Tribeca Film Festival: 'Give Up Tomorrow' wins audience award

"Give Up Tomorrow," a documentary tracing the story of a 19-year-old culinary student who was arrested in 1997 for the kidnap, rape, and murder of two sisters on the provincial island of Cebu in the Philippines, won the audience award at the Tribeca Film Festival, organizers announced Sunday evening.

Director Michael Collins will receive a cash prize of $25,000. The movie also received a special jury mention in the world documentary competition at the festival. The film follows the story of Paco Larrañaga, who has maintained his innocence since his conviction and whose case has attracted support internationally from legal-rights groups and foreign governments who have questioned the fairness of his trial.

"From the first standing ovation of 'Give Up Tomorrow' at its premiere at the festival it was clear that audiences were passionate about the portrayal of Paco Larrañaga's unjust incarceration. We hope that the film will raise awareness of Paco's plight and lead to his freedom," Nancy Schafer, executive director of the Tribeca Film Festival, said in a statement. 

-- Julie Makinen

Photo: "Give Up Tomorrow" director Michael Collins, left, and producer Marty Syjuco at the premiere of their film at Tribeca Film Festival. Credit: Dario Cantatore / Getty Images

Tribeca 2011: Swedish coming-of-age film 'She Monkeys' wins festival's top jury prize

The Tribeca Film Festival has handed out its jury prizes, giving its top award, for narrative feature, to Lisa Aschan’s “She Monkeys.” The Swedish-language coming-of-age film centers on a complicated relationship between two teenage girls competing under intense pressure in the equestrian world.

The top male acting prize went to Shami Bizimana for his performance in Kivu Ruhorahoza's “Grey Matter,” a picture from Rwanda about a young filmmaker whose financing falls through but who watches his script come to life anyway. Dutch "it" girl Carice van Houten took home the actress award for her performance as Ingrid Jonker, known as the South African Sylvia Plath, in Paula van der Oest's 1960s-set apartheid drama “Black Butterflies.”

The prize for new narrative director went to South Korean filmmaker Park Jung-bum for “Journals of Musan,” his movie about a North Korean defector who has settled in South Korea. Screenplay honors, meanwhile, went to Norwegian Jannicke Systad Jacobsen for her offbeat sexual coming-of-age story “Turn Me On, Goddammit.”

On the documentary side, "Bombay Beach," Alma Har’el's stylized look at different personalities at the Salton Sea, won for documentary feature, and Pablo Croce won the award for new documentary director for "Like Water," his movie about UFC fighter Anderson Silva.

Tribeca juries are composed of a motley crew of film-world personalities, which this year included Rainn Wilson, David Gordon Green, Dianne Wiest and author Rula Jebreal.

The Tribeca Film Festival winds up this weekend, with audience prizes handed out on Sunday night. For a complete list of winners, see the Tribeca website.

RELATED:

Tribeca 2011: Five films to watch after the festival is over

Robert De Niro talks about his past and future (and Donald Trump)

Tribeca 2011: The Weinstein Co. gets on board 'The Bully Project'

-- Steven Zeitchik

twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT

Photo: An image from "She Monkeys." Credit: Tribeca Film Festival.

Tribeca 2011: Weinstein Co. gets on board 'The Bully Project'

The Tribeca Film Festival continues to burnish its reputation for documentaries.

"The Bully Project," a look at the crisis of childhood bullying, has landed a deal with the Weinstein Co., which on Monday picked up U.S. and many international rights to the Lee Hirsch film.

Hirsch, who previously directed the South African music doc "Amandla!," takes a personal approach to the topic by showing the home and school lives of five children and their families affected by bullying. Weinstein Co. executive Peter Lawson emphasized the socially conscious aspect of the film, calling it "a phenomenally insightful and moving examination of bullying and its long-term impact."

The movie is the third Tribeca documentary to land a distribution deal, following food pic "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" and club-life exploration "Limelight." Harvey Weinstein, a longtime collaborator with Michael Moore, last released a doc when he brought out "The Tillman Story" last year.

— Steven Zeitchik

twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT

Photo: "The Bully Project." Credit: Tribeca Film Festival.

Tribeca 2011: 'Limelight' documentary will head to theaters

Another Tribeca Film Festival title has sold, with Magnolia Pictures snapping up worldwide rights to "Limelight," the story of the controversial nightspot of the same name and Rudolph Giuliani-era New York.

Billy Corben, who previously helmed Magnolia's drug-wars doc, "Cocaine Cowboys," directed "Limelight." The talking-head picture tells of Peter Gatien, the eyepatch-wearing nightclub impresario, and his emergence as the owner of legendary clubs Limelight and Tunnel just as Ecstasy and the rave culture were coming into vogue, as well as his subsequent battles with law enforcement.

