Hungry Man director Bryan Buckley earns Best Narrative Short Film honor for Asad
The 11th annual Tribeca Film Festival announced the winners of its competition categories tonight at a ceremony hosted at the Conrad New York in New York City. The Festival runs through April 29.
The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature was bestowed upon War Witch, directed by Kim Nguyen (Canada), who receives $25,000 and an art award. Jury comments on the film: “This indelible character study of a girl who becomes a woman before our eyes in the midst of harrowing war gives words to the unspeakable. Riveting, heartbreaking, vivid, and eloquent, the movie balances scenes of crazy enemy hatred with moments of luminous private love.”
Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film went to Dariel Arrechada and Javier Nuñez Florian as Raul and Elio in Una Noche, directed by Lucy Mulloy (UK, Cuba, USA). Winners split $2,500.
Una Noche additionaly earned Mulloy Best New Narrative Director distinction, which includes $25,000 presented by American Express and $50,000 in postproduction services from Company 3.
Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature Film honors went to Trevor Forrest and Shlomo Godder for Una Noche. Winners receive $5,000 and $50,000 in postproduction services provided by Company 3.
Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film was Rachel Mwanza as Komona in War Witch. Winner receives $2,500.
Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature Film: All In (La Suerte en Tus Manos), written by Daniel Burman and Sergio Dubcovsky and directed by Daniel Burman (Argentina). Winner receives $5,000.
Documentary honors
Named the Best Documentary Feature was The World Before Her, directed by Nisha Pahuja (Canada). Winner receives $25,000 and the art award.
Best Editing in a Documentary Feature went to The Flat (Hadira), edited by Tali Halter Shenkar, directed by Arnon Goldfinger, (Israel, Germany). Winner receives $5,000.
Garnering the Best New Documentary Director honor was Jeroen van Velzen for Wavumba (Netherlands), described as a modern day “Old Man and the Sea” tale. Winner receives $25,000, presented by American Express.
Short takes
Deemed by judges as the Best Narrative Short was Asad, directed by Bryan Buckley (USA). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Persol; 10,000 feet of film stock donated by Kodak; and the art award “Nantes, 2009” courtesy of Walton Ford & Paul Kasmin Gallery. (For more backstory on Buckley and Asad, see SHOOT, 3/23, p. 1.)
Jury comments: “Asad is a lyrical, moving and beautifully realized portrayal of a world we rarely get to see in cinema. Every shot of the film is well thought out and specific to this unique world–a fishing village in Somalia. Yet Asad‘s most astounding achievement is boasting an array of brilliant performances by a cast of Somali refugees. Congratulations to writer/director Bryan Buckley and his amazing cast on making a short film that is rather large in spirit, ambition and accomplishment.”
Named Best Documentary Short was Paraíso, directed by Nadav Kurtz (USA). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Persol, and the art award “Harmonium Mountain V” by Clifford Ross.
Student prize
The Student Visionary Award was bestowed upon Stitches, directed by Adiya Imri Orr (Israel). Winner receives support from Apple and the art award “Waterfall 104f” courtesy of Kim Keever & Kinz + Tillou Fine Art.
Online catgories
The 2012 Tribeca (Online) Film Festival winners were voted on by visitors to tribecafilm.com.
Tribeca (Online) Film Festival Best Feature Film: On The Mat, directed and written by Fredric Golding (USA). Winner receives $10,000, presented by American Express.
Tribeca (Online) Film Festival Best Short Film: CatCam, directed by Seth Keal (USA). Winners receive $5,000.
Big-picture assessments
“It’s been so gratifying to see the audiences react so positively to the films, and our juries have been equally passionate. I celebrate these immensely talented filmmakers,” said Nancy Schafer, executive director of the Tribecca Film Festival.
Frederic Boyer, Tribeca’s artistic director, added, “We salute the courage of the jury to award films that not only tell stories about real issues in the world, but are beautifully constructed and crafted.”
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More