Doha Tribeca Film Festival Presents Top Awards To Palestinian Film And Documentary

November 2, 2009 10:20 a.m. EST

Doha, Qatar (CNS) - The first ever Doha Tribeca Film Festival has presented top Audience Awards to a Palestinian film and to a documentary on Sunday.

The "Pomegranates and Myrrh," directed by Najwa Najjar, received $50,000 after winning the Audience Award in the festival. The audience chose the film as the best Arab movie in the festival.

Another big winner was "Team Qatar," a documentary directed by Liz Mermin that tells the story of high school students taking part in an international debate. It took home $50,000 for winning the trophy.

The original Tribeca Film Festival was co-founded by Hollywood star Robert de Niro in New York in 2001. He also helped organize the Doha Tribeca Film Festival with the Qatari authorities.

Also at the festival were Martin Scorsese and Sir Ben Kingsley.