Gatien eventually pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was deported to his native Canada. Gatien's daughter Jen is a producer on the film.

The movie will open theatrically in August, Magnolia said in a statement. The company made the announcement ahead of the film's Tribeca premiere on Friday night.

The acquisition marks the second festival documentary acquired by Magnolia -- the company previously picked up the culinary doc "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," about a legendary Japanese sushi chef.

RELATED:

Tribeca seals a deal on Dutch slasher movie

-- Steven Zeitchik in New York
twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT

Photo. Peter Gatien in "Limelight." Credit: Tribeca Film Festival

2011 Tribeca Film Festival adds two more titles

The 10th Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 20 to May 1 in New York, announced two more titles to its lineup Monday morning.

Director Tony Kaye's ("American History X") latest film, "Detachment," will have its world premiere at the festival. Adrien Brody stars as a substitute teacher who is placed at a failing public school. Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu and James Caan also star.

The festival will also present a work-in-progress documentary, "Talihina Sky: The Story of the Kings of Leon," directed by Stephen C. Mitchell.

For more information go to the festival's homepage.

RELATED:

Tribeca Film Festival: Special events and panel series

Tribeca film festival closes with Edward Burns' latest

Tribeca Film Festival announces selections for Spotlight and Cinemania

-- Susan King

Tribeca Film Festival: Special events and panel series

 

The 10th Tribeca Film Festival, which runs April 20 through May 1, will hold a selection of panels, special events and audience question-and-answer sessions.

The Tribeca Talks: The directors series features Alec Baldwin and Martin Scorsese, among others, who will moderate discussions with industry figures such as actor/director Robert De Niro, who is the Tribeca festival's co-founder, and directors Doug Liman and Souleymane Cisse.

Five new documentaries, including "The Education of Dee Dee Ricks and "Love Hate Love," will be part of the Tribeca Talks: After the Movie series.

Other highlights:

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will present the 10th-anniversary screening of the Oscar-winning film "A Beautiful Mind," followed by a conversation with director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer and screenwriter Akiva Goldsmith.

Veteran entertainer Harry Belafonte will discuss his career after the New York premiere of "Sing Your Song," a documentary on the noted singer, actor and humanitarian.

For a complete list of panels go, to the festival's website.

RELATED:

Tribeca film festival closes with Edward Burns' latest

Tribeca Film Festival announces selections for Spotlight and Cinemania

-- Susan King

Photo: Robert De Niro. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Tribeca Film Festival closes with Edward Burns' latest

 
The 10th Tribeca Film Festival announced Monday morning that it will close with the world premiere of Edward Burns' latest comedy, "Newlyweds," on April 30.

"Newlyweds" is the 10th film written and directed by Burns and the sixth to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Shot in the TriBeCa neighborhood, the film chronicles a modern marriage. Burns, Caitlin Fitzgerald and Max Baker star.

The festival takes place April 20 through May 1.

For more information go to http://www.tribecafilm.com

RELATED:

Tribeca Film Festival announces selections for Spotlight and Cinemania

—Susan King

Photo: Edward Burns. Credit: Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times.

Tribeca Film Festival announces selections for Spotlight and Cinemania

The 10th Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place in Lower Manhattan from April 20 to May 1, on Monday morning announced its feature film selections for its Spotlight, Cinemania, Special Screenings and Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film festival.

The Spotlight section features 33 films; 16 documentaries and 17 narratives:

Tribeca Film Festival announces a lineup of feature films

The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 20-May 1 in lower Manhattan, announced Monday morning the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections as well as the films in a new section entitled Viewpoints. The remaining 44 films in the 10th edition of the festival will be announced on March 14.

This year's selection of feature films hail from 32 countries with 42 world premieres, 19 North American premieres and seven U.S. premieres. Fifty-three of the filmmakers in the festival are presenting their feature directorial debuts.

Here's a look at what was announced Monday morning:

World Narrative Feature Competition

"Angels Crest" (U.K., Canada) -- directed by Gaby Dellal; with Jeremy Piven, Elizabeth McGovern, Mira Sorvino and Kate Walsh.

"Artificial Paradise" (Mexico) -- directed and co-written by Yulene Olaizola.

"Black Butterflies" (Germany, Netherlands, South Africa) -- directed by Paula van der Oest.

"Blackthorn" (Spain, France, Bolivia, USA) -- directed by Mateo Gil; with Sam Shepard.

"Cairo Exit" (Egypt, United Arab Emirates) -- directed and co-written by Hesham Issawi.

"Grey Matter" (Rwanda, Australia) -- directed and written by Kivu Ruhorahoza.

