FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Greg Longstreet, Film Independent
Tel: 310.432.1287 or glongstreet@filmindependent.org

Gina Lang, Ginsberg/Libby
Tel: 323.645.6800 or gina.lang@ginsberglibby.com

FILM INDEPENDENT SET TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THE
2013 JAMESON® FIND YOUR AUDIENCE AWARD

$50,000 CASH GRANT TO BE HANDED OUT AT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS NOMINEE BRUNCH

LOS ANGELES (January 9, 2013) – Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, is set to announce the winner of the 2013 Jameson® FIND Your Audience Award, which is one of the four Film Independent Spirit Award filmmaker grants to be handed out at the January 12 nominee brunch at BOA restaurant in West Hollywood. Funded by Jameson® Irish Whiskey, a Premier Sponsor of the awards, the $50,000 crash grant is designed to assist a feature narrative or documentary filmmaker in building the audience for his or her film. The winner will be highlighted at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 23, 2013. The live-to-tape ceremony will air the same evening on IFC at 10:00 pm ET/PT on IFC.

The nominees for the 2013 Jameson FIND Your Audience Award are:

Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and the Farm Midwives
Sara Lamm, director
Zachary Mortensen, producer
Kate Roughan, producer
Mary Wigmore, director

Breakfast with Curtis
Laura Colella, director/producer

History of Future Folk
Jeremy Kipp Walker, director/producer
John Mitchell, director

“We were blown away by the quality of the submissions this year and narrowing it down to just three was a difficult task,” said Josh Welsh, Co-President of Film Independent. “All three of these films are remarkable and we’re thrilled to shine a light on all of them with this nomination.”

Now in its third year, the Jameson® FIND Your Audience Award was established when Film Independent saw the need to meet independent filmmakers’ biggest challenge today: getting their films out into the marketplace. Previous year’s winners were Benjamin Murray and Alysa Nahmias for Unfinished Spaces and Jeff Malmberg for Marwencol. As part of the grant process, Film Independent will provide ongoing consultation regarding distribution, marketing and publicity.

“Entering Jameson’s fifth year of supporting the Film Independent Spirit Awards it is inspiring to once again be able to honor the year’s best independent films and filmmakers,” said Wayne Hartunian, Vice President, Scotch and Whisky Portfolio at Pernod Ricard USA. “This partnership and the Jameson® FIND Your Audience Award, which helps one low-budget independent film find a broader audience, serves to show Jameson’s commitment to film and our support for the next generation of filmmakers in the industry.”

In order to be considered for the Jameson® FIND Your Audience Award grant, applicants must be the director or producer of a recent American narrative or documentary feature with a production budget of $2.5 million or less that has not yet received significant distribution. The film must have screened at a film festival no earlier than September 1, 2011 and no later than August 31, 2012. In addition, applicants must be a past Spirit Award nominee or winner, Los Angeles Film Festival alumnus or completed one of Film Independent’s Artist Development programs (Labs, Project Involve or Fast Track) or solicited by Film Independent. Films with innovative, alternative marketing or distribution plans were encouraged to apply. Films that have overall North American distribution deals or that have not yet begun a film festival run were ineligible.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors Piaget and Jameson® Irish Whiskey and Lincoln and Principal Sponsor Stella Artois. WireImage is the Official Photographer, PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent and American Airlines is the Official Airline.

For more information on submission guidelines, voting, media and publicist credentials, and the history of the Spirit Awards, please visit SpiritAwards.com.

ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
Now in its 28th year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers who embody independence and originality. The Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American independent filmmakers and promotes the finest independent films of the year to a wider audience.

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 International Film, Best Documentary, and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Grants include the Someone to Watch Award, Stella Artois Truer Than Fiction Award, Piaget Producers Award and Jameson FIND Your Audience Award.

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.

ABOUT PERNOD RICARD USA
Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA, which employs more than 18,000 people worldwide and is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI).

The company’s leading spirits and wines include such prestigious brands as Absolut® Vodka, Chivas Regal® Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Malibu® flavored rum, Kahlúa® Liqueur, Beefeater® Gin, Plymouth™ Gin, Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin®, Martell® Cognac, Hiram Walker® Liqueurs, Pernod®, Ricard® and Avión™ Tequila (through a joint venture with Tequila Avión); such superior wines as Jacob’s Creek® and Brancott Estate®; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouët® Champagne, G.H. Mumm™ Champagne and Mumm Napa® sparkling wines.

Pernod Ricard USA is based in Purchase, New York, and has roughly 850 employees across the country. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active campaign to promote responsible drinking. For more information on this, please visit: www.acceptresponsibility.com.

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