"LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE"
PULLS UP TO TAKE THE CROWN AT
2007 FILM INDEPENDENT’S SPIRIT AWARDS
LOS ANGELES, CA (February 24, 2007)
The hit independent film Little Miss Sunshine won the top prize for Best Feature at the 2007 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards. The winner for Best First Feature went to Sweet Land, which marks the first time in the history of the Spirit Awards that a film without a distributor has won this prize. (Note: Through a unique partnership with the online movie rental service Netflix, Film Independent members are provided access to participating Spirit Award-nominated films.)
The 2007 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards were held Saturday, February 24, in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. The Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and who dare to challenge the status quo. This annual event, which began as a small grassroots program, has grown into one of the most anticipated events of the film year.
This year’s major category winners were Fox Searchlight Pictures’ Little Miss Sunshine, which won Best Feature, Best Directors (Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris), Best Supporting Male (Alan Arkin), and Best First Screenplay (Michael Arndt), and Thank You For Smoking for Best Screenplay(Jason Reitman); ThinkFilm’s Half Nelson, which won Best Male Lead (Ryan Gosling), and Best Female Lead (Shareeka Epps); Sony Pictures Classics’ Quinceanera which won the John Cassavetes Award, and Friends With Money which won Best Supporting Female (Frances McDormand).
Howard Gertler and Tim Perell, producers of Shortbus and Pizza, received the tenth annual Axium Producers Award, which honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The winner of the Producers Award receives an unrestricted grant of $50,000 funded by Axium International.
Julia Loktev,director of Day Night Day Night, won the thirteenth annual IFC/Acura Someone To Watch Award, a $50,000 unrestricted grant created to honor a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award is funded by IFC and Acura.
Adele Horne, director of The Tailenders, won the eleventh annual Axium Truer Than Fiction Award, presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant attention. The award is accompanied by a $50,000 unrestricted grant funded by Axium International.
David Lynch and Laura Dern received a Special Distinction Award for their collaborative work. The late director Robert Altman received an Honorary Spirit Award for his lifelong commitment to independent filmmaking.
As previously announced, a new Spirit Award – The Robert Altman Award – was created in the director’s name, to be given out for the first time at the 2008 Spirit Awards to one film’s director and ensemble cast.
This year's ceremony is sponsored by Premier Sponsors IFC, Netflix, Axium International, ELLE; and by Principal Sponsors Acura, and Pop Secret. On 3 Productions produced the Official 2007 Spirit Awards General Attendee Gift Bag and Presenter Gift Lounge. Casa Del Mar, Sheraton Delfina, Shutters on the Beach, and Viceroy, are the Official Host Hotels; and WireImage is the Official Photographer of the Film Independent Spirit Awards. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner of Film Independent.
The ceremony aired live on IFC (Independent Film Channel), beginning at 2:00 pm PST, and was preceded by an exclusive half-hour red carpet show on WE: Women’s Entertainment at 1:30 pm PST. An edited re-broadcast will air later this evening on AMC at 10:00 pm EST/PST.
Actor/Comedian Sarah Silverman served as Master of Ceremonies. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Terrence Howard served as Honorary Co-Chairs. Music was by The Crystal Method. Diana Zahn-Storey produced the 2007 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards for the thirteenth year.
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