IFC, ELLE, Piaget, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Acura, Stella Artois, & LG Electronics to Serve as Premier Sponsors of the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced its sponsors for the 25th Anniversary of the Spirit Awards.  Returning sponsors at the Premier level include IFC, ELLE, Piaget, Jameson Irish Whiskey, and Acura, with Stella Artois and LG Electronics joining this year.  Netflix returns as a sponsor at the Principal level, with 100% Pure New Zealand joining this year.  The official spirits of the Spirit Awards will be provided by Jameson Irish Whiskey and G. H. Mumm Champagne.  Guests will enjoy Jameson specialty cocktails, including the Jameson & Ginger, along with Mumm Cordon Rouge champagne.  JW Marriot is the Official Host Hotel.  The Standard, Downtown LA is a Participating Hotel and the Official Venue for the Member Viewing Party.  Wire Image is the Official Photographer, American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner, and PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent.  On 3 Productions, the leader in customized gifting experiences backstage at the entertainment industry's most prestigious events, returns to produce the Official Presenter Gift Lounge and Official Ceremony Gift Bags.  FIJI Natural Artesian Water is the Official Water of the Spirit Awards.  

The 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards will air live and uncut on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. PST/11:00 p.m. EST on IFC (Independent Film Channel), with the milestone ceremony taking place at LA Live's event deck in downtown Los Angeles.  Acclaimed comedian Eddie Izzard will serve as Master of Ceremonies.  IFC.com will deliver up-to-the-minute news and video on the event, including articles, lists, interviews with nominees, and more.  In addition, SpiritAwards.com and a dedicated Spirit Awards channel on Babelgum.com will deliver winner updates and photos throughout the course of the ceremony, followed by red carpet and thank you cam interviews the next day.  

In addition to being the exclusive broadcaster of the 25th Anniversary Spirit Awards, IFC is also a Premier Sponsor.  The network will host a hospitality tent located outside of the Main Awards tent entrance.  The IFC tent opens at 5:00 p.m. PST, and will feature specialty cocktails and custom hors d'oeuvres from Chef Wolfgang Puck, live DJ, and plasma screens running IFC content.  At 8:00 p.m. PST, the screens will feature IFC's live broadcast of the Spirit Awards.  

Premier Sponsor ELLE magazine will host celebrity presenters, winners, and industry VIPs in the ELLE Green Room, a sleek backstage lounge where nominees can socialize in an exclusive, stylish atmosphere. This year ELLE and the Spirit Awards will both celebrate their 25th Anniversaries in the lounge, dedicated to 25 years of modern fashion in conjunction with 25 years of modern film. ELLE's partners in the Green Room are Garnier, White House Black Market, Keds and Smashbox.

For the third year now, Premier Sponsor Piaget is proud to lend its support to independence.  To help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Spirit Awards, Piaget will continue to bring sparkle to the event by offering a sneak preview of its newest diamond jewelry and time piece collections, themed "Limelight Jazz Party."  To further demonstrate its backing, Piaget is also establishing the Piaget Producers Award in recognition of outstanding creative vision and achievement.  

As a new Premier Sponsor, Jameson Irish Whiskey will serve specialty cocktails on the red carpet as guests arrive, as well as create two signature bars inside the main tent.  Additionally, Jameson will be the featured spirit in all backstage tents at the Spirit Awards and a bottle of Jameson will be placed on each table for attendees to enjoy during the show.  

As a Premier Partner, Acura will introduce the all-new four-door coupe concept, the ZDX, on site at the show. The ZDX is the first vehicle to be conceived and styled from start to finish at the new Acura Design Studio in California.  The segment bending ZDX features stunning coupe-like styling with the added benefit of a commanding presence and flexible utility. Acura also offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 271 dealers within the United States. The 2010 Acura lineup features six distinctive models including the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sports sedan, the turbo charged RDX luxury crossover SUV, the award-winning MDX luxury sport utility vehicle as well as the all-new ZDX.  For additional information and media inquiries about Acura vehicles, please visit www.acura.com.

Stella Artois is proud to be the official beer sponsor of the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Stella Artois is a long-time supporter of independent film and more than 60 film festivals across the country. Guests on the red carpet and inside the Spirit Awards will have the opportunity to enjoy a Stella Artois, the best-selling Belgian beer in the world. With origins dating back to 1366, Stella Artois originally was brewed as a special holiday beer and named "Stella," Latin for "star." Stella Artois should always be poured into its signature Chalice and served using the cherished Belgian Pouring Ritual to accentuate the lager's golden color, crisp flavor and refreshing finish.

