25th Anniversary Retrospective Selection and 2010 Spirit Awards Red Carpet

Coverage to Premiere Online & Via Mobile Devices for a Global Audience

LOS ANGELES / NEW YORK / LONDON (February 1, 2010) - Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, today announced a partnership that brings a curated selection from the 24-year archive of the Spirit Awards to a global audience via Babelgum's online platform and its free application for Apple's iPhone & iPod Touch and Google's Android devices. This also marks the first time a premier awards show will be making archival content and red-carpet footage available exclusively through mobile smartphone devices.

"We are so excited that Babelgum has taken on the enormous task of helping us share these funny and touching moments with film lovers all over the world," said Film Independent Executive Director Dawn Hudson.  "There are countless hours of footage that no one has seen, as well as clips that will stir up fun Spirit Award memories for those in the independent film community."

Karol Martesko-Fenster, SVP & General Manager of Babelgum's Film Division, stated, "We are thrilled to be working with Film Independent on this historic occasion, the 25th anniversary of the Spirit Awards, premiering exclusive retrospective footage and never-previously-aired segments from this prestigious event via our online and mobile platforms. We are especially pleased to highlight FIND's complete archival history on the eve of the biggest awards night in indie film, while giving remote viewers an opportunity to watch tributes, acceptance speeches, and high-quality coverage of the 2010 Spirit Awards red carpet arrivals on their smartphones on the evening of March 6th, 2010."

The 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards will air live and uncut on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. PST/11:00 p.m. EST on IFC (Independent Film Channel), with the milestone ceremony taking place at LA Live's event deck in downtown Los Angeles. 

Starting on February 1st, over 140 clips dating back to 1986, will be available through the Spirit Awards channel at www.spiritawards.com and at www.babelgum.com/spiritawards and via the Babelgum mobile phone apps www.babelgum.com/mobile.  The historical footage is divided into entertaining categories so that fans and press can easily find and share their favorite moments.

As the first event to honor independent film exclusively, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is the premier awards event for the indie film community. Now celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Spirit Awards ceremony has become known for its irreverence and laid-back style, which has created moments unlike any other awards show. From Oliver Stone's keynote address urging filmmakers to "stick to your soul and to hell with your egos," to Elvis Costello's anti-war song to Mickey Rourke's expletive-laden, 6-minute acceptance speech, the Spirit Awards have always provided a platform for independent artists to speak their minds.

Premier Sponsors IFC, ELLE, Piaget, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Acura, Stella Artois and Principal Sponsors Netflix and 100% Pure New Zealand sponsor this year's live event. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner and On 3 Productions is the Official Presenter Gift Lounge Producer.  Wire Image is the Official Photographer and PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent.

About the Film Independent Spirit Awards (www.spiritawards.com)

The Film Independent Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and originality.  Televised in millions of homes and covered internationally by the press, the Spirit Awards has become the vanguard event in independent film, recognizing the achievements of independent filmmakers and promoting independent film to a wider audience.

Awards are given in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and the Robert Altman Award.  The Filmmaker Grants include Acura Someone to Watch Award, Truer Than Fiction Award, and Piaget Producers Award.

About Film Independent (www.filmindependent.org)

Film Independent is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts 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 an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent's Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff, and constituents, are comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, 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 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 originality.

About Babelgum (www.babelgum.com)

Babelgum is an integrated web and mobile video content platform free for users and supported by advertising available on-demand to a global audience. Babelgum Mobile is an original application currently available in the United States, UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain which brings regionally tailored programming to smart phones - at present iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, Google Android G-Phones 1 and 2, Nokia (N96, N95 and 6210) - via 3G and WiFi.

Babelgum's programming is comprised of exclusive original productions as well as independent and mainstream titles. Babelgum's content partners include, among others, EMI, Sony Music, The New York Times, PBS, BBC, VBS, Lonely Planet, Coolhunting, National Geographic, Funny or Die, T5M, Shine Limited, Cinetic Rights Management, Content Republic, Gong Anime, the WorkBook Project, Power to the Pixel as well as the Encounters, Los Angeles, and Hamptons film festivals.  The company has also set up a series of online contests to nurture independent film, music and art talent: the Babelgum Online Film Festival, the Babelgum Music Video Awards and the Babelgum Metropolis Art Prize chaired respectively by Spike Lee, Michel Gondry and Isabella Rossellini. Babelgum is an independent and privately held company with offices in the United States, UK and Italy.