(August 9, 2006) 2007 INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
LOS ANGELES (August 9, 2006) – Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent, announced today that the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2007. Hudson also announced that nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards will be released on Tuesday, November 28, 2006.

It was also announced that Film Independent is now accepting submissions for the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards with the early deadline on Friday, September 15, 2006 and final deadline of Friday, October 6, 2006. The Independent 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 FilmIndependent.org. Submissions should be sent to Film Independent, Attention: Independent Spirit Awards Nominations, 9911 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035.

This year's ceremony is sponsored by Premier Sponsors IFC and Axium as well as Principal Sponsor Pop Secret®. On 3 Productions will produce the Official 2007 Independent Spirit Awards General Attendee Gift Bag and Presenter Gift Lounge. WireImage is the Official Photographer of the Independent Spirit Awards. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner of Film Independent.

The 2007 ceremony airs live on Saturday, February 24, beginning at 5:00 pm EST on IFC (Independent Film Channel). An edited re-broadcast will air later that evening on AMC at 10:00 pm EST/PST.

"Since its inception, the Independent Spirit Awards has become the pinnacle of recognizing innovative independent filmmaking," said Hudson. "Film Independent prides itself on championing a wide spectrum of independent filmmaking, cultivating diversity and bringing distinct perspectives to the filmmaking foreground."

Keeping with its roots and L.A. location, the Independent Spirit Awards take place each year inside a beachfront 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.

As the first event to honor independent film exclusively, the Independent 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. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit Awards.

Independent Spirit Awards winners are chosen by Film Independent members with voting privileges extended to IFP members. Voters attend nominee screenings and view nominated films through Netflix before selecting the Spirit Awards winners.

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, 2006 or shown at one of the following festivals in 2006: the Los Angeles Film Festival, New Directors/New Films, New York, Sundance, Telluride, or Toronto.

The Independent 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 2006 Independent Spirit Awards were hosted by Sarah Silverman and winners included "Brokeback Mountain," which won awards for Best Feature and Best Director (Ang Lee); "Crash" for Best First Feature (Paul Haggis); Felicity Huffman in "Transamerica" for Best Female Lead; Phillip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote" for Best Male Lead; "Paradise Now" for Best Foreign Film; and "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" for Best Documentary.

Film Independent, the largest non-profit membership organization for independent filmmakers, cultivates the careers of independent filmmakers, builds the audience for independent films, and increases diversity in the film industry. Film Independent provides its members with more than 250 annual events and screenings, along with professional advice, educational programs, affordable camera and equipment rentals, and discounts to hundreds of industry-related businesses.

Film Independent also offers Filmmaker Labs, giving filmmakers the opportunity to develop their projects, and Project:Involve, a mentorship and job placement program that pairs filmmakers from culturally diverse communities with film industry professionals. Film Independent produces the Independent Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international cinema. For more information, visit FilmIndependent.org.