Stars will clean up on the Blue Carpet at The 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards, thanks to LG Electronics.  As a new Premier Sponsor, LG Electronics will host the opening of the Blue Carpet, where a celebrity guest (to be announced) will use LG Electronic's new high-performance Kompressor® Vacuum to pick up the sand, making the Blue Carpet sparkle at the new venue for this year's Spirit Awards.   LG Electronics will make a donation to Film Independent's signature diversity program Project:Involve on behalf of this, and each additional star who takes on this charitable chore on the carpet!  In the Official Presenter Gift Lounge backstage, presenters also will be among the first to experience "Something Better" in home care with the new high-performance Kompressor® Vacuum from LG Electronics, which will be available in the United States for the first time this Spring.  LG. Life's Good.  www.lge.com.

Last year, Principal Sponsor Netflix and Film Independent joined forces to create the "Netflix FIND Your Voice Film Competition" which awarded an aspiring filmmaker the means to make a full length, narrative film. This year, the winning film, "Touchback" by Philip Flores will premiere at the LA Film Festival and will be available to watch instantly streamed from Netflix in June.

As a new Principal Sponsor, 100% Pure New Zealand will present the winner of their 'Your Big Break' competition at the 25th Annual Spirit Awards.  'Your Big Break' saw over 1,000 would-be filmmakers submit their 3 minute screenplays, five finalists produce their films in New Zealand, and one winner selected by award-winning director Peter Jackson.  Guests will be invited to view all five films at the 100% Pure New Zealand screening tent, where they will also experience a traditional welcome from a Maori warrior and sip fine New Zealand wine.  One lucky guest will find a pair of business class tickets on Air New Zealand in their gift bag.  To view finalists' entries, visit www.your-big-break.com.

The Standard, Downtown LA is a Participating Hotel and Official Venue for the Member Viewing Party.  Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, The Standard, Downtown LA is Andre Balazs' second in the expanding collection of Standard hotels: The Standard, Hollywood on the famed Sunset Strip, The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, a holistic and hydrotherapy spa hotel on the waters of Biscayne Bay, and The Standard, New York, in Manhattan's thriving Meatpacking District. With a rooftop pool and bar with stunning panoramic views of LA, a 24-hour restaurant and extensive business facilities, the 207- room Standard, Downtown LA has revolutionized the concept of a business hotel and established a new standard for an innovative hospitality experience.

FIJI Water is the official water of the 2010 Independent Spirit Awards and has been nominated to hydrate the best and the brightest of the film industry. FIJI Water, a natural artesian water bottled at the source in Viti Levu (Fiji islands), is the #1 premium bottled water in the United States known for its refreshing taste and soft mouth feel. A product of one of the last virgin ecosystems on the planet, FIJI Water is committed to sustainable development and is the primary driver of economic development and social welfare in Fiji through various initiatives. FIJI Water will be served in its pristine form all throughout the awards- from the tables during the ceremony, to the bars in the main tent and backstage. We're proud to support Film Independent and their recognition of this year's nominees.

In partnership with the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards, LuxuryLink.com will offer a portion of the proceeds from a VIP auction to Film Independent. This deluxe 2-night package will include superior accommodations at the Montage Beverly Hills, two VIP tickets to this year's award ceremony, private transportation, two backstage passes and a special meet-and-greet with Spirit Awards host, Eddie Izzard.  Established in 1997, LuxuryLink.com is the leader in online luxury travel with a proven track record of longevity, credibility and success.  Designed for travelers seeking inspiration and exceptional values at the world's finest hotels and resorts, LuxuryLink.com features the best luxury hotel deals on the Web with savings of up to 65% off.  Renowned by its peers, LuxuryLink.com has been lauded by venerable names in travel including Travel + Leisure as a "Top Travel Website" (2009, 2008) and Conde Nast Traveler as "Best of the Web" in 2007.  

ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

The Film Independent Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and originality.  Televised in millions of homes and covered internationally by the press, the Spirit Awards has become the vanguard event in independent film, recognizing the achievements of independent filmmakers and promoting independent film 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 Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and the Robert Altman Award.  The Filmmaker Grants include Acura Someone to Watch Award, Truer Than Fiction Award, and Piaget Producers Award.  

For more information on submission guidelines, voting, photo and video galleries, and the history of the Spirit Awards, please visit SpiritAwards.com.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is a 501 (c)(3) 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, are 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 leader, or a film lover.

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 offers free Filmmaker Labs for selected writers, directors, and producers; provides cut-rate services for filmmakers; and presents year-round networking opportunities. Film Independent's mentorship and job placement program, Project:Involve, pairs emerging culturally diverse filmmakers with film industry professionals.

Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international cinema and the Spirit Awards, a celebration honoring films and filmmakers that embody independence and originality.

For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.

SOURCE Film Independent