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New York, NY – May 6, 2006 – The fifth annual Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by American Express, today announced the winners of its competitions at an awards dinner at The Golden Bridge.

A full list of awards, sponsors, presenters, prize amounts and associated artwork is attached.

This year’s Festival included 274 films from 40 countries and featured panel discussions, filmmaker events, gala premieres of major studio releases, and the Family Festival

“We're very pleased with the growth of the festival and most appreciative of the support we've received from our sponsors, the community and all our volunteers,” said Robert De Niro.

“I want to thank the filmmakers for choosing Tribeca and being part of our family for the last two weeks,” said Jane Rosenthal. “The diversity of your stories and varied perspectives is what inspires us to put this Festival together each year, they not only entertain but educate and inform.”

“Our competition jurors faced some tough choices this year but what buoyed us above all was the sense we had from all the participants that merely being selected to be shown in Tribeca this year left all filmmakers feeling like winners,” said Peter Scarlet, the Festival’s executive director.

In addition to cash awards and in-kind services provided by sponsors – including AMC; American Express; Saturn; Budweiser Select; Apple; Delta Air Lines; Bloomberg; Empire State Development Corporation/I Love New York; Alfred P. Sloan Foundation - the Festival presented the winners with awards created by acclaimed artists.

“For five years we have been fortunate to have renowned local and international artists support the Festival and filmmakers by creating and donating art for our awards. It is one of the things that makes winning an award at Tribeca so unique,” said Jennifer Maguire, President of the Festival.

“American Express is proud to have been the Founding Sponsor of the Festival since its inception. In five years, the Festival has discovered and nurtured scores of talented filmmakers, and created a thriving and dynamic global marketplace for film and film-lovers,” said John Hayes, chief marketing officer of American Express.

Following are the awards and their winners:

The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – Blessed By Fire (Iluminados por el Fuego), Directed by Tristán Bauer, Argentina, Spain.

Best Documentary Feature – War Tapes, Directed by Deborah Scranton, USA.

Special Documentary Jury Prize – Voices of Bam, Directed by Aliona van der Horst and Maasja Ooms, Netherlands. Outstanding achievement in documentary to Jesus Camp, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, USA; Jonestown:The Life and Death of Peoples Temple , directed by Stanley Nelson, USA; MAQUILOPOLIS: city of factories, directed by Vicky Funari and Sergio de la Torre, USA/Mexico.

Best New Narrative Filmmaker – Marwan Hamed for The Yacoubian Building (Omaret Yacoubian), Egypt.

Best New Documentary Filmmaker – Pelin Esmer for The Play (Oyun), Turkey.

Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Jürgen Vogel in The Free Will (Der Freie Wille), Germany. Special mention to Adel Imam, The Yacoubian Building (Omaret Yacoubian), Egypt.

Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Eva Holubovà in Holiday Makers (Ucastnici zájezdu), Czech Republic. Special mention to the ensemble cast of Holiday Makers (Ucastnici zájezdu).

NY Loves Film Documentary – When I Came Home, Directed by Dan Lohaus, USA.
Honorable mention to Jack Smith and the Destruction Of Atlantis, Directed by Mary Jordan, USA and The Cats of Mirikitani, Directed by Linda Hattendorf, USA.

Best Made in New York Narrative Feature – The Treatment, Directed by Oren Rudavsky, USA.
Honorable mention to A Very Serious Person, Directed by Charles Busch, USA.

Best Narrative Short - The Shovel, Directed by Nick Childs, USA.
Special mention to Topor and Me (Topor et moi), Directed by Sylvia Kristel, Netherlands.

Best Documentary Short - Native New Yorker, Directed by Steve Bilich, USA.

Student Visionary Award – Dead End Job, Directed by Samantha Davidson Green, USA.

Audience Award - The Cats of Mirikitani, Directed by Linda Hattendorf, USA.

Tribeca Film Institute/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Screenplay Development Winners –Signature series: The Starry Messenger, Screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan. Main program: Project Mustard, Screenwriter Ban Zeff & Producer Andrew Bendel and Challenger, Screenwriter Nicole Perlman.

Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award for Narrative Feature – Before the Beast Returns by Sterlin Harjo.

Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award for Documentary Feature– Outside the Box by Lacey Schwartz.
Honorable mention – Free Angela & All Political Prisoners by Shola Lynch.

Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award for Screenwriting – Milton Liu for John Hughes Ruined My Life.
Honorable mention - Ose Oyamendan for Resistance.

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff as a response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Conceived to foster the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture, the Festival’s mission is to promote New York City as a major filmmaking center and help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience.

The 2006 Festival, presented by American Express, will run from April 25 – May 7, 2006. Reflecting the festival’s continued growth, it will expand this year to more neighborhoods throughout Manhattan and feature screenings, special events, concerts, a family street fair, and panel discussions. For more information, please visit www.tribecafilmfestival.org

As Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, American Express is committed to expanding the Festival and bringing it to new audiences in compelling ways. As part of a long-term partnership with the Festival, American Express celebrates filmmakers, facilitates storytelling and is dedicated to bringing energy and business to Lower Manhattan.

The Tribeca Film Festival is pleased to announce the return of their Signature Sponsors: General Motors, Budweiser Select, WNBC, Nokia, Apple, Aquafina, Delta Air Lines, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Vanity Fair, Empire State Development Corporation/I Love New York, Brookfield Properties, the Tribeca Grand Hotel, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Festival is also honored to welcome the following new sponsors to the Tribeca Film Festival: RR Donnelley, CA, AMC Loews Theatres, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Festa Internazionale di Roma.

Full List of Award Details: Awards, Sponsors, Presenters - Prizes, Artwork, and Jury

The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – Blessed By Fire (Iluminados por el Fuego), Directed by Tristán Bauer, Argentina, Spain. Presented by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal with Dick Walsh. Winner receives $25,000. Art award "Twin City Theatre", created by Wim Wenders. Jury compromised Ed Burns, Terry George, Josh Lucas, Kelly Lynch, Antonio Skármeta, Trudie Styler and Melvin Van Peebles.

Best Documentary Feature – War Tapes, Directed by Deborah Scranton, USA. Presented by Ken Burns and Ira Yohalem. Winner receives $15,000. Art award "Untitled", created by Alex Katz. Jury compromised Ken Burns, Robert Drew, Whoopi Goldberg, Oren Jacoby, Rory Kennedy and Marc Levin.

Special Documentary Jury Prize - Voices of Bam, Directed by Aliona van der Horst and Maasja Ooms, Netherlands. Presented by Ken Burns and Ira Yohalem. Winner receives $10,000. Art award "Morocco”, created by Clifford Ross. Jury compromised Ken Burns, Robert Drew, Whoopi Goldberg, Oren Jacoby, Rory Kennedy and Marc Levin.

Best New Narrative Filmmaker – Marwan Hamed for The Yacoubian Building (Omaret Yacoubian), Egypt. Sponsored by American Express (My Life, My Card). Presented by Josh Lucas and John Hayes, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer. Winner receives $25,000. Art award "Compromised", created by Walton Ford. Jury compromised Ed Burns, Terry George, Josh Lucas, Kelly Lynch, Antonio Skármeta, Trudie Styler and Melvin Van Peebles.

Best New Documentary Filmmaker – Pelin Esmer for The Play (Oyun), Turkey. Sponsored by American Express (My Life, My Card). Presented by Ken Burns and John Hayes. Winner receives $25,000. Jury compromised Ken Burns, Robert Drew, Whoopi Goldberg, Oren Jacoby, Rory Kennedy and Marc Levin.

Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Jürgen Vogel in The Free Will (Der Freie Wille), Germany. Sponsored by Delta Air Lines. Presented by Lucy Liu and Joan Vincenz, Managing Director, Marketing, Delta Air Lines. Winner receives two round-trip, business elite tickets anywhere Delta Air Lines flies. Jury compromised Ed Burns, Terry George, Josh Lucas, Kelly Lynch, Antonio Skármeta, Trudie Styler and Melvin Van Peebles.

Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Eva Holubova in Holiday Makers (Ucastnici zajezdu), Czech Republic. Sponsored by Delta Air Lines. Presented by Lucy Liu and Joan Vincenz. Winner receives two round-trip, business elite tickets anywhere Delta Air Lines flies. Jury compromised Ed Burns, Terry George, Josh Lucas, Kelly Lynch, Antonio Skármeta, Trudie Styler and Melvin Van Peebles.

NY Loves Film Documentary – When I Came Home, Directed by Dan Lohaus, USA. Sponsored by New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development, Post Factory and Kodak. Presented by Moby and Pat Kaufman, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Theater Development. Winner receives $5,000. Art award "The Gates", created by Jeanne-Claude and Christo. Jury compromised Victor Buhler, David Edelstein, Glenn Kenny, Moby and Rosie Perez.

Best Made in New York Narrative Feature –The Treatment, Directed by Oren Rudavsky, USA. Sponsored by New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting. Presented by Moby, Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting, and Richard Heller. Winner receives $10,000 value-in-kind legal services and $5,000 from NYC Mayor’s Office of Film Theatre & Broadcasting on Filmmakers next project. Art award created by Julian Schnabel. Jury Compromised Thelma Adams and Mike Atkinson and Candace Bushnell, Wyclef Jean, Georgia Lee and James Truman.

Best Narrative Short – The Shovel, USA, Directed by Nick Childs. Sponsored by Saturn. Presented by Gayle King and Bob Milot. Winner receives $5,000. Art award "Sydney Greenlee", created by Ann Chernow. Jury compromised Mark Cuban, Laurence Fishburne, Gayle King, Shelly Lazarus, Samantha Morton, Lou Reed and Julia Stiles.

Best Documentary Short – Native New Yorker, USA, Directed by Steve Bilich. Sponsored by Saturn. Presented by Gayle King and Bob Milot, Regional Marketing Manager, Saturn. Winner receives $5,000. Art award "Cloudscape", created by Lorna Simpson. Jury compromised Joe Angio, Deborah Forte, Michael Graves, Craig Newmark, Charlotte Ronson and Andy Spade.

Student Visionary Award – Dead End Job, USA, Directed by Samantha Davidson Green. Sponsored by Apple. Presented by Craig Newmark and Suzanne Lindberg. Winner receives Mac G5 with Final Cut Pro. Art award "Dawn Light for the Tribeca Film Festival", created by Stephen Hannock. Jury compromised Joe Angio, Deborah Forte, Michael Graves, Craig Newmark, Charlotte Ronson and Andy Spade.

Audience Award – The Cats of Mirikitani, USA, Directed by Linda Hattendorf. Sponsored by Budweiser Select. Presented by Richard Schiff and Tony Ponturo, Vice President, Global Media & Sports Marketing, Anheuser-Busch. Winner receives $25,000.

Tribeca Film Institute/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Screenplay Development Winners –Signature series: The Starry Messenger, Screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan. Main program: Project Mustard, Screenwriter Ban Zeff & Producer Andrew Benzel and Challenger, Screenwriter Nicole Perlman. Presented by Doron Weber from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Winners receive $48,000.

Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award for Narrative Feature – Before the Beast Returns by Sterlin Harjo. Presented by Alice Wu. Winner receives $10,000. Art award "From 1 Vision 2 Another", created by Sophie Matisse. Jury compromised Dianne Houston, Dennis Lee, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Karyn Kusama, John Trudell.

Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award for Documentary Feature – “Outside the Box” by Lacey Schwartz. Sponsored by The Playboy Foundation. Presented by Alice Wu. Winner receives $10,000. Art award "Tooba Series", created by Shirin Neshat. Jeff Koons. Jury compromised Sam Pollard, Serena Altschul, Diane Weyermann, Paula Heredia.

Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award for Screenwriting – Milton Liu for “John Hughes Ruined My Life”. Presented by Alice Wu. Winner receives $5,000. Art award "Donkey", created by Jeff Koons. Jury compromised Alice Wu, Sabrina Dhawan, Emanuel Nunez.
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