Priscilla Anany picks Best New Director Award at Tribeca Film Festival

Ghana’s Priscilla Anany was adjudged Best New Narrative Director at the 2016 edition of Tribeca Film Festival in New York USA with her movie, “Children of the Mountain.”

She becomes the first Ghanaian movie director in history to win the award.

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff, to enable the international film community and the general public to experience the power of film by redefining the film festival experience.”

It was founded to celebrate New York City as a major filmmaking center and to contribute to the long-term recovery of lower Manhattan.

2016 edition of the festival also came off with an award ceremony and among the winners was Ghana’s very own Priscilla Anany, who won with her breakthrough first feature film “Children of the Mountain.”

Filmed in Ghana and produced by I60 Productions, the film features heavy weight actors including Adjetey Anang, Grace Omaboe (Maame Dokunu), Akofa Edjeani, William Addo (Akpatse) and Agbeko “Bex” Mortty amongst others.

“So many of the films we had the pleasure of viewing were expertly directed and worthy of recognition. The winning director presents a fearless and heart-wrenching tale of an embattled mother’s high stakes journey to heal her sick child and ultimately herself. The film delicately and powerfully directs us through an emotionally resonant story that is dark for truthful reasons and simultaneously hopeful,” the Tribeca jury said in a commentary about the film.

Due to the award the showings of the film extended by 3 more sittings on Sunday, April 24, the last day of the festival.

The film will premiere in Ghana on July 1 (Republic Day) at the Silverbird Cinemas, Accra Mall.