About the Spirit Picks

What are the Independent Spirit Awards & why should we care?
(FILMS FOR TWO response dated January 10, 2002)

The Independent Feature Project/West (IFP/West) began in 1980 when a small group of writers, directors, actors, and producers came together to share ideas about the independent filmmaking process. IFP/West now has over 5,000 active members.

IFP/West encourages diversity, creativity, quality, and innovation in filmmaking, and gives voice to those who embody the independent spirit. Based in Los Angeles, IFP/West is part of a national organization (IFP) that also has regional representation in Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis and New York.

Founded in 1984, the awards were originally known as the FINDIE (“Friends of Independents”) Awards, and presented winners with Plexiglas pyramids containing suspended shoestrings (representing the paltry budgets of independent films). In 1986, the event was renamed the “Independent Spirit Awards” in honor of the talented and tenacious souls who drive creativity in the film industry.

In order to be eligible for consideration, submitted films must have been shown at a commercial theater &/or have played at one of seven film festivals (Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Sundance, Telluride, Toronto, or New Directors/New Films) during the designated calendar year.

The guidelines for Independent Spirit Awards nominations are:

	original, provocative subject matter
	uniqueness of vision
	economy of means with particular attention paid to total budget and individual compensation (e.g., Bruce Willis, who typically gets top dollar, takes a huge pay cut to play “Butch Coolidge” in PULP FICTION)
	percentage of independent financing (all of the people who receive the filmmaker’s thanks in the credits at the end of a typical indie!)

The awards are presented the night before the Oscars (in other words, watch the Spirit Awards on Saturday & the Oscars on Sunday). The intention of the event is to make a concrete impact on the exhibition and distribution of independent films, to recognize and celebrate the achievements of independent filmmakers, and ultimately, to broaden the audience for independent film worldwide.

FILMS FOR TWO applauds the goals and objectives of the Independent Feature Project, and walks the talk as a member of IFP/MW (the Midwest branch located in Chicago).

(We thank Susan Rossetti of IFP/West for sending us this valuable info!)