The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival's 32 jurors are at the top of their field in acting, directing, writing, journalism, and art. This fantastic group of people will decide the winning films in the World Narrative Feature Competition, the World Documentary Feature Competition, the Best New York Narrative Competition, the Best New York Documentary Competition, the Narrative Shorts, the Documentary and Student Shorts, and the Tribeca All Access Competition.

In an effort to get to know these artists a little better, we asked them to submit their answers to some questions about life, art, films, and inspiration. Next up? Chef Rachael Ray and filmmaker Douglas Keeve, who are judging the Made In New York Documentary Competition.

Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray is a much beloved chef, cookbook author, and magazine editor-in-chief, whose talk show garnered at 2008 Daytime Emmy.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My mother even though she put me to work in restaurants when I was 12 years old - but I guess that worked out for me! Michael J. Fox – he is so damn cool and talented and then you lump in all that philanthropic heroic stuff - too perfect!  Don’t you just want to strangle him?!? And my red nose pitbull Isaboo, because she truly loves everyone whether they are holding steak or not

What piece of art (film/book/music/what-have-you) do you recommend to your friends?

My favorite screenplay is Network, I recommend it to everyone as a rental. The Contender, cause Joan Allen just kicks ass.  Any and all Scorsese. The box set of the television show Rescue Me and the box set of Damages. I am a huge indie music fan. One of my current favorites is The Hold Steady. My husband’s band, The Cringe and Foo Fighters. The New York Dolls recently played a party for me and killed it. Really anything Dave Grohl does and Austin artist, Bob Schneider. As for what’s in my Kindle - The Given Day, by Dennis Lehane. It starts out on a baseball field and I am a huge fan of Boston and baseball! Also The Monster of Florence, creepy but good. Marcella Hazan’s Amarcord: Marcella Remembers (and any of her cookbooks). I can read them like novels.

What would your biopic be called?

Who me?

Are there any movies that you find yourself quoting all the time?

So cliché, but true, The Godfather: “leave the gun, take the cannoli."

What's your earliest memory of seeing (and loving) a movie in the theater?

Going to Radio City Music Hall with my mom, we used to get to see the Rockettes before the film. We saw Mame. It’s not really the first movie I’ve seen, my first was Bambi, but it upset me so, I have erased it from my mind.

With what movie character do you identify most?

Tess in Working Girl.

What gets you up and going in the morning?

Coffee and pit bull kisses.

What's your life philosophy or motto?

Eat, drink and be merry.

What's your chief characteristic?

My inability to speak without moving my hands.

Tell us about one of the best meals you've ever had.

El Bulli, all 39 courses. Got so car sick on the way there. But it was so worth it except for maybe that razor clam, it repeated for several hours. I especially loved the parmesan air, with dried fruit granola on top. It was served in individual coolers and the name described the taste.

Douglas Keeve
Douglas Keeve is a TFF alum with 2008's Hotel Gramercy Park; his other documentaries include Unzipped and Seamless.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Ingmar Bergman. Sea captain Richard Phillips.

What piece of art (film/book/music/what-have-you) do you recommend to your friends?

Martin Kippenberg at MoMA right now. Don't miss it. And there's always Susan Boyle.

What would your biopic be called?

Citizen Keeve.

Are there any movies you find yourself quoting all the time?

When making a film, you watch it 500,000 times. Every single line of dialogue lives in your head for the rest of eternity. Therefore, Isaac Mizrahi, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss are always on the tip of my tongue.

What's your earliest memory of seeing a movie in the theater?

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. I walked out.

With what movie character do you identify most?

Bette Midler, Beaches.

What gets you up and going in the morning?

Fear. Anxiety. Loving my job.

What's your life philosophy or motto?

Are you serious?

What's your chief characteristic?

Fear. Anxiety. Loving my job.

Tell us about one of the best meals you've ever had.

Any of Bob's restaurants. Or go to Bali and stop at any roadside food cart. Literally the best meals I've ever eaten.

What's your favorite film festival?

Tribeca.