September 5, 2012 (New York, NY) –The Independent Feature Project (IFP) has announced its annual “Sneak Preview Showcases” and public events for the 34^th edition of Independent Film Week. Taking place September 16-20, 2012 at various locations throughout Lincoln Center, Independent Film Week brings new film artists to New York City to showcase their work for international film and media representatives, while offering training and advocacy for emerging film professionals.

IFP continues to uphold its fiercely independent mission to champion original and provocative filmmakers– and those who support them – across a broad range of genres, budgets, sensibilities and platforms. Independent Film Week lays the critical professional foundation for these artists, assisting them not only throughout the life of their latest projects, but also their careers by providing opportunities for both emerging and established filmmakers to connect with the tastemakers and decision-makers in film, television, new media and cross-platform storytelling.

In addition to its Filmmaker Conference (www.ifp.org), Independent Film Week provides multiple ways for film lovers and filmmakers to come together, allowing artists to build audiences and gain critical public exposure for their work through their “Sneak Preview Showcases” and Shorts Series.

The Future of Film Today Short Film Series

In partnership with Royal Bank of Canada and the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, IFP will debut “The Future of Film Today”, a short film series highlighting the work and personal stories of five talented, New York-based independent filmmakers. This series is part of RBC’s year-round support of IFP’s Emerging Artists program, which also includes IFP’s Emerging Narrative and Emerging Visions initiatives.

Created specifically to spotlight talented, emerging artists living and working in New York City, the cross-platform series will be featured in taxis on the NYC Channel, online on NYC Media’s Video on Demand Player (www.NYC.gov/vod) and on NYC Life, the flagship station of NYC Media and the official network of the City of New York. NYC Life is viewed by almost 1.5 million New Yorkers each week, both on television and online, and is available in over 18 million homes across the tri-state region.

Sneak Preview Showcases

In partnership with Rooftop Films, IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Lab “Sneak Preview” Showcase feature new films screened before their festival premieres, allowing audiences and industry delegates a first-look at important new films. Screenings include:

IFP FIRST FEATURES, Monday, September 17^th at Solar One. This outdoor screening features excerpts from the 20 fresh faces from the 2012 IFP’s Labs, the nation’s only program that supports diverse feature filmmakers when they need it most: through the completion, marketing and distribution of their first features. Past films first showcased here include Dee Rees’ Pariah (Focus Features), Lucy Malloy’s Una Noche (IFC), Give Up Tomorrow (P.O.V). This program is free and open to the public.

BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST, Tuesday, September 18^th at Open Road School. In partnership with Royal Bank of Canada, with support from Rooftop Films and Oscilloscope Laboratories, Independent Film Week’s presents a Filmmaker To Watch “Sneak Preview Screening” of Ryan O’Nan’s award winning feature BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST. The film is preceded by a live performance by the Brooklyn Brothers Band and the world premiere of the “The Future of Film Today” short film series.

An alumni of IFP’s Independent Film Week and Filmmaker Labs programs, BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival where it was picked up by Oscilloscope Laboratories for distribution. The film opens theatrically on September 21, 2012. For information and public showtimes, vist http://brooklynbrothersmovie.com/theaters/

FILMMAKER Magazine’s 20^th Anniversary Shorts Screening Series

Partnering with art house cinemas across the nation, The IFP salutes the 2Oth Anniversary of FILMMAKER MAGAZINE with a program of short films by alumni of FILMMAKER’s essential “25 Faces of Independent Film” list.  The program runs throughout September at participating art house cinemas, including The Northwest Film Center (Portland, OR), The Loft (Tucson, AZ), Ragtag Cinemacafe (Columbia, MO), The Belcourt Theatre (Nashville, TN), IFC Center (New York, NY)  among others.  For more information: www.filmmakermagazine.com

IFP Smart Car Shorts Series

Presented by Smart Car, this short film series features a curated program of IFP filmmaker short films to be screened at over 50 Smart Car dealerships across the United States. The program will run throughout the month of September.

MAJOR PROGRAM SUPPORTERS

Independent Film Week’s Premier sponsors are Royal Bank of Canada and HBO. Gold sponsors are A&E IndieFilms, Eastman Kodak Company and SAGIndie/Screen Actors Guild. Silver sponsors are Canon, National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa, Screen Australia, Telefilm Canada, Toscana Promozione and Toscana Film Commission. Official Auto sponsor is Smart Car. Official Independent Film Week Partner is Film Society of Lincoln Center. Independent Film Week is supported, in part, by funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York State Council on the Arts.

ABOUT IFP

After debuting with a program in 1979 New York Film Festival, the nonprofit IFP has evolved into the nation’s oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers, and also the premiere advocate for them. Since its start IFP has supported the production of 7,000 films and provided resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers – voices that might not otherwise have been heard. IFP fosters the development of 350 new feature and documentary films each year through its Project Forum of Independent Film Week, Independent Filmmaker Labs and projects in its fiscal sponsorship program.