Presenters Announced for 25th Anniversary of IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards
by Erik Luers on November 23, 2015
New York, NY (November 23, 2015) – The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the nation’s premier member organization of independent storytellers, announced today the presenters for the 25th Anniversary IFP Gotham Awards. The ten competitive awards to be presented include Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Actor, Best Actress (presenting sponsor euphoria Calvin Klein), Best Screenplay, Breakthrough Actor, the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award, the Gotham Audience Award, Breakthrough Series – Long Form, and Breakthrough Series – Short Form. In addition to the competitive awards, Gotham Award Tributes will be given to actors Helen Mirren and Robert Redford, director Todd Haynes, and producer Steve Golin. As the first major awards ceremony of the film season, the Gotham Awards provide critical early recognition and media attention to worthy independent films.
The 2015 Award presenters scheduled for the evening include: Glenn Close, Topher Grace, Mariska Hargitay, Robert De Niro, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Harvey Keitel, Cynthia Nixon, Julianne Moore, Sarah Paulson, Rosie Perez, Dan Rather, Michael Shannon, Julie Taymor. Close, De Niro, Iñárritu, Keitel, and Moore were past Tribute honorees at the Gotham Awards. Other previous Gotham Award winners among the presenters include Shannon (for the Before Devil Knows You’re Dead ensemble).
Some of the artists who will be in attendance include: Blythe Danner, Paul Dano, Paul Haggis, Gaby Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Courtney Hunt, Jennie Livingston, Brie Larson, Melanie Lynksey, Rami Malek, Rachel McAdams, Josh Mond, Jason Ritter, Emmy Rossum, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Sarsgaard, Christian Slater, Tanya Wexler, and Kristen Wiig.
Audiences can watch the Gotham Awards and find out the winners live, streaming at www.ifp.org beginning at 6:15pm on November 30th with the red carpet, hosted by Catie Lazarus. Lazarus is host of “Employee of the Month,” a monthly comedy show and podcast filmed live at Joe’s Pub in New York City, and was recently awarded Best Comedy Writer by the ECNY Awards.
Charity Auction
The Gotham Awards’ fifth annual fundraising auction, held in conjunction with charitybuzz.com, is another way to support the work of independent film. The auction raises funds for IFP’s educational programs to provide ongoing support to filmmakers throughout the year. The auction includes nationally accessible items. Bid to win a consultation with HBO’s Sheila Nevins or Sony Pictures Classics’ Dylan Leiner, or you could win casting sessions with industry pros like Laura Rosenthal or Susan Shopmaker. Also offered are exclusive prizes like VIP screening tickets to Sony Pictures Classics’ upcoming Maggie’s Plan and exclusive tickets to Variety’s invite-only Power of Women Conferences in New York City and LA. All items are open for bidding from November 24 through December 10, 2015 at www.charitybuzz.com/gotham.
Sponsors
The Premier Sponsors of the 25th Anniversary Gotham Independent Film Awards are Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and The New York Times, and the Platinum Sponsors are euphoria Calvin Klein and Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward Office of Film, Music and Entertainment. The Official Water Sponsor is FIJI Water and the Official Wine Partner is Line 39 Wines by O’Neill Vintners. Additionally, the awards will be promoted nationally in an eight-page special advertising section in The New York Times in November 2015.
About IFP
The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) champions the future of storytelling by connecting artists with essential resources at all stages of development and distribution. The organization fosters a vibrant and sustainable independent storytelling community through its year-round programs, which include Independent Film Week, Filmmaker Magazine, the Gotham Independent Film Awards and the Made in NY Media Center by IFP, a new incubator space developed with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. IFP represents a growing network of 10,000 storytellers around the world, and plays a key role in developing 350 new feature and documentary works each year. During its 36-year history, IFP has supported over 8,000 projects and offered resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers, including Debra Granik, Miranda July, Michael Moore, Dee Rees, and Benh Zeitlin. More info at www.ifp.org.
About the Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP
The Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP, 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