from film independent

Keith Gordon, Karyn Kusama, and Jeremy Podeswa to Serve as Lab Mentors

LOS ANGELES (February 8, 2010) – Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, has announced the filmmakers and film projects for its 10th annual Directors Lab, sponsored by Kodak. Taking place in Los Angeles from now until the end of March, the Directors Lab is an intensive nine-week program designed to assist directors with strong, original voices develop new narrative feature films, improve their craft, and advance their filmmaking careers in a nurturing yet challenging creative environment. This year’s Lab Mentors include Keith Gordon (The Singing Detective, Waking the Dead), Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body, Girl Fight), and Jeremy Podeswa (The Pacific, Fugitive Pieces).

“It’s an honor to have such accomplished directors as Keith, Karyn, and Jeremy helming this year’s Lab,” said Josh Welsh, Film Independent’s Director of Talent Development. “We have an exceptionally strong group of projects, and we look forward to seeing them develop further over the course of the program.”

In the Directors Lab, filmmakers are provided a cash stipend for their projects and access to production resources provided by New Hat. Under the tutelage of the Lab Mentors, filmmakers learn to work with actors, collaborate with cinematographers and crew, refine scripts and shoot scenes from their projects. They are also introduced to established directors and film professionals who serve as one-on-one Advisors throughout the nine weeks. The Lab is provided free to accepted filmmakers, and upon completion, they become Film Independent Fellows, receiving year-round support including access to Film Independent’s annual educational offerings, on-staff Filmmaker Advisor, and the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Recent projects developed through the Directors Lab include Robbie Pickering’s Natural Selection, which is premiering in competition at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival, Cherien Dabis’ Amreeka, Tina Mabry’s Mississippi Damned, and Scott Prendergast’s Kabluey.

Deadlines coming up for some of Film Independent’s other Talent Development programs include Fast Track (February 28), Screenwriter’s Lab (March 28), Project:Involve (April 25), and Producers Lab (July 11). To apply for these programs, please visit FilmIndependent.org

The 2011 Directors Lab filmmakers and their projects are…more