IWC Celebrates Filmmaking at Annual Tribeca Film Festival Gala

New York, 24 April 2016 - At the Tribeca Film Festival® in New York, IWC Schaffhausen celebrated the art of filmmaking and showcased its support for emerging artists at the fourth annual “For the Love of Cinema” gala dinner. IWC CMO Franziska Gsell co-hosted the evening with Tribeca Film Festival founders Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff. The luxury watch manufacturer delighted the 200 notable guests with the presentation of the IWC Filmmaker Award, which went to this year’s honouree, Matt Ruskin. IWC brand ambassadors Scott Eastwood and Dev Patel, and host, comedian Joel McHale, entertained the star-studded crowd before an exclusive performance by JOHNNYSWIM closed the evening’s event.

IWC CMO Franziska Gsell welcomed esteemed IWC brand ambassadors Dev Patel, Karolina Kurkova and Scott Eastwood, as well as TFF jurors Jason Biggs, Jennifer Westfeldt, Judy Greer and Hill Harper and, finally, Tribeca Film Festival co-founders Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff at Spring Studios to the “For the Love of Cinema” dinner. Many esteemed members of the film community attended as well, including TFF directors Katie Holmes and Michael Rappaport and actress Kate Mara. As a highlight, Franziska Gsell presented this year’s award winner Matt Ruskin with the USD 50,000 film grant, as well as the official IWC Filmmaker Award trophy and an IWC timepiece. “The IWC Filmmaker Award is a unique opportunity to celebrate the artistry and craftsmanship of cinema,” said IWC CMO Franziska Gsell. “Filmmakers tell us stories, bring history and current events to life, and provide us with a better understanding of the world around us. Our goal is to encourage this passion by helping notable artists to develop their projects and make them accessible to a larger audience.”

Matt Ruskin started his career as a production assistant on Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream”. Now, he shows his amazing skills as the writer and director of his own film project “Untitled Colin Warner Project”. He left a profound impression on jury members Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, Anna Ponder, Executive Director of Tribeca Film Institute®, Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President of the Tribeca Film Festival, and last year’s award winner, Deb Shoval, who is premiering her film “AWOL” at this year’s festival (“AWOL” producer Laura Teodosio also participated in the deliberation). The film tells the story of Colin Warner, who was wrongfully convicted of murder, and his best friend Carl King, who devotes his life to proving Colin’s innocence. “For me, this film was a standout from this year’s selection. Matt Ruskin clearly is emerging as a force to be reckoned with; his moving story showcases friendship and love, all while dealing with a criminal injustice,” said Georges Kern, explaining the motivation behind the jury’s choice.

A valuable contribution to the future of film

The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer founded its IWC Filmmaker Award several years ago to support up-andcoming filmmakers on their path of innovation and creation. IWC presents the award as part of its commitment to the film festivals of Beijing, Zurich, London and Dubai, and now for the fourth time in its role as Official “Festival-Time” Partner of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. The year-round nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute, which supports both new and established filmmakers with grants and professional development, invited filmmakers to submit their rough cuts and scene selects for consideration for the IWC Filmmaker Award. Those whose innovative artistic approach impressed the jury made it to the shortlist. Deb Shoval, who won last year’s IWC Filmmaker Award for “AWOL”, had this to say: “Winning the IWC Filmmaker Award has helped me continue finishing my film and allowed me to spend more time developing my film that will premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. It is a privilege to have the ability to create new content without having to limit myself, as a result of this generous award.”

A unique timepiece to remember this year’s festival

Earlier that day, IWC had launched the Portugieser Annual Calendar Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2016” (Ref. 503506), which is powered by the IWC-manufactured 52850 calibre. Located at “12 o’clock” on the dial, IWC’s annual calendar shows the month, date and day in three separate, semicircular windows. The “American” order in which the date is shown was not only necessary from a technical and design point of view, but also pays tribute to F.A. Jones, IWC’s American founder. With its voluminous 44.2-millimetre case, grooved bezel, classic railway-track-style chapter ring, slim feuille hands and Arabic numerals, the Portugieser Annual Calendar very closely resembles the original Portugieser of 1939, a veritable design icon. The dial is a subtle slate colour which embodies the New York City streets to honour the Tribeca Film Festival, while the small seconds subdial and the power reserve display are Bordeaux-coloured, symbolizing the red carpets - a glamorous mainstay of the film industry often visible around the world, from film premieres to award shows. The oscillating weight bears the logo of the Tribeca Film Festival, and the milled lettering 01/50 is a reminder that only very few watch lovers will be able to secure this extra-special edition.

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN

With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity.

One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.

About Tribeca Film Institute

Tribeca Film Institute champions cutting-edge storytelling for social change in our communities and around the world. Each year, we identify a diverse group of exceptional filmmakers and media artists then empower them with funding and resources to fully realize their stories and connect with audiences. Furthermore, our education programmes empower students through hands-on training and exposure to socially relevant films, offering young people the media skills necessary to be creative and productive global citizens. We are a year-round nonprofit arts organization founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in the wake of 11 September 2001.

About the Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival, now in its 15th year, brings together visionaries across industries and diverse audiences to celebrate the power of storytelling. A platform for independent filmmaking, creative expression and immersive entertainment, Tribeca supports emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning filmmakers, curates innovative and interactive experiences and introduces new technology and ideas through panels, premieres, exhibitions and live performance. Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Tribeca has evolved from an annual event to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan into a gathering place for filmmakers, artists, innovators and the global creative community. Through programmes that embrace storytelling in all of its expansive forms - from film and music to video games and online work, TFF reimagines the cinematic experience and explores how art can unite communities.