(August 8, 2007) 2008 SPIRIT AWARDS CALL FOR ENTRIES, DATE ANNOUNCED
Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent, announced today that the 2008 Spirit Awards will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2008. Hudson also announced that nominations for the Spirit Awards will be released on Tuesday, November 27.

It was also announced that Film Independent is now accepting submissions for the 2008 Film Independent's Spirit Awards with the early deadline of Monday, September 17 and final deadline of Tuesday, October 9. The Spirit Awards is a celebration of independent filmmakers who bring a unique vision and a spirit of independence to filmmaking. Submission guidelines, application, and more information can be found at SpiritAwards.com. Submissions should be sent to Film Independent, Attention: Spirit Awards Nominations, 9911 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035.

This year's ceremony is sponsored by Premier Sponsors IFC, Netflix, and Axium International, Inc., as well as Principal Sponsor Pop Secret®. On 3 Productions will produce the Official 2008 Spirit Awards General Attendee Gift Bag and Presenter Gift Lounge. WireImage is the Official Photographer of the Spirit Awards. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner of Film Independent.

The 2008 ceremony airs live on Saturday, February 23, 2008, on IFC (Independent Film Channel).

"For more than two decades, the Spirit Awards has established an important place in the independent film community and within the industry," said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent. "We are proud to bring the entire film community together and celebrate artists and their unique vision to filmmaking."

Keeping with its roots and L.A. location, the Spirit Awards take place each year inside a beach-front tent in Santa Monica. Along with being a great party, the Spirit Awards ceremony brings together the top talent from independent film and Hollywood. Trophies are presented for the year's best achievements in independent film, with statues awarded for Best Feature, Best First Feature, the John Cassavetes Award (Best Feature made for under $500,000), Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best First Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Documentary, and Best Foreign Film. For the first time ever, the Robert Altman Award will be given to one film's director and ensemble cast at the 2008 Spirit Awards.

As the first event to honor independent film exclusively, the Spirit Awards has made a name for itself as the premier awards event for the independent film community. Founded in 1984, the awards started out as the FINDIE ("Friends of Independents") Awards.

Spirit Awards winners are chosen by Film Independent members with voting privileges extended to IFP members. Eligible films must be at least 70 minutes long, and the cost of the completed film, including post-production, must be under $20 million. Films must have been shown in a commercial theater for at least one week between January 1 and December 31, 2007 or shown at one of the following festivals in 2007: the Los Angeles Film Festival, New Directors/New Films, New York, Sundance, Telluride, or Toronto.

The Spirit Awards Nominating Committee applies the following guidelines in making its selections:

1. Uniqueness of vision
2. Original, provocative subject matter
3. Economy of means (with particular attention paid to total production cost and individual compensation)
4. Percentage of financing from independent sources

The 2007 Spirit Awards were hosted by Sarah Silverman and winners included "Little Miss Sunshine," which won awards for Best Feature, Best Director (Jonathon Dayton & Valerie Faris), Best First Screenplay (Michael Arndt), and Best Supporting Male (Alan Arkin); "Sweet Land" for Best First Feature (Ali Selim); Shareeka Epps in "Half Nelson" for Best Female Lead; Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson" for Best Male Lead; "The Lives of Others" for Best Foreign Film; and "The Road to Guantanamo" for Best Documentary.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is a non-profit membership organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds the audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, film industry leader, or a film lover.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent also offers free Filmmaker Labs for selected writers, directors, and producers; provides cut-rate services for filmmakers; and presents year-round networking opportunities. Film Independent's mentorship and job placement program, Project:Involve, pairs emerging culturally-diverse filmmakers with film industry professionals.

Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international cinema, and the Spirit Awards, a celebration honoring films and filmmakers that embody independence and dare to challenge the status quo.

For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.