"Jesus Henry Christ" (USA) -- directed and written by Dennis Lee; with Toni Collette and Michael Sheen.

"The Kite" (India, USA) -- directed and written by Prashant Bhargava.

"The Last Rites of Joe May" (USA) -- directed and written by Joe Maggio; with Dennis Farina.

"Romantics Anonymous" (France, Belgium) -- directed and co-written by Jean-Pierre Ameris.

"She Monkeys" (Sweden) -- directed and co-written by Lisa Aschan.

"Turn Me On ..." (Norway) -- directed and written by Jannicke Systad Jacobsen.

World Documentary Feature Competition

"Bombay Beach" (USA, Israel) -- directed by Alma Har'el.

"The Bully Project" (USA) -- directed by Lee Hirsch.

"The Carrier" (USA) -- directed by Maggie Betts.

"Cinema Komunisto" (Serbia) -- directed by Mila Turajlic.

"Give Up Tomorrow" (USA, U.K.) -- directed by Michael Collins.

"Jiro Dreams of Sushi" (USA) -- directed by David Gelb.

"Koran by Heart" (USA, U.K.) -- directed by Greg Barker.

"Love During Wartime" (Sweden) -- directed and written by Gabriella Bier.

"Marathon Boy" (U.K., USA, India) -- directed by Gemma Atwal.

"Our School" (USA, Switzerland) -- directed by Mona Nicoara and Miruna Coca-Cozma.

"Semper Fi: Always Faithful" (USA) -- directed by Rachel Libert and Tony Hardmon.

"Despicable Dick and Righteous Richard" (U.K.) --directed by Joshua Neale.

Viewpoints--narratives and documentaries that present a "snapshot of international independent cinema that immerses audiences in distinctive perspectives."

"The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye" (USA, France) -- directed by Marie Losier.

"Love Always, Carolyn" (Sweden) -- directed by Maria Ramstrom and Malin Korkeasalo.

"Donor Unknown" (U.K.) -- directed by Jerry Rothwell.

"Flowers of Evil" (France) -- directed by David Dusa.

"Gnarr" (Iceland) -- directed by Gaukur Ulfarsson.

"Gone" (USA) -- directed by Gretchen Morning and John Morning.

"The Good Life" (Denmark) -- directed by Eva Mulvad.

"The Journals of Musan" (South Korea) -- directed by Park Jungbum.

"Lotus Eaters" (U.K.) -- directed and co-written by Alexandra McGuinness.

"Magic Valley" (USA) -- directed and written by Jaffee Zinn.

"Maria My Love" (USA) -- directed and written by Jasmine McGlade Chazelle.

"The Miners' Hymns" (USA, U.K.) -- directed and co-written by Bill Morrison.

"My Last Round" (Chile, Argentina) -- directed and written by Julio Jorquera.

"NEDS" (U.K.) -- written and directed by Peter Mullan.

"Rid of Me" (USA) -- written and directed by James Westby.

"Splinters" (USA) -- directed by Adam Pesce.

"Stuck Between Stations" (USA) -- directed by Brady Kiernan.

"The Swell Season" (USA) -- directed by Nick August-Perna, Chris Dapkins and Carlo Mirabella-Davis.

"Treatment" (USA) -- directed by Steven Schardt and and co-writer  Sean Nelson.

"White, White World" (Serbia, Germany, Sweden) -- directed by Oleg Novkovic.

For more information go to http://www.tribecafilm.com

--Susan King

'Amelia' to open first Doha Tribeca Film Festival

To paraphrase the popular Shepard Fairey street art campaign, Qatar, Arab emirate, second-highest GDP per capita in the world, has a film festival. The first Doha Tribeca Film Festival will kick off in Doha from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1. And it's landed a major release for its opening night -- Mira Nair's "Amelia," starring two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank (pictured) as the famed aviator Amelia Earhart. The other 30-plus films on the fest's docket are a mix of international product, like Steven Soderbergh's "The Informant!" Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" and the Coen brothers' "A Serious Man," and films made in the Middle East. Among the latter is a reissue of "The Mummy," a 1969 Egyptian film restored by Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Foundation. And if that's not enough for those buying their tickets to Qatar as they read this (may we suggest Qatar Airways? It was recently voted the best business class airline in China), 31 of the 33 films shown at the festival are eligible for two audience awards, each totaling $50,000.

The Doha Tribeca Film Festival is a collaboration between Qatar's Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and CEO Abdulla Al Najjar of the Qatar Museums Authority and the Tribeca Film Festival founders: Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff, and Robert De Niro. 

-- Paul Gaita

Photo: Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart. Credit: Fox Searchlight