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Contact: Jenny Bloom, Film Independent
Tel: 480-406-7021 or jbloom@filmindependent.org

FILM INDEPENDENT SELECTS 22 FILMMAKERS FOR FAST TRACK
TO TAKE PLACE DURING 2013 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL

ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION AWARDS $15,000 GRANT
MILLENNIUM ENTERTAINMENT BESTOWS $10,000 GRANT

LOS ANGELES (June 14, 2013) – Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards, announced the 22 filmmakers and 10 projects selected for its 11th annual Fast Track program at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fast Track Welcome Luncheon on June 14, 2013 during the Los Angeles Film Festival. Fast Track is sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Millennium Entertainment and takes place during the Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs from June 13-23 in downtown Los Angeles. The program is an intensive, three-day film-financing market. During programmed one-on-one meetings, participants are connected with established financiers, production companies, agents, managers and other film industry professionals who can move their current projects forward.

“Film Independent is very proud of the efficacy of Fast Track in helping independent filmmakers get their films made. Out of the nine projects that participated in Fast Track last year, four have already premiered to critical acclaim, and another is in pre-production. This year’s Fast Track filmmakers are an exceptional group of diverse artists with vital stories deserving of support. We have high hopes for their success,” said Film Independent Director of Artist Development, Jennifer Kushner.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded the fourth annual Sloan Fast Track Grant, a $15,000 production grant to a project that fulfills the Sloan mission. This year’s Sloan Fast Track Grant was awarded to writer/director/producer Christopher Munch for his film Frank’s World: And Tales of the Fearless Brothers O. The filmmakers will also receive year-round support from Film Independent. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation seeks to create and develop new scripts about science and technology and to see them into commercial production with national and international distribution. Frank’s World: And Tales of the Fearless Brothers O. is about a visionary and energetic physicist who is diverging from the path of this iconic brother and emerges from the Red Scare after a decade of exile to build the most celebrated science museum in the world.

“We are delighted to partner with Film Independent in supporting Frank’s World, an original and affecting love story about two extraordinary brothers whose scientific careers changed the course of history and our understanding of science in radically different ways,” said Doron Weber, Vice President, Programs at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “Like the three previous Sloan-FIND Fast Track projects – Future Weather, Midnight Sun and Unmanned – we expect Frank’s World to attract a stellar cast and go into production soon, demonstrating yet again how science and technology furnish great stories and great characters that translate into great films.”

In addition, for the second consecutive year, supporter Millennium Entertainment awarded the Millennium Entertainment Fellowship, a $10,000 unrestricted production grant. This year’s recipients are producers Vincent Harris and Amy Hobby for their film Third Girl from the Left. Third Girl from the Left is the story of the other side of Hollywood in the Seventies, of what it means to be black, sexy, smart and full of dreams in a land where “Blaxploitation” is as literal as it sounds. As intense and serious as it is fun and fabulous, Third Girl from the Left, is a compelling saga of love, family secrets, and the ambitions of mothers and daughters.

“We’re so proud to be part of Fast Track and support new voices in independent film,” said Bill Lee, CEO, Millennium Entertainment. “Film Independent’s commitment to finding new creative talent is one of the driving reasons as to why we chose to become a sponsor. This is something we are deeply passionate about and believe that the team behind Third Girl from the Left have a very bright future ahead of them.”

The following projects and filmmakers have been selected for 2013 Fast Track. To download a full Dossier with their bios and film project information, please visit our Press Materials site:

Frank’s World: And Tales of the Fearless Brothers O – Writer/Director/Producer Christopher Munch (Letters From the Big Man, Harry and Max), Producer Russell Brown (Annie and the Gypsy, The Blue Tooth Virgin). 

Free the Town – Writer/Director Nikyatu Jusu (African Booty Scratcher), Producers Nikkia Moulterie (Quai D’Orsay, Monica Z).

God Loves Stu – Writer/Director Aldo Velasco (Tent City, Chittagong), Producer David Allen Cress (Portlandia, Paranoid Park).

I’m Not Down – Director A. Sayeeda Clarke (White, The Grey Woman), Producer Monique Gabriela Curnen (Weapons of Misdirection, Where My Ladies At?).

New Mexican Rain – Writer/Director Amber Sealey (How to Cheat, A Plus D), Producers Ted Speaker (Humpday, My Effortless Brilliance), Mimi Zora (Goulash, Desire).

Out in the Night – Director/Producer blair doroshwalther (Out in the Night, Cry Don’t Cry), Producers Giovanna Chesler (Period: The End of Menstruation).

Shield and Spear – Director Petter Ringbom (The Russian Winter, May Fly), Producer Alysa Nahmias (Unfinished Spaces, Tanaquil Le Clercq: Afternoon of a Swan).

Solitaire King – Writer/Director Bassam Jarbawl (Frequency), Producer Shrihari Sathe (It Felt Like Love, Breaking the Chain, First Day of Peace, Off Season).

Third Girl from the Left – Producer Vincent Harris, Amy Hobby (Secretary, Hamlet).

Tomorrow We Disappear — Director/Producers Jimmy Goldblum (Live Hope Love), Adam Weber (The Man Who is Tall Happy, The Green Hornet), Co-Producer Naveen Chaubal (Chakshoo, Jiro Dreams of Sushi).

Fast Track is free to accepted filmmakers, and upon completion, participants become Film Independent Fellows, and receive year-round support, including access to Film Independent’s annual film educational offerings and the Los Angeles Film Festival. For detailed information on past Film Independent Fellows, visit the online FIND Talent Guide.

Current industry participants include representatives from 120dbfilms, Ambush Entertainment, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Big Beach Productions, Black Label Media, Bold Films, CBS Films. Cinedigm, Cinereach, Crime Scene Pictures, Dogfish Accelerator, Drafthouse Films, e2b Capital, Electric City Entertainment, Exclusive Media, Far Hills Pictures, Film Finances Inc., For Your Consideration Films, Fox Searchlight, Gadabout, Greenberg Glusker, Groundswell Productions, HBO Films, Hyde Park Entertainment, IFC Films, Indomina, Invention Films & Fox Writers Studio, Lava Bear, Likely Story, Loeb & Loeb, Lotus Entertainment, Magnolia Pictures, Mandaville, Millennium Entertainment, NBCUniversal, Night & Day Pictures, Olympus Pictures, Open Road Films, Orange Entertainment, Parts & Labor, Plan B Entertainment, Preferred Content, Resnick Entertainment, Rhino Films, River Road Entertainment, Roadside Attractions, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Seed & Spark, Significant Productions, Slated, Super Crispy Entertainment, UTA, Verve, WME, Werner Films, Wondros Global and XYZ Films.

Recent projects that participated in Fast Track include Kyle Patrick Alvarez and Cookie Carosella’s C.O.G., which premiered in U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and will be distributed by Screen Media and Focus World; Robbie Pickering’s Spirit Award-nominated Natural Selection; Tom Putnam and Brenna Sanchez’s BURN, which premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival; Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall’s Call Me Kuchu, which premiered at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival; Cherien Dabis’ Amreeka, which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards in 2010; Courtney Hunt’s Academy Award and Spirit Award-nominated Frozen River; Jennifer Westfeldt’s Ira and Abby; Jessica Sanders’ award-winning documentary After Innocence; Scott Prendergast’s Kabluey, starring Lisa Kudrow and Teri Garr; and many more.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a non-profit arts 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 an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff, and constituents, is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional, or a film lover.

Film Independent produces the Spirit Awards, the annual celebration honoring artist-driven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. Film Independent also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.  

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’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.

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

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