The Audience Award winners have been unveiled for the 2024 Tribeca Festival, which concludes today (6/16).
In the Narrative category, first place goes to Bad Shabbos, a hilarious ensemble comedy where a Shabbat dinner in New York City takes a darkly comedic turn. Daniel Robbins directed and co-wrote (with Zack Weiner) Bad Shabbos.
Second place is awarded to The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write about a Serial Killer, a dark comedy where a struggling writer, played by John Magaro, befriends a retired serial killer, portrayed by Steve Buscemi, who becomes his unlikely muse and marriage counselor. Tolga Karacelik was writer-director.
In the Documentary category, first place goes to ¡CASA BONITA MI AMOR!, directed by Arthur Bradford. The film tells the story of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s efforts to restore the iconic Colorado “eatertainment” mecca Casa Bonita to its former glory.
Taking second place in the Documentary category is Checkpoint Zoo, directed and produced by Joshua Zeman. The film shows how after the Russian invasion, thousands of animals were trapped behind enemy lines at the zoo in Kharkiv, Ukraine. With animals running out of food and water while facing constant peril from Russian bombs, a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers undertake a daring rescue.
The announcement of the Audience Award winners comes three days after the Competition Winners were revealed for the 2024 Tribeca Festival. SHOOT’s coverage of those honored films and filmmakers can be found here.
Tilda Swinton Explores Assisted Suicide In Pedro Almodóvar’s 1st English-Language Feature
Although "The Room Next Door" is Pedro Almodóvar's first English-language feature, Tilda Swinton notes that he's never written in a language that anyone else truly speaks.
"He writes in Pedro language, and here he is making another film in another version of Pedro language, which just happens to sound a little bit like English," Swinton said.
Set in New York, Swinton stars as Martha, a terminally ill woman who chooses to end her life on her own terms. After reconnecting with her friend Ingrid, played by Julianne Moore, Martha persuades her to stay and keep her company before she goes through with her decision.
Beyond the film's narrative, Swinton said she believes individuals should have a say in their own living and dying. She acknowledges that she has personally witnessed a friend's compassionate departure.
"In my own life I had the great good fortune to be asked by someone in Martha's position to be his Ingrid (Julianne Moore)," Swinton said.
She said that experience shaped her attitude about life and death: "Not only my capacity to be witness to other people in that situation, but my own living and my own dying."
Swinton spoke about "The Room Next Door," Almodóvar and he idea of letting people die on their own terms. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Tackling that role, what was the challenge to get into the character?
SWINTON: I felt really blessed by the opportunity. So many of us have been in the situation Julianne Moore's character finds herself in, being asked to be the witness of someone who is dying. Whether that wanting to orchestrate their own dismount or not, to be in that position to be a witness is something that I've been... Read More