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By Gemma Brosnan Dos Santos
A documentary exploring the lives of a young couple with Down's Syndrome has been honoured at the ninth Tribeca Film Festival awards in New York.
Monica and David, directed by the female subject’s cousin, Alexandra Codina, follows a US couple’s preparation for marriage and won the festival's prize for best documentary on Thursday.
Briton Clio Barnard was named best new documentary maker for The Arbor, about British playwright Andrea Dunbar. Dunbar, who died at the age of 29, was best known for her play Rita, Sue and Bob Too, made into a film in 1986 film by Alan Clarke.
German film, When We Leave, the tale of a young mother embarking on a new life in Berlin, won best film and best actress for Sibel Kekilli.
Austrian film-maker Feo Aladag worked for six years on When We Leave, rehearsing with the actors for six months.
The Tribeca jury said When We Leave "examines one woman's struggle for personal freedom".
"It's a theme that is often explored but rarely told with such humanity, subtlety, craftsmanship or immediacy," the jury added, praising Lidag for balancing "complex social issues with honest human yearnings".
The best actor prize went to Eric Elmosnino for a portrayal of French singer Serge Gainsbourg and French director Kim Chapiron won the award for best new feature film-maker for drama Dog Pound, the story of three teenagers held in a detention centre.
Photocaption: Monica and David on their wedding day
Credit: Jose Miguel Photography
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