Upon my arrival at Tribeca on a hot, gleaming Friday morning at Village East Cinemas, I expected something of a plateau of a screening of the first film I set out to review, the Thomas Ikimi psycho-drama "Legacy". At this point, the grinding tensions of filmmakers in anticipation of the anointment of the 8th annual festival's top honors had now been lifted. Controversies and shock incited in such films as Michael Winterbottom's "The Killer Inside Me" and their presence for the remainder of the week might have been held in low priority, particularly after their initial storm of vehement defense of its violence in question by an objecting public generated by controversy not unfamiliar to the Lower Manhattan festival - or any festival for that matter.
Having already formulated this expectation, the unfolding of what ensued at that morning screening proved to be a juncture with pleasant surprise. 11:30 came and went as a packed theater anticipating the latest addition to rising star Idris Elba's steadily increasing catalogue remained seated in the illumination of dimmed lamps and shameless Delta airlines plugs (pre-movie trivia about the shooting location of "Lost In Translation" stretched into the airline's latest elite business class package to Tokyo, Japan!). Suddenly, that commercialism of a commonplace sort was replaced with far more engaging promotion, with the arrival of the film's writer-director Thomas Ikimi making an unexpected trip out to screen the film with his audience, as well as entertaining the questions that followed. Ikimi first apologized for his lateness, explaining "I slept rather late this morning. Just ran 12 blocks to get here". Such intimate revelations without pretension were largely characteristic of the festival for the duration of my attendance; there was a sense of informality that placed filmmakers, critics, and film lovers alike into a kind of ease and comfort that would make the experience enjoyable and comprehensive on a heightened level.
Even in my condensed and relatively short visit, the films among Tribeca's showcase proved worthy of celebration, despite the idiosyncrasies of ay one critic's reactions. During my final late night screening (found within the coverage that follows), I bear witness to both the awe-struck dropping of jaws and fixated, pensive gazes, just as much as the gasps, moans, even yawns - accompanied by an occasional walkout. The imprint commonplace with all the films I saw, good or bad, remained their ability to inspire strong reactions among its viewers. If this were the festival's only sole intention, its worth would be all but undervalued.
2010 Tribeca Film Festival Winners
Tribeca World Competition
The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – When We Leave (Die Fremde), directed and written by Feo Aladag. (Germany) – North American Premiere
Special Jury Mention: Loose Cannons (Mine Vaganti), directed by Ferzan Ozpetek, written by Ivan Cotroneo and Ferzan Ozpetek. (Italy) – North American Premiere
Best Documentary Feature – Monica & David, directed by Alexandra Codina (USA)
Special Jury Mention: Budrus directed by Julia Bacha. (USA, Palestine, Israel)
Best New Documentary Filmmaker – Clio Barnard for The Arbor (UK)
Best New Narrative Filmmaker – Kim Chapiron for Dog Pound, written by Kim Chapiron and Jeremie Delon. (France) – World Premiere
Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Eric Elmosnino for his role in Gainsbourg, Je t’Aime…Moi Non Plus, directed and written by Joann Sfar
Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Sibel Kekilli for her role in When We Leave (Die Fremde), directed and written by Feo Aladag
New York Competition
Best New York Narrative – Monogamy, directed by Dana Adam Shapiro, written by Dana Adam Shapiro and Evan M. Weiner (USA)
Special Jury Mention: Melissa Leo for her performance in The Space Between, directed and written by Travis Fine
Best New York Documentary – The Woodmans, directed by C. Scott Willis (USA, Italy, China)
Short Film Competition
Best Narrative Short – Father Christmas Doesn’t Come Here, directed by Bekhi Sibiya, written by Sibongile Nkosana, Bongi Ndaba (South Africa)
Special Jury Mention: The Crush, directed and written by Michael Creagh (Ireland)
Best Documentary Short – White Lines & The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug, directed and written by Travis Senger (USA)
Special Jury Mention: Out of Infamy: Michi Nishiura Weglyn, directed and written by Nancy Kapitanoff, Sharon Yamato (USA)
Student Visionary Award – some boys don’t leave, directed by Maggie Kiley, written by Matthew Mullen, Maggie Kiley (USA)
Special Jury Mention: The Pool Party, directed and written by Sara Zandieh (Iran, USA)
Tribeca Film Festival Virtual
Best Feature Film: Spork, directed and written by J. B. Ghuman, Jr (USA)
Best Short Film: Delilah, Before, directed Melanie Schiele (Singapore)
You can find this review, its supplemental materials, as well as other extensive film coverage at EInsiders.com.
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