Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) has announced this year’s participants in its Artists Awards Program, which presents artworks instead of trophies to winning filmmakers.
The artists donating work are Inka Essenhigh, Stephen Hannock, Mark Innerst, Tom Otterness, Will Ryman, Clifford Ross, Taryn Simon and Nate Lowman, as well as the estate of Robert De Niro, Sr. Additional artists will be announced soon.
TFF co-founder Jane Rosenthal came up with the idea of the Artists Awards Program as a way to recognize New York artists, and to demonstrate “the importance of artists supporting each other in their work.”
Some artists are creating original works for the program while others have given older pieces. Rosenthal leaves it up to the artists to make their selections. The works include paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures. An exhibition of the trophy—art will be on view in April. Details to be announced. Go to www.tribecafilm.com/festival for more information.
In November, De Niro announced the establishment of the Robert De Niro, Sr., Prize for painters, in honor of his father. The prize is funded by the actor and administered by the Tribeca Film Institute, which also gives grants to filmmakers.
Past participants in the program have included Chuck Close, Nan Goldin, Kiki Smith, Bruce Weber, Joseph Kosuth, Francesco Clemente, Ross Bleckner, Don Gummer (Meryl Streep’s husband), and repeats Hannock and Ross.
This year’s film festival runs from Apr. 20 to May 1. The awards will be presented on Apr. 28.
ABOVE: ROBERT DE NIRO, SR. ANNA CHRISTIE ENTERING THE BARN, 1965–67, COURTESY TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL.
