Beginning today, the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), in association with online partner charitybuzz.com, has gone live with its 2^nd annual silent auction. The auction will be live from today, Tuesday, November 13 to Tuesday, December 4, 2012.

“For the second consecutive year, we are thrilled to be partnered with charitybuzz.com for our silent, on-line charity auction.  We are incredibly grateful for the generosity from those in and outside of our community who have contributed so many phenomenal, unique and invaluable experiences in support of independent film.” said Joana Vicente, IFP Executive Director of the IFP.

The partnership between IFP and charitybuzz.com will raise funds for the IFP in support of its ongoing programs to support independent filmmakers. These auction items are one-of-a-kind experiences extended by key supporters and celebrities in the independent film world.  Auction items include:

Two tickets to Attend Entertainment Weekly’s Comic-Con Party, Lunch July 2013

Two Exclusive Tickets to Entertainment Weekly’s Pre-Emmy Party in LA September 2013

Set visit to HBO’s Boardwalk Empire

Set visit to of John Turturro’s Fading Gigolo in NYC Starring Woody Allen, Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara

Premiere Tickets and Red Carpet Access to Playing for Keeps on December in NYC, starring Woody Allen, Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara

Two Film Badges to the 2013 South by Southwest Film Conference & Festival

Two tickets packages to the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT

Consultations with Industry luminaries: Sheila Nevins (HBO/Cinemax), producer Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte (Antidote Films), Dylan Leiner (Sony Pictures Classics), Jonathan King (Participant Productions), Avy Kaufman (Avy Kaufman Casting), Cindy Tolan (Cindy Tolan Casting)

A Private Suite for 18 at a Philadelphia 76ers Game

Internships at the Made in NY Media Center, Big Beach Productions, The Weinstein Co., Filmmaker Magazine

Go to charitybuzz.com/Gotham to bid on these and many other auction items.

As the first major awards ceremony of the film season, the Gotham Independent Film Awards™ provide critical early recognition and media attention to worthy independent films. Previous winners for Best Feature and Best Documentary include BEGINNERS (2011), THE TREE OF LIFE (2011), BETTER THIS WORLD (2011), WINTER’S BONE (2010), THE OATH (2010), THE HURT LOCKER (2009), and FOOD, INC. (2009). The awards are also unique for their ability to assist in catapulting award recipients prominently into national awards season attention, including recent winners and ultimate Oscar® contenders:  feature winners BEGINNERS (2011), TREE OF LIFE (2011), WINTER’S BONE (2010) and THE HURT LOCKER (2009); Breakthrough Actors  Melissa Leo (2008), Ellen Page (2007), Rinko Kikuchi (2006) and Amy Adams (2005).

Previously announced were the nominees for six competitive awards for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Actor, Best Ensemble Performance, Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You™. In addition to the competitive awards, Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, David O. Russell and Jeff Skoll will each be presented with a career tribute.  For the second consecutive year, IFP is also proud to present the euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ grant, a $25,000 cash award for an alumna of IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs. This grant aims to further the careers of emerging women directors by supporting the completion, distribution and audience engagement strategies of their first feature film. This year’s  nominees are Leah Meyerhoff for I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS, Stacie Passon for CONCUSSION, and Visra Vichit Vadakan for KARAOKE GIRL.

The Premier Sponsors of the 22nd annual Gotham Independent Film Awards^™ are Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and The New York Times, Presenting Sponsor euphoria Calvin Klein, Official Water FIJI Water, Official Spirit Russian Standard Vodka, Official Wine Partner Mionetto Prosecco, Official Partners: charitybuzz; MoMA; Andaz Wall Street. Additionally, the awards will be promoted nationally in an eight-page special advertising section in The New York Times on November 16th, 2012.

About Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) is one of the nation’s oldest and largest not-for-profit advocacy organizations for independent filmmakers. Since its debut at the 1979 New York Film Festival, IFP has supported the production of over 7,000 films and offered resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers, providing an opportunity for many diverse voices to be heard. IFP believes that independent films enrich the universal language of cinema, seeding the global culture with new ideas, kindling awareness, and fostering activism. The organization has championed early work by pioneering, independent filmmakers, including Charles Burnett, Edward Burns, Jim Jarmusch, Barbara Kopple, Michael Moore, Mira Nair and Kevin Smith.

IFP represents a network of 10,000 filmmakers in New York City and around the world. Through its workshops, seminars, conferences, mentorships and Filmmaker Magazine, IFP schools its members in the art, technology and business of independent filmmaking. The year-round program includes an Independent Film Week, The Gotham Awards, Filmmaking Labs and Seminars, and a range of programs to promote racial, ethnic, religious, ideological, gender and sexual diversity. IFP, often in collaboration with other cultural institutions, builds audiences by hosting premieres and special screenings.

For more information: www.ifp.org

About the Gotham Independent Film Awards™

The Gotham Independent Film Awards, selected by distinguished juries and presented in New York City, the home of independent film, are the first honors of the film awards season. This public showcase honors the filmmaking community, expands the audience for independent films, and supports the work that IFP does behind the scenes throughout the year to bring such films to fruition.

For information on attending: http://gotham.ifp.org

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