ELLE Sponsors Film Independent's Spirit Awards

ELLE Sponsors Film Independent's Spirit Awards

NEW YORK, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- ELLE, the world's largest fashion magazine, is pleased to announce its role as a Premier Sponsor of the 2007 Film Independent's Spirit Awards, which celebrates the best in independent film, to be held on the beach in Santa Monica, California on February 24, 2007, the day before the Academy Awards. This is ELLE's first collaboration with Film Independent.

"ELLE is thrilled to be involved with Film Independent's Spirit Awards. The provocative, inspiring, smart, sexy, and fun nature of the awards is totally in line with our mission," said ELLE editor in chief Robbie Myers.

"ELLE has a long tradition of providing a platform for emerging women across the spectrum of the arts, much like many women filmmakers have been able to break new ground in independent film by telling smart stories with a unique point of view," said Dawn Hudson, executive director of Film Independent. "This sponsorship with ELLE will further our goals and those of the women that the magazine spotlights."

In conjunction with the partnership, ELLE will also manage the ELLE Green Room, an exclusive backstage lounge which will host celebrity presenters, winners and VIPs during the ceremony. The ELLE Green Room will serve as a hub for celebrity schmoozing at the event. Amenities and activities will include press interviews, photo-ops, gift bags, deluxe sampling and more.

ELLE will also showcase the diversity, innovation, and creativity embodied by the Spirit Awards with a fashion spread featuring the 2007 Spirit Awards nominees for Best Female Lead. This year's nominees are: Shareeka Epps (Half Nelson), Catherine O'Hara (For Your Consideration), Elizabeth Reaser (Sweet Land), Michelle Williams (Land of Plenty), and Robin Wright Penn (Sorry, Haters). The spread will be featured in the March issue of ELLE, which hits newsstands nationwide on February 15, 2007.

ELLE's sponsorship of Film Independent's Spirit Awards coincides with the creation of Raving, a short film written and directed by Julia Stiles and starring Zooey Deschanel and Bill Irwin which was executive-produced by the magazine. The project marks the beginning of ELLE's foray into original branded entertainment, and the film, as well as behind-the-scenes "making of" footage, will be screened on ELLE magazine's website, Elle.com.

The 2007 Film Independent's Spirit Awards ceremony airs live on Saturday, February 24, beginning at 5:00 pm EST on IFC (Independent Film Channel). Live red carpet footage will precede the show starting at 4:30 pm EST on WE tv, and an edited re-broadcast of the ceremony will air later that evening on AMC at 10:00 pm EST/PST.

About ELLE Magazine

ELLE is the largest fashion magazine in the world, with 39 editions on five continents. ELLE is accessible online at Elle.com. It is also the foundation of numerous brand extensions, including ELLE Decor (25 editions), ELLE A Table (seven editions), ELLE Accessories (six editions), ELLE.com (20 websites), and licensed products, including books, footwear, eyewear, and other fashion accessories. Last year, ELLE-branded products generated $1 billion in retail sales worldwide. The U.S. edition reaches an audience of 4.9 million readers, who find in ELLE style and substance with an independent point of view.

About Film Independent

Film Independent is a non-profit membership 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 the audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, film 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 also 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 dare to challenge the status quo.

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

Source: ELLE Magazine

CONTACT: Jose Martinez, Freud Communications, Inc., +1-323-866-1825,
jose.martinez@freud.com

Web site: http://www.elle.com/
http://www.filmindependent.org/

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