Award Central '09
Sperandeo nabs Babelgum prizes
Italian director takes Genius and Jury awards
By NICK VIVARELLI
Posted: Tue., Apr. 28, 2009, 5:17am PT
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ROME — Tyro Italian helmer Francesco Sperandeo is the big winner of the Babelgum Online Film Festival, scooping two top nods, including the fest's Looking for Genius Award, from a jury headed by Spike Lee.

Sperandeo's short "Bab Al Samah" (Door of Forgiveness), about the cathartic desert voyage of a troubled Tunisian man, also won the fest's Jury Award. Each prize carried Euros 20,000 ($26,000) in cash.

More than 250,000 people have viewed the 651 entries in the Babelgum competition, which claims to be the first fest available for viewing via a computer and a cell phone.

The free Internet TV platform offering full-screen programming and positioning itself as close to the indie film and festival worlds handed out prizes in New York during the Tribeca fest.

Tribeca co-founder Craig Hatkoff praised the Babelgum fest for being "unique in the way it supports short filmmakers and provides a distribution opportunity for up-and-coming talent."


 

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