(January 24, 2008) FILM INDEPENDENT RECEIVES THREE-YEAR GRANT FROM JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
Grant to Support Organization's Talent Development and Diversity Initiatives

LOS ANGELES (January 23, 2008) -- Film Independent announced today that it has received a three-year, $150,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation to further its Talent Development Programs and diversity initiatives. The grant will specifically support Film Independent's signature diversity program, Project:Involve, and three editions of Film Independent's annual talent guide,which spotlights graduates, or Fellows, of Film Independent's Talent Development Programs.

"We are incredibly grateful to the James Irvine Foundation for their support. They were there for us at the beginning of Project:Involve, and are now helping us build on our successes," said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent. "Our talent development and diversity initiatives representthe heart and soul of Film Independent, and this grant enables us to support and encourage our talented graduates as they grow in their careers."

"We are pleased to support Film Independent to develop and promote the next generation of diverse California filmmakers," said Jeanne Sakamoto, Senior Program Officer for the Irvine Foundation's Arts program. "By supporting the work of emerging, underrepresented film artists, Film Independent is able to directly impact the range of cultural perspectives represented on screen."

Film Independent's Talent Development Programs are incubators for the next generation of independent filmmakers, providing them with the opportunity to develop new work and advance their filmmaking careers in a nurturing yet challenging creative environment. Project:Involve is dedicated to increasing cultural diversity in the film industry by cultivating the careers of under-represented filmmakers. The program, which runs annually from October through June, offers a combination of one-on-one mentorships, filmmaking workshops, community screenings, and job placement. Additionally, Project:Involve Fellows receive a complimentary one-year membership to Film Independent.

Film Independent's annual talent guide will connect graduates of Film Independent's Talent Development Programs - Project:Involve; Filmmaker Labs for directors, producers, and writers; the Los Angeles Film Festival Fast Track Program; and grant recipients of the 2008 Spirit Awards - to film industry professionals who are looking to develop new projects and/or hire talented filmmakers. The first guide will be published in June of 2008.

Both Project:Involve and the Film Independent's new talent guide will help open doors for underrepresented filmmakers who lack the necessary "in" one needs to break into the film industry - whether it's to land a paying industry job, or to have his or her film made and seen.

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.

ABOUT THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION

The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit grant making foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful and inclusive society. The Foundation's grant making is organized around three program areas: Arts, Youth and California Perspectives, which focuses on improving decision making on significantstate issues. Since 1937 the Foundation has provided over $1 billion in grants to more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations.