Latest in Film Independent

Fox Searchlight has acquired Exit 12, a documentary short that picked up the Grand Jury Award at this year’s SXSW. The pic is currently available on Fox Searchlight's "Searchlight Shorts" Facebook page and YouTube channel. Directed by Mohammad Gorjestani, the doc follows U.S. Marine Roman Baca, who returns from the…

Film Independent has pulled back the curtain on its new artistic director. Former longtime AFI Fest director Jacqueline Lyanga will oversee re-envisioning and expanding the organization's year-round film, TV and new media programming. In addition to programming Film Independent Presents, the year-round screening…

Trophies were handed out at the 34th edition of the Film Independent Spirit Awards with Barry Jenkins’s adaptation of James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk walking away with the most trophies including Best Feature, Best Director for Jenkins and Best Supporting Female for Regina King. Of the three awards for Beale…

From the chilly beach in Santa Monica, the 34th edition of the Film Independent Spirit Awards took place today on the eve of the Academy Awards. Hosted by Ingrid Goes West star (which won last year for Best First Feature) and Parks and Recreation alum Aubrey Plaza, the ceremony recognizes the best in independent film…

The Los Angeles Film Festival just moved to a fall slot this year, and now Film Independent says it is ending the fest after 18 years and will replace it with “year-round events aimed at building community and broadening its support of visual storytellers.” The nonprofit arts organization also will eliminate three…

Andrew Slater’s music documentary Echo in the Canyon has been set as the opening night film of Film Independent’s 2018 LA Film Festival, which kicks off Sept. 20 and continues through Sept. 28. This will mark the world premiere of the documentary which puts the spotlight on iconic music groups The Byrds, The Beach…

Get Out took home the top prize of Best Feature tonight at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Peele also took home the trophy for Best Director in what could possibly be one of the most banner years for people of color and women at the annual ceremony that celebrates independent film. Out of the 20 awards given out…

UPDATE with response At the 2014 Independent Spirit Awards, a woman named Laurie Woods was among the volunteers scrambling to keep the food coming and drinks flowing while stars from Nebraska, 12 Years a Slave and Dallas Buyers Club wined, dined and hoped for a trophy. But Woods now says the word “volunteer” doesn’t…

EXCLUSIVE: Film Independent has announced the final batch of presenters set to take the stage at the 33rd edition of the Independent Spirit Awards, which IFC will air live Saturday at 2 PM PT/5 PM ET. Joining the roster of presenters are Call Me by Your Name‘s Timothée Chalamet (who’s up for Best Male Lead and also…

Film Independent, the organization behind the Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival,  has unveiled the six fellows chosen for its 18th annual Directing Lab, an intensive eight-week program designed to support emerging independent film directors in prep on their feature films. See the list below. Directing Lab…

Five independent filmmakers received cash grants totaling $150,000 today from Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the LA Film Festival. The recipients were announced at the annual Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch held at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood. John Cho (Star Trek…

The Los Angeles Film Festival said today that beginning next year the fest will take place in September, setting itself up to be involved in the heated and crowded fall festival season that includes the Telluride, Venice, Toronto and New York film fests. The L.A. fest had been held in June. The fest, run by Film…