The 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, announced the winners of the two Heineken Audience Awards.
Two awards — one for narrative and one for documentary — were given to the audience choices for the best films. “The Rocket,” directed by Kim Mordaunt, was chosen to receive the Narrative award; the film also took top honors at the Festival awards Thursday where it received both The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature and Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film for Sitthiphon Disamoe’s performance as Ahlo.
Best documentary honors went to “Bridegroom,” directed by Linda Bloodworth Thomason.
Each award comes with a cash prize of $25,000.
Throughout the Festival, which kicked off on April 17, audiences have been given ballots to vote for the Heineken Audience awards.
From the press release: Set against the lush backdrop of rural Laos, “The Rocket” tells the story of scrappy ten-year-old Ahlo, who yearns to break free from his ill-fated destiny. After his village is displaced to make way for a massive dam, Ahlo escapes with his father and grandmother through the Laotian outback in search of a new home.
Along the way, they come across a rocket festival that offers a lucrative — but dangerous — chance for a new beginning. With the help of his new friend Kia and her eccentric, James Brown-loving uncle, Ahlo sets out to build his own rocket, enter the contest and prove his worth to his family. The Rocket’s characters, mostly played by non-professional actors, embody the spirit of resilience and hope born out of a country affected by a legacy of war and undergoing a great economic change.
“Bridegroom” chronicles the emotional journey of Shane and Tom, two young men in a loving and committed relationship. Unfortunately, their love is cut short by Tom’s accidental death, and his partner finds himself facing the failure of same-sex marriage protections that leave him completely shut out and ostracized.
Bloodworth Thomason sheds light on the often-overlooked struggles that same-sex couples face as a result of marriage inequality. As this issue heads to the United States Supreme Court for deliberation, “Bridegroom” is poised as a timely and moving documentary about love and perseverance through loss.
“We are shocked. We were so grateful to just be selected for the Festival; we never imagined we would win the audience award,” said “Bridegroom” director Linda Bloodworth Thomason. “Hopefully, the power of this story will propel the film into theaters across America and beyond.”
Leave a Reply