The Tribeca Film Institute announced award winners and grantees for the Tribeca All Access Program, Latin America Media Arts Fund and the TFI Documentary Fund at the TFI Awards Luncheon Thursday. Twelve films were selected and a total of $125,000 was awarded in funds. The Tribeca All Access Program, now in its eighth year, was founded with the intent of “fostering relationships between underrepresented filmmakers and industry executives.” “This year’s winners and grantees are true examples of the incredible strength of films and talent resulting from the support of the Tribeca Film Institute,” stated Beth Janson, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Institute. “Our main hope is that these films go on to completion and build strong relationships with audiences.”
Below is the full list of films and credits, courtesy of the Tribeca Film Institute:
Recipients of the TAA Creative Promise Awards received $10,000:
TAA Creative Promise Award for Documentary: “Gideon’s Army,” Director Dawn Porter
Every day, more and more people are arrested, handcuffed, shoved into a squad car, and booked. Weeks turn into months and their only line of defense is in the hands of a public defender. “Gideon’s Army” asks, are public defenders up to the fight?
TAA Creative Promise Award for Narrative: “County Line,” Director Tina Mabry
A Southern town’s underbelly exposed when its sheriff tries to rid himself of a drug alliance with a family friend and investigate the deaths of his female informants. In the process, he must confront his son’s addiction to the drugs he’s allowed in his county.
The TAA also awarded $25,000 in grants to alumni projects:
Tribeca All Access Ontrack Grant Narrative: “When I Saw You,” Director Annemarie Jacir
Jordan, 1960s. An eccentric and unbounded boy runs away from home knowing full well his young mother will follow in this search for freedom.
Tribeca All Access Ontrack Grant Documentary: Untitled Gay Retiree Documentary, Director PJ Raval
Set against the backdrop of various LGBTQ-friendly communities, Untitled Gay Retiree Documentary captures the experiences of several LGBTQ seniors as they navigate the adventures, challenges and surprises of their “golden years.”
Tribeca All Access Trans Media Award Narrative: “Chinafornia,” Director Ellie Lee
America, 2018. Unable to pay the ten trillion dollars it owes to China, the U.S. comes up with a plan: it gives China the state of California. ANIMATION
Tribeca All Access Trans Media Award Documentary: Untitled Mu Xin Project (Working Title), Directors Francisco Bello and Tim Sternberg
In the sweep of China’s turbulent history, Mu Xin sacrificed everything for his art. Starting while he was illegally imprisoned, he transformed his experiences into a body of work merging East, West, classicism, modernism, terror and transcendence. He has avoided speaking of the horrors he has seen – until now.
The TAA Adrienne Shelly Foundation Filmmaker Grant: “El Jardin,” Director Natalia Almada
El Jardin is a portrait of a cemetery in the drug heartland of México. Since the war on drugs began in 2007 it has claimed over 35,000 lives. The cemetery has doubled in size and the mausoleums have doubled in height.
The Games for Change Fellowship for TAA Alumni: “The Undocumented,” Director Marco Williams
“The Undocumented” is a feature length documentary which chronicles Arizona’s deadly summer months, following Border Patrol agents who fight to prevent migrant deaths, medical investigators and the Mexican Consulate who work to identify migrants who die crossing the border, and Mexican families who struggle to accept the loss of loved ones.
Audience Activation Grant: “The Ipo Boys (aka They Are All My Brothers),” Director Nicole Opper
Several boys at a home for abandoned youth in Mexico rebuild their lives while contributing to the social enterprise that sustains them: world-renowned French artisan goat cheese. (Documentary)
The Latin America Media Arts Fund also announced four winners, who will receive $10,000 in grants as well as “guidance” by TFI:
“The Battle for Land” (Columbia), Director Juan Mejia
The Battle for Land delves deep into the complexities of mass displacement pushing us past prevailing ideas where displacement is seen as an aberration of war, and progressively revealing a more intricate and terrifying picture. It is above all a journey deep into the heart of uprooting and the dark side of progress.
“Cocaine Prison” (Bolivia), Director Violeta Ayala
Trying to establish a cocaine business inside Bolivia’s craziest prison an unlikely friendship develops, between two ‘little fish’, a young ambitious trafficker and a middle-aged cocaine worker fighting for release, personifying the country’s love affair with cocaine.
“Toys” (Mexico), Director Alba Mora-Roca
“Toys” explores how a family’s peculiar love for toys helps children overcome the effects of violence in Mexico. It follows a Mexican-Japanese family who, having gathered the largest toy collection in Latin America, travels north to do workshops with victims of the violence generated by fighting drug cartels.
“When Two Worlds Collide” (Peru), Directors Taira Akbar and Heidi Brandenburg
An indigenous leader forced into exile and facing 20 years in prison for resisting the environmental ruin of Amazonian lands by big business. Refusing to surrender he continues his quest, shedding light on conflicting visions shaping the fate of the Amazon and the climate future of our world.
Insurgent Media also awarded four additional grantees of the TFI Documentary Fund, each to receive $10,000 and guidance from TFI in the form of festival and distribution planning, strategizing sessions, fundraising and industry introductions:
“Teenage,” Director Matt Wolf
“Teenage” is an unconventional historical film about youth culture based on an acclaimed book by the punk author Jon Savage. The film examines the invention of modern teenagers in wartime America with profiles of extraordinary adolescents.
“Of Monsters and Men,” Director Morgan Matthews
“Of Monsters and Men” is a fascinating and touching portrait of men who are obsessed with monsters and their adventures to find them.
“Smash & Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers,” Director Havana Marking
“Smash & Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers,” is, in their own words, the most successful jewel thieves of all time take you into their world: the post – Milosovic Balkans, the modern diamond trade and a 21st Century crime gang.
“Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey,” Director Ramona Diaz
“Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey” follows the real life rock-n-roll fairy tale story of Filipino Arnel Pineda, who was plucked from You Tube to become the front man for iconic American rock band, Journey, thereby becoming the latest performer to go from the Internet to real life celebrity.
“We are supporting nearly 30 documentary projects in 2011 representing a broad spectrum of ideas from around the globe and offering a good mix of artists’ experience,” said Ryan Harrington, TFI’s Director of Documentary Programming. “TFI is excited and proud to continue to grow and strengthen the resources that we provide to our filmmakers.”
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