Tribeca 2016: Nate Parker Honored With Tribeca Disruptive Innovations AwardPosted by Wilson Morales
April 24, 2016
On April 22, Blackfilm.com attended Tribeca Film Festival’s Tribeca Disruptive Innovations Awards at The John Zucotti Theater at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.
Spearheaded by TFF co-founder Craig Hatkoff in collaboration with renowned Harvard Business School Professor Clay Christensen and the Disruptor Foundation, the Tribeca Disruptive Innovations Awards aim to share insights into innovation to help solve some of the world’s most challenging problems. The awards celebrate innovators who have broken the mold to significantly impact industries and business models, creating significant change in humanitarian efforts, global conservation, social justice, education, media and community engagement.
Among the honorees being awarded this year included actor, director, producer, Nate Parker for his upcoming film, The Birth of a Nation.
Parker, who came to the festival in 2014 as an actor in ‘Every Secret Thing’ and ‘About Alex,’ decided to pursue his dreams and his passion project to the big screen, The Birth of Nation. Scheduled for theatrical release this October, the film follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom. The film won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2016 Sundance film festival.
Blackfilm.com spoke with Parker at Tribeca regarding the award and what it means to him.
How does it feel to receive a Tribeca Disruptive Innovations Award?
Nate Parker: The funny thing is that two years ago, I can remember working on ‘The Birth of a Nation’ project the same day I came to this event and the fact that I’m being honored for the film actually happening and honored for the idea that I had to overcome so many obstacles to do it is a bit emotional. It’s very difficult to break new ground in this industry. It’s hard enough to make a film when they tell you that you’re going against the model and it’s even more difficult to make a film that people receive and are open to; especially when it deals with race and the traumas that have happened in this country in the past. There are so many feelings and so many emotions happening all at once but I can say that this is a place I’ve wanted to be at and this is an award I couldn’t be more proud to have because it’s recognizing an idea.
To do something this hard takes a journey that is so arduous and the fact that I’m on this side of it and they acknowledged it means everything to me.
You’ve worked for over ten years in this business, but this year in particular, you are being recognized as a director for something you put this together as a writer and producer. Should other Black talent do the same in order to been seen as opposed to waiting for one big role to get on the map?
NP: I think the message to anyone that has been told “No” repeatedly and has been told “it can’t be done” or “it won’t happen” or “no one has done it before,” thats just telling you that you’re on the right path. That’s what I think. For filmmakers of African descent, yes. We have to create our own content and make our own projects; however, it’s not that simple. We also need people with resources to support those dreams and to support those goals.
My cry is for people of color specifically that understands the importance of reclaiming our narrative, we have to shop up for us. I knock on a lot of doors and not everyone that gave me money looked like me. I think we have to understand the importance of telling our own stories, and reclaiming our narrative, so we can contribute in a way that progressive and can inspire change, not just in film but in policy in every aspect of this country.
