORY OF PEOPLE IN WAR AND PEACE, directed by Vardan Hovhannisyan (Armenia).   Winner receives $25,000 cash and the art award “Nelson Mandela, Johannesburg, South Africa,” created by Bruce Weber.  Award presented by director Raoul Peck and Nancy Smith, Vice President, American Express Global Media and Sponsorship Marketing.

A Walk Into The Sea

·         “NY Loves Film” - Documentary – A WALK INTO THE SEA: Danny Williams and The Warhol Factory, directed by Esther Robinson (U.S.A.).  Winner receives $5,000 cash and the art award “Ivy with Marilyn, Boston,” created by Nan Goldin.  Award presented by New York State Film Commissioner Pat Kaufman, Pat Foye and actor/writer Eric Bogosian.

·         “Made In NY” – Narrative – THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS, directed by Fred Durst (U.S.A.).  Winner receives $5,000 cash and the art award “Tribeca Film Festival Poster 2007,” created by Clifford Ross.  Award presented by Julianne Cho and Eric Bogosian.

·        Cadillac Award – Winner to be chosen by the Audience and will be announced on Saturday, May 5th.   To be presented by Jane Rosenthal and Liz Vanzura, global marketing director for Cadillac. Winner receives $25,000 cash.

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Online Dailies Editor