It shouldn’t be too surprising that a young film fest like Tribeca, which only started in 2002, would embrace youth itself. But to do so on such a broad scale is astounding—the festival is famous for bringing work that embraces the young adult experience from countries around the world to audiences in New York. Here is a look back at just some of the incredible, varied and envelope-pushing films to have been honored with top awards in years past:
War Witch, the 2012 entry that followed a 12 year old sub-Saharan girl named Komona who is forced into becoming a child soldier, surprised everyone by claiming two top prizes: Best Film and Best Actress.
She Monkeys, Sweden’s entry in 2011, was a fascinating look at how athletics and the notion of competition can affect the friendship of two schoolgirls. Much loved by critics and audiences alike, this complex drama took home the top film award.
Let the Right One In, also from Sweden, might still be to date the best attempt at mixing YA themes with a fresh take on the horror genre. This film, about a child vampire and the shy neighbor she befriends, later inspired an American version starring Chloe Grace Moretz, but the original still stands out as strongly as it did at the 2008 fest.
Roger Dodger, starring a then 19-year-old Jesse Eisenberg,was the first film to win the Tribeca Fest back in 2002. In the same vein as Tadpole and even Biloxi Blues, this sharp and sometimes dark comedy follows 16-year-old Nick (Eisenberg) as he somewhat desperately navigates the process of trying to lose his virginity, with the help of his jaded uncle (Campbell Scott).
Of course, G.B.F. deserves special mention here as well, since the film premiered at last year’s festival and went on to become YA Mag’s first ever Film of the Year! A fresh take on the high school comedy, Darren Stein’s romp is now enjoying success on a theatrical run all over the world.
In The Exploding Girl, standout performer Zoe Kazan won the Tribeca 2009 Best Actress award for portraying an epileptic young woman trying to balance her feelings for her new boyfriend and the responsibilities of being a hospitable friend to a troubled freeloader.
So now, the question is, will the YA Streak continue this year? Check out the preview of what we’re looking forward to most at the 2014 fest to find out!