When We Leave leaves Tribeca triumphant

by Bénédicte Prot

30/04/2010 - At the 9th edition of New York’s Tribeca Film Festival, the Best Film Award (worth $25,000) went to Feo Aladag’s German title When We Leave [trailer, film focus].

This soberly moving debut feature, which attracted Cineuropa’s attention at its screening in the Panorama section at the latest Berlinale (see review), also earned Best Actress for Sibel Kekilli. She plays a Turkish-German mother who, despite all her efforts, is forced by her family and her culture’s traditions to make a terrible choice between them and her child.

Besides the double triumph of Aladag’s film, European cinema swept up all the other prizes in the narrative section. A Special Jury Mention went to Turkish director Ferzan Ozpetek’s Italian film Loose Cannons [trailer]; while France’s Kim Chapiron was crowned Best New Director (and took home $25,000) for Dog Pound.

Meanwhile, Eric Elmosnino received Best Actor for his title role in Joann Sfar’s Je T’aime, Moi Non Plus [trailer].

Best New Documentary Filmmaker ($25,000) was awarded to Clio Barnard for UK production The Arbor and a Special Jury Mention went to Ireland’s Michael Creagh for his narrative short The Crush.

Finally, Best New York Documentary was presented to Italian co-production The Woodmans.

(Translated from French)