Two days after winning the Best Narrative Film Award at the Tribeca Film Festival the Australian film "The Rocket" took home the Best Audience Award.
Directed by Kim Mourdant, "The Rocket" tells the story of young boy living in Laos, trying to change his luck. The film picked up $25,000 with the award. "The Rocket" also premiered at the Berlinale Film Festival where it was greeted with rave reviews and also won three awards.
The documentary audience award went to "Bridegroom." The film by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason focuses on the fight for marriage equality in California, as seen through one couple, Shane Bitney Crone and Tom Bridegroom.
The winners were chosen by audience members who cast ballots on their way out of screenings. Director of Programming Genna Terranova said in a press release, "Our audiences have chosen two films that testify to the power of the human spirit and hope for change. Whether it's the fight for marriage equality in the U.S. or a boy struggling against all odds in war torn Laos, audiences were clearly moved by these two inspiring stories."
The other awards were handed out Thursday night. Meera Menon's "Farah Goes Bang" won the first annual "Nora Ephron Award" which also included a $25,000 prize. The accolade was created to award an emerging female director.
Other winners included "The Broken Circle Breakdown" which took home two awards including Best Actress and Best Screenplay. "Before Snowfall" won best Cinematography
"Harmony Lessons," "Oxyana" and "The Kill Team" were also among the winners as well as the Thomas Haden Church starrer "Whitewash."
"The Rocket" and "Bridegroom" are still in search of distribution in the US.
The Tribeca Film Festival comes to a close on Sunday and will present the audience award winners as well as some other films requested by popular demand.