Film News: 2020 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Jury Prizes

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CHICAGO – “The show must go on … “ That became the rallying cry of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, which was physically postponed because of the Covid pandemic (it was originally scheduled from April 15-26). Despite that unexpected turn, the Festival went online, named juries and awarded honors to films on April 29th.

The top prizes went to “The Half of It,” directed by Alice Wu (Best U.S. Narrative), “The Hater,” directed by Jan Komasa (Best International Narrative) and “Socks on Fire,” directed by Bo McGuire (Best Documentary).

Best U.S. Narrative Feature is ‘The Half of It,’ directed by Alice Wu
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival

Awards were distributed in the following feature film competition categories – U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, Documentary, New Narrative Director, and the Nora Ephron Prize, honoring a woman writer or director. Awards were also given in the short film categories – Narrative, Documentary, Student Visionary and Animation. New Directors were also honored with Narrative Awards, Documentary (AKA the Albert Maysles Award) and The Nora Ephron Award.

“We are fortunate that technology allowed for our jury to come together this year to honor our filmmakers,” said Tribeca Film Festival Co-Founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal. “Despite not being able to be together physically, we were still able to support our artists, which has always been at the heart of the Festival.”

The following are the jury awards for the 19th Tribeca Film Festival of 2020, given by category…

U.S. Narrative Competition

Steve Zahn (right) in ‘Cowboys’
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival

The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature: “The Half of It,” directed by Alice Wu

Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film: Assol Abdullina in “Materna”

Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film: Steve Zahn in “Cowboys”

Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film Greta Zozula, Chananun Chotrungroj and Kelly Jeffrey for “Materna”

Best Screenplay in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film Anna Kerrigan for “Cowboys”

International Narrative Competition

‘The Hater,’ directed by Jan Komasa
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival

Best International Narrative Feature: “The Hater” (Poland), directed by Jan Komasa

Best Actress in an International Narrative Feature: Shira Haas in “Asia” (Israel)

Best Actor in an International Narrative Feature: Noe Hernandez in “Kokoloka” (Mexico)

Best Cinematography in an International Narrative Feature Film Daniella Nowitz for “Asia” (Israel)

Best Screenplay in an International Narrative Feature Film Prashant Nair for “Tryst with Destiny” (India, France)

World Documentary Competition

’Socks on Fire,’ Directed by Bo McGuire
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival

Best Documentary Feature: “Socks on Fire” (USA), directed by Bo McGuire

Best Documentary Cinematography: Alejandro Mejia for “499” (Mexico, USA)

Best Documentary Editing: Amy Foote for “Father Soldier Son” (USA)

Short Film Competition

’No More Wings,’ Directed by Abraham Adeyemi
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival

Best Narrative Short: “No More Wings,” directed by Abraham Adeyemi (UK)

Best Animated Short: “Friends,” directed by Florian Grolig (Germany)

Best Documentary Short: “My Father the Movie,” directed by Julie Jansch (South Africa)

Student Visionary Award: “Cru-Raw,” directed by David Oesch (Switzerland)

New Narrative and Documentary Director Competition

Best New Narrative Director: Gaspar Antillo, director of “Nobody Knows I’m Here” (Chile)

Best New Documentary Director: (AKA the Albert Maysles Award) Jessica Earnshaw for “Jancinta” (USA)

The Nora Ephron Prize

Ruthy Pribar, director of “Asia” (Israel)

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com