IWC Schaffhausen and Tribeca Film Festival Host “For the Love of Cinema”

IWC Schaffhausen and Tribeca Film Festival Host “For the Love of Cinema”

Adrienne Faurote
By Adrienne Faurote April 17, 2015
Jay Dockendorf; Georges Kern; Dev Shoval; Christoph Waltz; Ryan Harrington; Joel McHale
Jay Dockendorf; Georges Kern; Dev Shoval; Christoph Waltz; Ryan Harrington; Joel McHale

Ringing in the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, IWC Schaffhausen toasted the art of cinema and showcased its support for emerging filmmakers at the third annual “For the Love of Cinema” gala dinner. Co-hosted by IWC CEO Georges Kern and Tribeca Film Festival Founders Jane Rosenthal, Robert DeNiro, and Craig Hatkoff, the luxury watch manufacturer presented this year’s IWC Filmmaker Award to this year’s honoree, Deb Shoval. 250 guests applauded the honoree while being entertained by IWC brand ambassador and two time Academy Award Winning-actor Christoph Waltz, comedian and star of Yahoo cult favorite comedy series Community Joel McHale, and singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, who closed the event with a set of some of her best known songs.

IWC Schaffhausen CEO Georges Kern, actress Grace Hightower, and Tribeca Film Festival Co-founder Robert De Niro attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)
IWC Schaffhausen CEO Georges Kern, actress Grace Hightower, and Tribeca Film Festival Co-founder Robert De Niro attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)

“For the Love of Cinema” was held at the Tribeca venue Spring Studios. There, Kern welcomed Waltz along with Tribeca Film Festival judges Gloria Steinem, Christine Lahti, Rachael Harris, and Michael Rappaport and the festival’s co-founders.

Actor Hill Harper and CEO of IWC Schaffhausen Georges Kern attends the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)
Actor Hill Harper and CEO of IWC Schaffhausen Georges Kern attends the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)

McHale got the night off to a humorous start, joking, “I’m honored to be hosting an event that brings together New York’s cultural elite. Whether you’re a lover of fine cinema, an aficionado of luxury timepieces, or just a weirdo who likes to watch others eat appetizers – we have something for everyone tonight.”

Actor Christoph Waltz and CEO of IWC Schaffhausen Georges Kern attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)
Actor Christoph Waltz and CEO of IWC Schaffhausen Georges Kern attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)

Shoval was the toast of the evening: her project AWOL impressed jury members Kern, Ryan Harrington, Vice President of Artist Programs at Tribeca Film Institute, Paula Weinstein, Executive Vice President of the Tribeca Film Festival, and last year’s award winner Jay Dockendorf.

Comedian Joel McHale attends the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)
Comedian Joel McHale attends the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)

AWOL tells the story of a teenaged girl named Joey who falls in love with Rayna, an older married mother of two. Joey is threatened by Rayna’s husband and has little employment options so she decides to join the Army. But, days before her deployment to Afghanistan, Joey returns home planning to go AWOL with Rayna and her children.

Actor Christoph Waltz (L) and TFF co-founder Robert De Niro attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)
Actor Christoph Waltz (L) and TFF co-founder Robert De Niro attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)

AWOL was the standout film from this year’s selection; Deb Shoval is very forward-thinking with the use of story and has clearly left her mark on the film,” says Kern.

Sarah McLachlan performs on stage at the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for IWC)
Sarah McLachlan performs on stage at the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for IWC)

IWC founded the award several years ago and has handed it out at festivals across the world; this being the third time a filmmaker has been awarded at the Tribeca Film Festival: “Winning the IWC Filmmaker Award has helped me continue to create new films and allowed me to spend more time developing Naz and Maalik. It is a privilege to create new content without having to limit myself as a result of this generous award,” says Dockendorf, who won the award for his documentary Nas and Maalik last year.

Designer Maxwell Osborne and Style Director Eugene Tong attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)
Designer Maxwell Osborne and Style Director Eugene Tong attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)

Kern presented Shoval with a $25,000 film grant and a Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days Edition “TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2015” (REF. IW510111). IWC created the piece in honors of its partnership with Tribeca and limited its production to 100 pieces. The brand also auctioned the Portofino Monopusher Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Unique Piece” (Ref. IW515105) in 18-carat white gold on an online auction through Christie’s. It generated $50,000.

Actress Alison Brie attends the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for IWC)
Actress Alison Brie attends the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for IWC)

“IWC’s generous contribution has allowed us to continue to support the filmmaking industry and these new artists,” said Harrington.

IWC Schaffhausen CEO Georges Kern, actress Grace Hightower, and Tribeca Film Festival Co-founder Robert De Niro attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)
IWC Schaffhausen CEO Georges Kern, actress Grace Hightower, and Tribeca Film Festival Co-founder Robert De Niro attend the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IWC)

“Filmmakers tell us stories, bring history and current events to life, and provide us with a better understanding of the world around us,” added Georges Kern. “Our goal is to encourage this passion by giving emerging artists with exciting ideas the chance to realize their projects and make them accessible to the world.”

 Jay Dockendorf, Georges Kern, Dev Shoval, Christoph Waltz, Ryan Harrington, and Joel McHale pose on stage at the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual "For the Love of Cinema" Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for IWC)
Jay Dockendorf, Georges Kern, Dev Shoval, Christoph Waltz, Ryan Harrington, and Joel McHale pose on stage at the IWC Schaffhausen Third Annual “For the Love of Cinema” Gala during the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for IWC)