By Mabel Pais

“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.”

GAYATRI PARAMESWARAN with others receives Storyscapes GRAND JURY PRIZE for “KUSUNDA”

The 20th annual Tribeca Festival on June 17, 2021 awarded the winning storytellers in its competition categories at this year’s awards ceremony 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.

The awards ceremony honored the most diverse line-up of creators in Tribeca’s 20 year history and awarded $165,000 in cash prizes. The Festival, which had the honor of welcoming back in-person audiences, concluded on June 20th.

The top honors in feature films went to “The Novice” in U.S. Narrative, “Brighton 4th” in International Narrative, and “Ascension” in Documentary Competition.

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 for the Immersive section, 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.

A special Virtual Award Winner Screenings series was available for U.S. audiences via Tribeca at Home on Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20.

In addition to cash awards and in-kind services provided by sponsors, some award winners received the unique Tribeca Festival Art Award. World-class artists donated work to honored filmmakers. The winners of the Audience Awards, determined by audience votes throughout the Festival, can be found at tribecafilm.com/festival

The winners, awards, and comments from the jury who selected the recipients are as follows:

U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION

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.

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.

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

Best International Narrative Feature Film: “Brighton 4th,” directed by Levan Koguashvili, written by Boris Frumin, Levan Koguashvili. Produced by Irakli Rodonaya, Olena Yershova, Michel Merkt, Kateryna Merkt.

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 François Mark, Elisabeth Vogler, Noémie Schmidt, Joris Avodo. Produced by Laurent Rochette.

Best Screenplay in an International Narrative Feature Film: Boris Frumin, “Brighton 4th,” directed by Levan Koguashvili, written by Boris Frumin, Levan Koguashvili. Produced by Irakli Rodonaya, Olena Yershova, Michel Merkt, Kateryna Merkt.

Best New Narrative Director: Nana Mensah, “Queen of Glory,” directed and written by Nana Mensah. Produced by Jamund Washington, Kelley Robins Hicks, Baff Akoto, Nana Mensah, Anya Migdal.

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION 

Best Documentary Feature: “Ascension,” directed by Jessica Kingdon. Produced by Kira Simon-Kennedy, Jessica Kingdon, Nathan Truesdell. Best Editing, Documentary Feature: Shannon Swan, “The Kids,” directed by Eddie Martin. Produced by Shannon Swan. Best Cinematography, Documentary Feature: Bing Liu & Joshua Altman, “All These Sons,” directed by Bing Liu, Joshua Altman. Produced by Zak Piper, Kelsey Carr, Bing Liu, Joshua Altman.The 2021 Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director: Jessica Kingdon, “Ascension,” directed by Jessica Kingdon. Produced by Kira Simon-Kennedy, Jessica Kingdon, Nathan Truesdell.

THE NORA EPHRON AWARD

The 2021 Nora Ephron Award: Chanel James & Taylor Garron, “As of Yet,” directed by Chanel James, Taylor Garron. Produced by Ashley Edouard, Taylor Garron.

SHORT CATEGORIES

Best Narrative Short Award: Rongfei Guo, “Girl With a Thermal Gun,” directed and written by Rongfei Guo. Produced by Du Yating.

Best Animated Short Award: Reza Riahi, Navozande, “The Musician,” directed and written by Reza Riahi. Produced by Eleanor Coleman, Stéphanie Carreras, Philippe Pujo.

Short Documentary Award: Ryan White, “Coded,” directed by Ryan White. Produced by Christopher Leggett, Jessica Hargrave, Conor Fetting-Smith, Rafael Marmor, Marc Gilbar.

The 2021 Student Visionary Award: Robert Brogden, “Six Nights,” directed and written by Robert Brogden. Produced by Robert Brogden, Kelley Zincone, Izrael Lopez.

PODCAST AWARD

Podcast Non-Fiction Award: House of Pod and Wild Bird Trust, “Guardians of the River”

 Podcast Fiction Award: James Kim and Brooke Iskra, “Vermont Ave.”

TRIBECA X AWARD

Tribeca X Award: Best Feature: “Dear Santa,” Director: Dana Nachman; Brand: The United States Postal Service

Tribeca X Award: Best Episodic: “Black Owned,” Director: Rodney Lucas; Brand: Square

Tribeca X Award: Best Short: “Chinese New Year-Nian,” Director: Lulu Wang; Brand: Apple

Tribeca X Immersive Award: “Current,” Creator: Annie Saunders; Brand: Brookfield Properties

GAMES

First-Ever Winners for New Award Categories: Geography of Robots Receives Tribeca Games Award; “Vermont Ave.” and “Guardians of the River” Honored for Podcasts

IMMERSIVE COMPETITION CATEGORIES

Best Immersive Narrative Competition Award: Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster, Yasmin Elayat, “The Changing Same: Episode 1”

Best Creative Nonfiction Competition: Annie Saunders, “Current”

Storyscapes Award: Felix Gaedtke, Gayatri Parameswaran, “Kusunda”

The Tribeca Festival

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Tribeca celebrated its 20th year, June 9 – 20, 2021.  For more information, visit tribecafilm.com/festival.

(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness.)