Tribeca2023: Best U.S. Narrative Film at Tribeca Festival is ‘Cypher’

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NEW YORK, NY – The 22nd Tribeca Film Festival announced their Jury Prizes for 2023 on June 15th. Best U.S. Narrative was rewarded to “Cypher,” directed by Chris Moukarel, a narrative of rapper Tierra Whack. Best International Narrative goes to A Strange Path” and Best Documentary is “Between the Rains.”

“A Strange Path” (Dir: Guto Parente) is a Brazilian film concerning a filmmaker who returns home and encounters his estranged father. “Between the Rains” (Dir: Andrew H. Brown and Moses Thuranira) is a coming-of-age story that follows an orphan as he adapts to radically changing climate conditions in Northern Kenya.

Click Tribeca At Home, June 19th-July 2nd, 2023
Photo credit: TribecaFilm.com

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 take great pride in recognizing this year’s collection of diverse, trailblazing works and creators,” said Cara Cusumano, Festival Director and Vice President of Programming. “Today’s honorees are a compelling testament that storytelling across genres and platforms is on a vibrant and inspiring trajectory.” The following are the jury awards for the 22nd Tribeca Festival of 2023, by category.

U.S. Narrative Competition

Cypher
Photo credit: Tribeca Festival

The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature: “Cypher,” directed by Chris Moukarel

Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film: Ji-Young Yoo for “Smoking Tigers”

Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film Caroline Costa for “The Graduates”

Best Screenplay in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film So Young Shelly Yo for “Smoking Tigers”

Special Jury Prize for Narrative Feature Monica Sorelle for “Mountains”

International Narrative Competition

A Strange Path
Photo credit: Tribeca Festival

Best International Narrative Feature: “A Strange Path” (Brazil), directed by Guto Parente

Best Performance in an International Narrative Feature: Carlos Francisco for “A Strange Path”

Best Cinematography in an International Narrative Feature Film Linga Acácio for “A Strange Path”

Best Screenplay in an International Narrative Feature Film Guto Parente for “A Strange Path”

Documentary Competition

Between the Rains
Photo credit: Tribeca Festival

Best Documentary Feature: “Between the Rains” (Kenya), directed by Andrew H. Brown and Moses Thuranira

Best Documentary Cinematography: Andrew H. Brown for “Between the Rains”

Best Documentary Editing: Mark Bukdahl and Orvar Anklew for “The Gullspång Miracle”

Special Jury Mention for Documentary David Gutnik for “Rule of Two Walls” (Ukraine)

Short Film Competition

Dead Cat
Photo credit: Tribeca Festival

Best Narrative Short: “Dead Cat” (Canada), directed by Annie-Claude Caron and Danick Audet

Best Animated Short: “Starling” (United States), directed by Mitra Shahidi

Best Documentary Short: “Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Play” (United States), directed by Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson

Special Jury Mention for Narrative Short Gabrielle Demers for “Blond Night”

Special Jury Mention for Narrative Short Annelise Hickey for “Hafekasi”

Student Visionary Award: Daniela Soria Gutiérrez for “Fairytales” (Mexico)

New Narrative and Documentary Director Competition

Best New Narrative Director: Hugo Ruiz for “One Night With Adela” (Spain)

Best New Documentary Director: (AKA the Albert Maysles Award) Jude Chehab for “Q” (Lebanon, United States) 

Special Jury Mention for Best New Documentary Director: Co-Director Nate Pommer for “Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story” (United States) 

Special Jury Mention for Documentary Director: Jane M. Wagner for “Break the Game” (United States) 

The Nora Ephron Prize

Director Honoree: Gabriella A. Moses for “Boca Chica”

Special Jury Mention for Narrative Film, Nora Ephron Award: “Smoking Tigers” (United States) 

ADDITIONALLY: For Audio Storytelling, Human/Nature, AT&T Untold Stories, Tribeca X, Games and Immersive Awards, CLICK HERE.

TRIBECA AT HOME is available June 19th through July 2nd, 2023. For all information, CLICK HERE.

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