The Bombay Sapphire Award for Transmedia, was introduced this year, as part of the juried Storyscapes section. Also announced at the awards were the Tribeca Online Festival feature and short film winners, selected by the online audience. The winners of the Heineken Audience Awards, determined by audience votes throughout the festival, will be announced on April 27.

“With such a wonderful and diverse selection of films in our competition sections, the jury has had quite the challenge in awarding just one per category,” said Frederic Boyer, TFF Artistic Director. “Their selection recognises films depicting worlds that are seldom seen on screen, and to which we are given the rare opportunity to experience through unforgettable characters and remarkable subjects.”

In addition to cash awards and in-kind services provided by sponsors including American Express, AKA, Bombay Sapphire, Citizens of Humanity, Company 3, Kodak, Persol, and Sony Electronics, the Festival presented the winners with original pieces of art created by acclaimed artists, including Joyce Pensato, Dustin Yellin and William Wegman among others.

WORLD NARRATIVE COMPETITION CATEGORIES
The jurors for the 2013 World Narrative Competition were Bryce Dallas-Howard, Blythe Danner, Paul Haggis, Kenneth Lonergan, and Jessica Winter.

The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – The Rocket, directed by Kim Mordaunt (Australia).
Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by AKA, and the art award “Two Voices #1” by Angelina Nasso. The award was given by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal.

Special Jury Mention – Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, directed by Sam Fleischner. The announcement was made by Kenneth Lonergan.

Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Sitthiphon Disamoe as Ahlo in The Rocket, directed by Kim Mordaunt (Australia). Winner receives $2,500. The award was given by Blythe Danner.

Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Veerle Baetens as Elise Vandevelde in The Broken Circle Breakdown, directed by Felix van Groeningen (Netherlands, Belgium). Winner receives $2,500. The award was given by Bryce Dallas Howard.

Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature Film – Marius Matzow Gulbrandsen, for Before Snowfall, directed by Hisham Zaman (Germany, Norway). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Sony Electronics; a Sony Alpha A99 Full Frame Camera and a Sony NEX-VG900 Full Frame Camcorder; and $50,000 in post-production services provided by Company 3. The award was given by Blythe Danner and Alec Shapiro, President, Sony Professional Solutions of America.

Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature Film – The Broken Circle Breakdown, written by Carl Joos and Felix van Groeningen and directed by Felix van Groeningen (Netherlands, Belgium). Winner receives $5,000. The award was given by Paul Haggis.

BEST NEW NARRATIVE DIRECTOR
The jurors for the 2013 Best New Narrative Director Competition were Naomi Foner, Tony Gilroy, Ari Graynor, Radha Mitchell, and Stu Zicherman.

Best New Narrative Director – Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais, director of Whitewash (Canada). Winner receives $25,000, presented by American Express; $50,000 in post-production services provided by Company 3; and the art award “New Elands Bay” by Erik Parker. The award was given by Tony Gilroy, Radha Mitchell and Deborah Curtis from American Express, Vice President, Entertainment Marketing & Sponsorships.
Special Jury Mention – Harmony Lessons, directed by Emir Baigazin (Germany, France). The announcement was made by Naomi Foner and Ari Graynor.

WORLD DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION CATEGORIES
The jurors for the 2013 World Documentary Competition were Joe Berlinger, Sandi DuBowski, Whoopi Goldberg, Mira Sorvino, and Evan Rachel Wood.

Best Documentary Feature – The Kill Team, directed by Dan Krauss (USA). Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by Citizens of Humanity, and the art award “Harley Before the White Prom” by Gillian Laub. The award was given by Mira Sorvino and Gareth Baxendale from Citizens of Humanity.

Special Jury Mention – Oxyana, directed by Sean Dunne (USA). The announcement was made by Joe Berlinger.

Best Editing in a Documentary Feature – Let the Fire Burn, edited by Nels Bangerter, directed by Jason Osder (USA). Winner receives $5,000. The award was given by Whoopi Goldberg and Sandi DuBowski.

BEST NEW DOCUMENTARY DIRECTOR COMPETITION
The jurors for the 2013 Best New Documentary Director Competition were Jared Cohen, Taraji P. Henson, Riley Keough, Jason O’Mara, and Josh Radnor.

Best New Documentary Director – Sean Dunne for Oxyana (USA). Winner receives $25,000, presented by American Express; and the art award “Untitled (#5), from the Men in the Cities Photo Portfolio” by Robert Longo, courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures. The award was given by Taraji P. Henson and Deborah Curtis from American Express.

Special Jury Mention – Let the Fire Burn, directed by Jason Osder. The announcement was made by Riley Keough and Jason O’Mara.

