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SETH ROGEN TO SERVE AS HOST FOR

2012 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

- Diana Zahn-Storey to return as Executive Producer -

- Ceremony to premiere on IFC, Saturday, February 25 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT -

LOS ANGELES (December 13, 2011) – Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced that Seth Rogen will serve as host for the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The 27th annual awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 25, and the premiere broadcast will air later that evening at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IFC.

Diana Zahn-Storey, a longtime executive producer of the Film Independent Spirit Awards will be returning this year. After executive producing the show for fifteen years and the Los Angeles Film Festival for eight, Diana left Film Independent in 2009 to co-found Nuts-n-Bolts Productions. Over the past two years, Nuts-n-Bolts has produced several events including the Children Mending Hearts Peace Please Gala, Los Angeles Point Honors Gala and the treats! Magazine Launch party. In past years, Diana has worked on the PacSun Summer Solstice Beach Ballyhoo, the 2010 Glee premiere and the 2010 Entertainment Weekly Emmy Party, in conjunction with Larry Abel Designs. Diana has more than twenty-five years experience in film, television and event production.

“We’re incredibly excited to have Seth as the host for the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards and join us in celebrating this year’s exquisite films and talented filmmaking artists. Seth’s charm, intelligence and quick wit are sure to light up the room and will make for a truly entertaining afternoon,” said Film Independent Senior Director Sean Mc Manus. “We’re also pleased to welcome back Diana. Her creativity and passion for independent film has delivered some of the Spirit Awards’ most memorable moments. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with this year.”

"Seth is one of the smartest and funniest actors today and we look forward to him making this one of the funniest Spirit Awards yet," said Jennifer Caserta, Executive Vice President & General Manager, IFC. "IFC is a growing brand for original comedy programming, and our viewers are in for a good time with Seth hosting."

Seth Rogen has emerged as a prominent figure in a new generation of comedic actors, writers and producers. Rogen most recently starred in and executive produced the dramatic comedy and Film Independent Spirit Award nominated 50/50, inspired by the real life experiences of his best friend, Will Reiser, who also wrote the screenplay. Nominated for an Emmy Award in 2005 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy for Da Ali G Show, Rogen began his career doing standup comedy in Vancouver, Canada at the age of 13. After moving to Los Angeles, Rogen landed supporting roles in Judd Apatow’s two critically acclaimed network television comedies, Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared, the latter of which Rogen was also hired as a staff writer at the age of 18. Shortly after, Rogen was guided by Apatow toward a film career with the box office smash hit, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which took home Best Comedy Movie at the 11th annual Critics’ Choice Awards and which Rogen co-produced. In 2007, he headlined two summer blockbusters: Knocked Up, which Rogen also executive produced and Superbad, a semi-autobiographical comedy that he co-wrote and executive produced with writing partner Evan Goldberg. The duo also found success the following summer in the action-comedy Pineapple Express, which Rogen also acted in alongside James Franco and Danny McBride.

Rogen continued to demonstrate his wide-ranging ability as he co-wrote, executive produced and starred as the main character, Britt Reid, in the comic book-turned action film, The Green Hornet. In addition to his on-screen roles, he has also found great success lending his voice for animated films, which include the title character in Greg Mottola’s comedy Paul, the character Mantis in Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2, and the voice of B.O.B. in the 3D animation phenomenon Monsters vs. Aliens. Other film credits include Horton Hears a Who!, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Observe and Report and Funny People. Rogen is currently working on the script for the Ben Stiller/Vince Vaughn comedy Neighborhood Watch and will next be seen in the comedy My Mother’s Curse, opposite Academy Award winner Barbra Streisand. Also in the works for the versatile actor is another dramatic turn in the recently acquired Magnolia Pictures film Take This Waltz, starring Sarah Silverman and Michelle Williams and directed by Sarah Polley.

Additional members of the producing team behind this year’s show includes: Director and Producer Ivan Dudynsky from Live Animals, who directed last year’s show; Producer Shawn Davis, who has been a part of the show and produced the Spirit Awards for 9 years; Producer John Hamilton, who has produced the Spirit Awards for 6 years; and Live Animals’ Audrey Morrissey who was an executive producer last year and will serve as Consulting Producer this year.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards are sponsored by Premier Sponsors ELLE, Piaget and JamesonIrish Whiskey and Principal Sponsors Nokia and Stella Artois. WireImage is the Official Photographer and PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent.

For more information on submission guidelines, voting, media and publicist credentials, and the history of the Spirit Awards, please visit SpiritAwards.com.

ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

Now in its 27th year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers who embody independence and originality. The Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American independent filmmakers and promotes the finest independent films of the year 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 International Film, Best Documentary, and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Grants include the Piaget Producers Award, Someone to Watch Award, Nokia Truer Than Fiction Award and Jameson FIND Your Audience Award.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is a 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, is 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 professional, or a film lover.
Film Independent produces the Spirit Awards, the annual celebration honoring artist-driven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. Film Independent also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

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’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.

For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.

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