(Nov. 16, 2006) FELICITY HUFFMAN AND DON CHEADLE PAIR UP TO PRESENT THE 2007 FILM INDEPENDENT`S SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
Film Independent announced today that Felicity Huffman and Don Cheadle will present the nominees for the 2007 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards, on November 28, 2006, at 8:00 a.m. PST at the Sofitel LA hotel. This marks the first time that the nominations have been announced at the Sofitel LA hotel.

Huffman took home a Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in 2006 for Transamerica; Cheadle won a Spirit Award for Best First Feature in 2006 as a producer on Crash and was nominated for Best Supporting Male in 2002 for Things Behind the Sun. Cheadle also sits on the Film Independent Board of Directors.

“Both Felicity and Don have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to independent filmmaking throughout their careers,” said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent. “We are ecstatic to have them announce this year’s nominees.”

Selected from more than 250 submissions, this year’s winners will be unveiled at Film Independent’s Spirit Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 24, 2007, in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. Sarah Silverman will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the second consecutive year.

The ceremony will air live beginning at 5:00 pm EST on IFC (Independent Film Channel). Live red carpet footage will precede the show starting at 4:30 pm EST on WE tv, and an edited re-broadcast of the ceremony will air later that evening on AMC at 10:00 pm EST/PST.

Huffman has proven herself as an exceptional actress in both dramatic and comedic roles. In addition to her Spirit Award, her lead role in Transamerica earned her numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination.

Huffman currently stars as Lynette Scavo on the ABC hit series Desperate Housewives,” a role for which she has received multiple honors, including an Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series; a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series; and a Golden Globe for Best Television Series-Comedy or Musical. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Comedy for Desperate Housewives. Huffman recently completed production on the feature film Georgia Rule with Jane Fonda and Lindsay Lohan, directed by Garry Marshall.

Since being named Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics for his breakout performance opposite Denzel Washington in Devil in a Blue Dress, Don Cheadle has consistently given powerful performances on the stage and screen. Last year he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for Hotel Rwanda and also garnered Golden Globe, Broadcast Film Critics, and Screen Actors Guild award nominations for his role in the film.

Cheadle recently finished shooting feature films Empty City (with Adam Sandler) and Talk to Me, along with Ocean’s Thirteen for his third appearance as Basher Tarr opposite George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT’S SPIRIT AWARDS

The 2007 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards is sponsored by Premier Sponsors IFC, Netflix, and Axium, as well as Principal Sponsors Acura and Pop Secret®. Casa Del Mar, The Viceroy, Sheraton Delfina, and Shutters on the Beach are the Official Host Hotels. Wire Image is the Official Photographer of Film Independent. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner of Film Independent.

Film Independent’s Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and who dare to challenge the status quo. Televised in millions of
homes and covered internationally by the press, the Spirit Awards has become the vanguard event in independent film, recognizing the achievements of independent filmmakers and promoting independent film to a wider audience.

Selected from more than 250 submissions, awards are given in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best Foreign Film, and Best Documentary.

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: Film Independent’s 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

Last year’s Spirit Award winners included Brokeback Mountain, which won Best Feature and Best Director (Ang Lee), Capote for Best Screenplay and Best Male Lead (Philip Seymour Hoffman); Crash for Best First Feature and Best Supporting Male (Matt Dillon); Transamerica for Best Female Lead (Felicity Huffman) and Best First Screenplay; and Junebug for Best Supporting Female (Amy Adams).

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.
Nominations find new home at Sofitel L.A.; winners to be unveiled at Spirit Awards