Tribeca Film Fest Winners Announced

War-themed works were among the top winners at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.

"The War Tapes," which offered a look at the Iraq conflict as shot by members of the New Hampshire National Guard, won the best documentary feature award, it was announced Saturday. The documentary was directed by Deborah Scranton.

Argentine director Tristan Bauer's "Iluminados por el Fuego" ("Blessed By Fire") won the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature. The film chronicles the lives of soldiers who fought in the Falklands War.

"When I Came Home," examining homelessness among U.S. veterans and the struggles they face getting government benefits, won the NY Loves Film Documentary award. The film, directed by Dan Lohaus, focuses on the story of Iraq war veteran Herold Noel.

"The Treatment," directed by Oren Rudavsky, won the award for the best narrative feature made in New York. The film is about a New York schoolteacher who battles his therapist's increasing hold on his life.

The special documentary jury prize went to "Voices of Bam," which described the experiences and hopes of the survivors of the 2003 earthquake that struck the ancient city of Bam, Iran. The film was directed by Aliona van der Horst and Maasja Ooms of the Netherlands.

Select new filmmakers were also honored at a ceremony held Saturday.

Marwan Hamed won under the narrative category for "The Yacoubian Building," a film about the lives of a group of Egyptians. Pelin Esmer won for "The Play," which tells the story of nine peasant women in Turkey who write and perform a show based on their lives.

The best actor prize went to Jurgen Vogel in "The Free Will," a German film. Best actress was awarded to Eva Holubova in "Holiday Makers," from the Czech Republic.

This year's festival included 274 films from 40 countries.

Three winners were also announced at the Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Awards held at the Tribeca Grand Hotel May 4.

Sterlin Harjo received the narrative section prize for his screenplay, "Before the Beast Returns." Lacey Schwartz won the documentary section prize for her documentary work-in-progress, "Outside the Box." Milton Liu, won for his screenplay, "John Hughes Ruined My Life."

Shola Lynch received an honorable mention for the documentary "Free Angela & All Political Prisoners" and Ose Oyamendan for the screenplay "Resistance"

TAA Creative Promise Award winners are seeking funding or representation for their scripts or documentary proposals. They received $10,000 for narrative and documentary pieces and $5,000 for screenplays.