Independent Film & Television Alliance Members

INDEPENDENT FILM & TELEVISION ALLIANCE MEMBERS

TAKE HOME THE OSCARS

Independent Films Take More Than 50% Percent of the Awards

LOS ANGELES, CA - February 28, 2005 - The Independent Film & Television Alliance (I.F.T.A.), the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television programming industry, today announced that I.F.T.A. member companies were involved in either the production, financing and/or distribution of films that were honored with fourteen of the twenty-four awards at last night’s 77th Annual Academy Awards.

I.F.T.A. member companies also represented 48 out of the 112 Academy Award nominations announced on January 25 making this a substantial year for independent films.

"Our member companies are involved with many of the world's most prominent and acclaimed motion pictures and we are overjoyed with the recognition their films received by the Academy voters," commented Jean Prewitt, President and Chief Executive Officer, I.F.T.A. "The considerable number of Oscar nominations and wins this year is a testimony to the importance of independent film companies and the significant role they play in the global motion picture business."

The voice and advocate for the independent film and television industry worldwide, I.F.T.A. recognizes an independent film as any motion picture that is at least 51% financed outside the U.S. major studio system. Independent films range from big-budget features released by a major studio to art-house and specialty films.

Following is a summary of 77th Annual Academy Award winning films involving I.F.T.A. member companies:

Best Picture – Million Dollar Baby (Lakeshore Entertainment, Filmax)

Best Actress – Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby(Lakeshore Entertainment, Filmax)

Best Supporting Actor – Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby(Lakeshore Entertainment, Filmax)

Best Supporting Actress – Cate Blanchett, The Aviator(Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group)

Best Director – Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby(Lakeshore Entertainment, Filmax)

Best Original Screenplay – Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry, Pierre BismuthEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind(Focus Features)

Best Art Direction – The Aviator(Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group)

Best Cinematography – The Aviator(Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group)

Best Costume Design – The Aviator(Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group)

Best Film Editing – The Aviator (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group)

Best Original Song – “Al Otro Lado Del Río,” Jorge Drexler, The Motorcycle Diaries(Pathe, Focus Features, Senator)

Best Original Score – “Finding Neverland,” Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, Finding Neverland(Miramax, AB Svensk Film)

Best Foreign Language Film – The Sea Inside(UGC Images, Sogepaq, New Line/Fine Line)

Best Documentary Feature – Born Into Brothels(HBO)

About the Independent Film & Television Alliance

The Independent Film & Television Alliance (formerly AFMA) is the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television programming industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization represents and provides significant entertainment industry services to more than 150 member companies from 22 countries, consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, television companies, studio-affiliated companies, and financial institutions engaged in film finance. Forty percent of the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s membership and thirty percent of the association’s board of directors are from outside the U.S. Collectively, the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s members produce more than 400 independent films and countless hours of television programming each year and generate more than $4 billion in distribution revenues annually. The organization’s premiere event, the American Film Market will take place November 2 – 9, 2005 in Santa Monica.

The Independent Film & Television Alliance members include such well-known names in the independent film and TV industry as AB Svensk, Capitol Films, Distant Horizon, Filmax, First Look Media, Focus Features, Fortissimo, FremantleMedia, Good Times Entertainment, HBO, IAC, Icon, Initial Entertainment Group, Intermedia, LakeshoreEntertainment, Lions Gate, Miramax, Morgan Creek, Myriad Pictures, New Line, NU Image, Pathe, Senator International, Inc., Sogepaq, StudioCanal, Summit, TF1 Troma, UGC and UK Film Council.

For more information on the Independent Film & Television Alliance, please visit

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Media Contacts:

Jennifer Garnick

Paul Nichols

The Lippin Group/LA

323-965-1990