Latest in Film Independent

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…

Five-time Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh is set to receive the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment at the 2017 AMD British Academy Britannia Awards. The actor and filmmaker will be honored during the trophy show on October 27 at the Beverly Hilton. BAFTA describes its Broccoli…

Film Independent, the group behind the Spirit Awards and L.A. Film Festival, has unveiled the six scribes chosen for its 19th annual Screenwriting Lab. "This extraordinary group of artists brings a breadth of fresh and dynamic voices to the 2017 Screenwriting Lab," said Jennifer Kushner, Director of Artist Development…

Film Independent, the organization behind the Spirit Awards and LA Film Festival,  has unveiled the six directors chosen for its 17th annual Directing Lab, an intensive eight-week program designed to support emerging independent film directors in prep on their feature films. As participants, the directors are provided…

Film Independent has announced the three winners of its 2017 Spirit Awards filmmaker grants. The organization, which produces the Spirit Awards and the LA Film Festival, named the winners today during its annual Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch, which was held at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood. The event was hosted by…