JOHN SINGLETON IS FORUM KEYNOTE SPEAKER! ALSO, A HACKATHON. This just in: Academy Award® nominated director John Singleton will give the keynote address for the 2012 Film Independent Forum. At age 24, Singleton was the youngest individual and first ever African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Director. Boyz N the Hood, John Singleton’s first feature film, landed him Oscar® nominations for Best Director and Original Screenplay. His othe...

7TH ANNUAL FILM INDEPENDENT FORUM, PRESENTED BY INDIEWIREOCTOBER 21-23, 2011Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced that acclaimed director Werner Herzog (Cave of Forgotten Dreams, The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans) will be the keynote speaker and answer filmmaking questions from the audience at the seventh annual Film Independent Forum, presented by indieWIRE. The must-attend conference is a...

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced today the panelists for the seventh annual Film Independent Forum, presented by indieWIRE, to be held October 21-23 at the Directors Guild of America. The keynote speaker and additional panelists will be announced shortly, as well as the recipient of the 2011 Sloan Producers Grant, to be awarded on closing night. The Film Independent Forum is a must-attend weekend con...

  Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced the program for its 10th annual Directors Close-Up series, taking place February 2 - March 2, 2011 at The Landmark - West Los Angeles.   Writer/Directors James Gray (Two Lovers) and Robin Swicord (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and Los Angeles Film Festival Artistic Director David Ansen will be moderators.  Series panelists include writer/directors Lisa...

the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced additional official film selections and programming for the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Film Festival will run from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 28. Louie Psihoyos’ The Cove and Rebecca Cammisa’s Which Way Home will be a part of the Free Screenings section.Walt Disney Pictures’ Ponyo will close this year’s Festival on Sunday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mann Village Theater. From the A...

Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent, announced today the ninth annual Directors Close-Up: Conversations on the Art of Filmmaking, formerly known as the Director Series, which will be held February 4 – March 11, 2009 at The Landmark - West Los Angeles. Attendees will have access to some of the most innovative names in independent filmmaking, with Mary Sweeney (“The Straight Story,” “Mulholland Drive”), David Lynch’s long time creative collaborator, serving as moderato...