In a comptition open to narrative features as well as documentary films, audiences at the Tribeca Film Festival have selected War Child, a documentary about Emmanuel Jal, the African hip-hop artist who was a child soldier in the civil war in southern Sudan. The film shows Jal at benefit performances in Washington DC, then follows him as he returns to the Sudan to retunite with his family for the first time in 18 years and continues to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in Sudan and the horrific plight of child soldiers around the world.

The film was directed by C. Karim Chrobog, who receives a $25,000 cash prize, the art award “Peripheral Drift Illusion” created by Ryan McGinness and a one-of-a-kind trophy to commemorate his achievement.

The Cadillac Audience Award winner was determined by ballots taken from audience members as they exited festival screenings. Final results were tabulated and announced during Tribeca Presents: Best of the Festival, which aired on WNBC-TV on Saturday, May 3, 2008. War Child will be given two final festival screenings on Sunday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at AMC Village VII in New York.