Independent Spirit Awards Viewing Party

 

Please join the Austin Film Society as we cheer on the Austin filmmakers nominated for Film Independent's 2008 Spirit Awards during the live award broadcast on the Independent Film Channel.

Austinite Chris Eska's feature AUGUST EVENING is nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. The film is one of five nominees for the John Cassavetes Award, which is given out to the best feature made for under $500,000 and also recognizes the two producers of the film, Jason Wehling and Connie Hill. The film is also nominated for Best Actor for Pedro Castaneda's lead performance. AUGUST EVENING was supported by two Texas Filmmakers Production Fund grants from the Austin Film Society, in 2005 & 2006.

 

Austinite Laura Dunn's documentary THE UNFORESEEN is nominated for the IFC Truer Than Fiction Award, which recognizes an "emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant attention." Laura received a TFPF grant in 1999 for a previous film.

Recent Austin transplant Jeff Nichols is also nominated for the John Cassavetes Award for his film SHOTGUN STORIES, which won the Best Feature Award at the 2007 Austin Film Festival.

Finally, AFS Board member and SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler will co-host the red carpet pre-show webcast on IFC.com, starting at 1:30pm on Feb. 23rd.

To see the full list of 2008 nominees, visit www.spiritawards.com.