The 25th annual Tribeca Film Festival, presented by OKX, concluded on June 14 in New York City, announcing competition winners. Cotton Fever, Labrador – Autopsy of Silence, and Jail Time Records took top honors in the U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, and Documentary competitions, respectively.
Performance and Craft Awards
Marcel Ruiz, Paolo Schoene, and Kiki Montilla earned Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature for Summer of Three, while Christopher Angatookalook received Best Performance in an International Narrative Feature for Labrador – Autopsy of Silence. The festival also awarded its inaugural Best New York Short honor to Insufficient Fare.
This year's winners reflected the global scope of the festival, with honorees representing countries across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Competition categories span U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, Documentary, Viewpoints, Nora Ephron, Short Film, Best New Directors, Podcasts, Games, AT&T Untold Stories, and Tribeca X.
Festival Director's Statement
“This year’s award winners embody the spirit of Tribeca: fearless work that crosses borders, expands the form, and reveals the power of storytelling to uncover humanity in unexpected places,” said Festival Director and SVP of Programming Cara Cusumano. “As we celebrate our 25th year, these artists remind us that powerful stories do more than entertain, they deepen our empathy, broaden our perspective, and bring us closer together.”
Multiple Honors
Several films earned multiple honors. Labrador – Autopsy of Silence led the International Narrative Competition with awards for Best International Narrative Feature, Best Performance, and Best Cinematography. Summer of Three earned both Best Performance and Best Screenplay in U.S. Narrative Competition. In the Documentary Competition, Jail Time Records received both Best Documentary Feature and the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director, while Cotton Fever took the Founders Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature and Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature.
Select categories receive the unique Tribeca Festival Art Award from a selection of artists led by curator Zoe Lukov, supported by CHANEL. Winners of the Audience Award, determined by audience votes, will be announced later.
Alicia Keys Documentary
Alicia Keys closed the festival with the premiere of her new documentary Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell’s Kitchen, examining her life and career and the making of her musical Hell’s Kitchen.
Kaduna International Film Festival 2026
The 9th edition of the Kaduna International Film Festival will take place in Kaduna from August 25 to 29, 2026. Founder and CEO Isreal Kashim Audu announced that preparations include the official unveiling of nominations celebrating outstanding achievements in African and international cinema. This year’s nominations reflect growing international reach, with participation from Nigeria, Uganda, India, Sweden, Guinea-Bissau, and the United Kingdom.
Categories recognize excellence in feature films, directing, acting, cinematography, animation, documentary, indigenous storytelling, student filmmaking, editing, and production design. Nominated feature films include Wrong Number (Uganda), Longing to Belong (Uganda), Adui (Uganda), When Love Prays (Nigeria), Pink Diary (Nigeria), and Nini (Nigeria). Best Director nominees include Ssesimba Taddeo, Ben Cassie, Samuel Idiagbonya, and Nakabuunka Aisha. Actors Uzee Usman Adeyemi, Yemi Blaq, Uche Montana, Bimbo Akintola, and Patience Ozokwor earned nominations. Animation nominees include Enough, Then I Grew Up, and Amani Groove Quest. Indigenous film nominees include Oyiza, Daughter of the Soil, Broken Life, and Wane Ne. More information at www.kadunainternationalfilmfestival.com.
Imo International Film Festival 2026
The Imo International Film Festival jury announced receipt of over 110 entries for the 2026 edition. Head Juror Amayo Uzo Philips stated entries came from South Africa, Morocco, France, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Nepal, and the United States. Categories include Best Short Film, Best Screenplay, Best Make-Up, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Actor (Male/Female), Best Supporting Actor (Male/Female), Best Indigenous Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Documentary Film, and Best Feature Film. Themed “Screen to Market: Turning Stories into Sustainable Enterprise,” the festival will be held from July 23 to 25 in Owerri. More information at www.imoiff.ng.