SHORT FILM COMPETITION CATEGORIES
The 2013 Best Narrative Short Competition jurors were Christine Baranski, Kassem Garaibeh, Jessica Hecht, Chris Milk, and Sheila Nevins.

Best Narrative Short – The Nightshift Belongs to the Stars, directed by Edoardo Ponti (Italy). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Persol; 10,000 feet of film stock donated by Kodak; and the art award “Study: Northern City Renaissance, Mauve Dawn (Mass MoCA #79-R)” by Stephen Hannock. The award was given by Christine Baranksi and Andrea Dorigo, President of Luxottica, North America.

Special Jury Mention – Yardbird, directed by Michael Spiccia (Australia). The announcement was made by Christine Baranski.

The 2013 Best Documentary and Student Short Competition jurors were Abigail Breslin, Bobby Flay, Eva Longoria, Jason Silva, John Skipper and Danny Strong. (John Skipper recused himself from the final vote in the Documentary category.)

Best Documentary Short – Coach, directed by Bess Kargman (USA). Winner receives $5,000, sponsored by Persol, and the art award “Psycho” by William Wegman. The award was given by Jason Silva and Andrea Dorigo, President of Luxottica/Persol.

Special Jury Mention Royal American, directed by Michael Scalisi (USA). The announcement was made by Jason Silva.

Student Visionary Award – Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, directed by Stephen Dunn (Canada). Winner receives the art award “Platonic Haircut” by Dustin Yellin. The award was given by Danny Strong.

Special Jury Mention – Reporting on the Times: The New York Times and the Holocaust, directed by Emily Harrold (USA). The announcement was made by Danny Strong.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE AWARD FOR TRANSMEDIA
The 2013 BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Award for Transmedia jurors were Thomas Allen Harris, Jeff Gomez, and Frank Rose.

Bombay Sapphire Award for Transmedia – Sandy Storyline, created by Rachel Falcone, Laura Gottesdiener, and Michael Premo (USA). Winner receives $10,000, presented by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, and the art award “Study For Austin Courthouse” by Clifford Ross. The award was given by Thomas Allen Harris and Ned Duggan, Brand Director, Bombay Gins.

TRIBECA ONLINE FESTIVAL CATEGORIES
The 2013 Tribeca Online Festival winners were voted on by visitors to tribecafilm.com.

Tribeca Online Festival Best Feature Film: Lil Bub & Friendz, directed by Andy Capper and Juliette Eisner (USA). Winner receives $10,000 and the art award “Blk. Candy Series 5”, by Curtis Kulig The award was given by Geoff Gilmore.

Tribeca Online Festival Best Short Film: A Short Film About Guns, directed by Minos Papas (USA, UK). Winner receives $5,000. The award was given by Geoff Gilmore.

NORA EPHRON PRIZE
At a separate event earlier in the day, the winner of the inaugural Nora Ephron Prize was announced at the annual Women’s Filmmaker Brunch held at Company 3. The prize, presented by TFF co-founder Jane Rosenthal and Sally Singer, creative digital director at Vogue, was awarded to first-time writer/director Meera Menon (Farah Goes Bang). Menon was selected out of eight 2013 TFF filmmakers to receive a cash prize of $25,000 for work and talent that embody the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer.

“We’re thrilled to highlight Meera’s work with this special award. We were impressed with her fresh, witty, and smart take on a coming of age story about girlfriends, passions and politics. Her film captures the spirit and themes of Nora’s work. I’m proud to continue Nora’s legacy through this award and continue to encourage women filmmakers to create the work that inspires them,” said Jane Rosenthal, Co-Founder of the Tribeca Film Festival.

“To me, this is a film that gives voice to deep emotions and cultural rifts with wry humor. Like the body of Nora’s work, Meera’s film is both immensely clever and compassionate”, said Sally Singer, Creative Digital Director, Vogue.

Farah Goes Bang, playing in the Festival’s Viewpoints section, is Menon’s feature debut. The film follows an awkward twenty-something who hits the road with her buddies to stump for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, hoping the trip will also be her opportunity to finally shed the long-unwanted virginity that still clings to her despite her best—and most uncomfortable—efforts. Crisscrossing the culturally divided nation at this decisive post-9/11 moment, these multicultural girls find themselves and their politics unwelcome in many parts of the country. They take inspiration from their friendship and press on in their campaign, even as Farah’s efforts on both political and sexual fronts are continuously thwarted.

“As a filmmaker I had always been inspired by Nora, she emblematized how to take pain and suffering and turn them into laughter and joy. Those qualities inspired me and my co-filmmakers. Receiving this incredible honor in her name means more than I could ever articulate.  Tribeca has been such a special experience and the lady love is resounding,” said Meera Menon.