2006 Independent Spirit Awards Call for Entries, Date Announced
Los Angeles - Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent, announced today that the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2006. Hudson also announced that nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards will be released on Tuesday, November 29, 2005.

It was also announced that this year's Independent Spirit Awards nomination guidelines have been modified to allow for a new budget ceiling of $20 million for all eligible films.

''The Film Independent Board of Directors felt that a $20 million ceiling gave the committee wide latitude in choosing original, provocative films that are still made with an ‘economy of means,''' said Hudson. ''The mandate remains the same for the members of the Nominating C+D87ommittee, but this new limit further clarifies which films fit the Spirit Awards guidelines.''

''Having just celebrated our 20th Anniversary of the Independent Spirit Awards, we feel more focused and committed than ever that the Spirit Awards celebrate the best in original filmmaking and further increase an audience and awareness for these films,'' added Hudson. ''Film Independent continues to celebrate the wide spectrum of independent filmmaking – from micro-budget films by novice filmmakers to those produced by veterans with more available resources.''

Film Independent (formerly IFP/Los Angeles) is now accepting submissions for the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards, which has a final deadline of October 14, 2005. Entries can be completed online at FilmIndependent.org or sent to Film Independent, Attention: Independent Spirit Awards Nominations, 8750 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211. For complete entry requirements and a submission form, visit FilmIndependent.org or call (310) 432-1211.

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, 2005 or shown at one of the following festivals in 2005: 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 Independent Spirit Awards is a celebration of independent filmmakers who bring a unique vision and a spirit of independence to filmmaking.

Keeping with its roots and L.A. location, the Independent Spirit Awards takes 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, 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.

The Spirit Awards celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2005. The awards were hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, and winners included: ''Sideways,'' which won six awards including Best Feature and Best Director (Alexander Payne); ''Garden State'' for Best First Feature (Zach Braff); Catalina Sandino Moreno in ''Maria Full of Grace'' for Best Female Lead; ''The Sea Inside'' for Best Foreign Film; and ''Metallica: Some Kind of Monster'' for Best Documentary.

Film Independent is the largest non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. We help filmmakers get movies made and seen by audiences. Additionally, we work to increase diversity in the industry by helping filmmakers from underrepresented communities tell their stories.

Film Independent also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international independent film; and the Independent Spirit Awards, the premier awards event of the independent film community. Our members attend nominee screenings for the Independent Spirit Awards, view nominated films through Netflix, and vote for the winners.

First Feature, 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.

The event is broadcast live on IFC and rebroadcast on AMC. The 2006 Red Carpet Arrivals Show will be broadcast on WE.

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 The Spirit Awards celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2005. The awards were hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, and winners included: ''Sideways,'' which won six awards including Best Feature and Best Director (Alexander Payne); ''Garden State'' for Best First Feature (Zach Braff); Catalina Sandino Moreno in ''Maria Full of Grace'' for Best Female Lead; ''The Sea Inside'' for Best Foreign Film; and ''Metallica: Some Kind of Monster'' for Best Documentary.

Film Independent is the largest non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. We help filmmakers get movies made and seen by audiences. Additionally, we work to increase diversity in the industry by helping filmmakers from underrepresented communities tell their stories.

Film Independent also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international independent film; and the Independent Spirit Awards, the premier awards event of the independent film community. Our members attend nominee screenings for the Independent Spirit Awards, view nominated films through Netflix, and vote for the winners.