Wednesday, November 20, 2013

EMMY AWARD WINNING ACTOR JAMES GANDOLFINI TO RECEIVE POSTHUMOUS TRIBUTE AT IFP’S 23rd ANNUAL GOTHAM INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS

Presented by Steve Buscemi



New York, NY (November 20, 2013) – The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the nation’s premier advocacy organization for independent filmmakers, announced today that James Gandolfini will be presented with a posthumous Tribute by Steve Buscemi at the 23rd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards on Monday, December 2nd at Cipriani Wall Street, in New York City. Gandolfini joins previously announced tributees Forest Whitaker, Richard Linklater and Katherine Oliver.

“We are honored to pay tribute to a man whose life and work has inspired and moved so many who knew him personally, or through his vast body of work on the stage and screen, where he collaborated with so many independent artists to bring to life unforgettable, iconic characters,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of the IFP and the Made in New York Media Center by IFP.

James Gandolfini was an actor and producer who made an indelible mark in a variety of motion picture and television roles, currently in Nicole Holofcener's posthumously released romantic comedy "Enough Said" opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus and in 2014, in "Animal Rescue," alongside Tom Hardy.  He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the award-winning HBO series, The Sopranos. His portrayal of the crime boss brought him three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He also won five Screen Actors Guild Awards, including three for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series and two shared with The Sopranos cast for Outstanding Ensemble Cast.

“James Gandolfini was a friend, an inspiration, and an extraordinary talent whose presence is missed by all of us who knew and loved him.  It is an honor to present this tribute at the Gotham Awards recognizing his impact,” said Steve Buscemi.

Other recent film credits included: Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar-nominated drama Zero Dark Thirty, Geoffrey Fletcher's Violet and Daisy; David Chase's Not Fade Away, which debuted at the 2012 New York Film Festival; Andrew Dominik's crime thriller Killing Them Softly, with Brad Pitt; Jake Scott's Welcome to the Rileys; director Tony Scott's The Taking of Pelham 123; and Armando Iannucci's independent feature In the Loop.  Gandolfini's other notable roles include the woman-beating Mob henchman Virgil in True Romance, enforcer/stuntman Bear in Get Shorty, and the impulsive Wild Thing Carol in Where the Wild Things Are.

On the small screen, Gandolfini produced the HBO Documentary Films "Wartorn" and the Emmy-nominated "Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq" in addition to the Emmy nominated HBO Film "Hemingway and Gellhorn." He also starred in the HBO Film "Cinema Verite" opposite Diane Lane.

Born in Westwood, New Jersey, Gandolfini graduated from Rutgers University before beginning his acting career in New York theatre. He made his Broadway debut in the 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire," with Alec Baldwin and Jessica Lange. Returning to the stage in 2009, Gandolfini earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the Broadway production of Matthew Warchus's Tony Award-winning play "God of Carnage," starring alongside Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels and Hope Davis.

Signaling the official kick-off for the film awards season, the Gotham Independent Film Awards is one of the leading awards for independent film. Anchoring the evening’s seven competitive awards for Best Feature, Best Actress (presenting sponsor euphoria Calvin Klein), Best Actor, Best Documentary, Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director (presenting sponsor Royal Bank of Canada), Breakthrough Actor and the Audience Award are three tributes to film community icons, including the Industry Tribute, the Actor Tribute, and the Director Tribute (presenting sponsor Russian Standard Vodka).

The Premier Sponsors of the 23rd annual Gotham Independent Film Awards are Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and The New York Times, Platinum Sponsor euphoria Calvin Klein, Official Water FIJI Water, Official Spirit Russian Standard Vodka, Official Wine Partner Mionetto Prosecco, Official Hotel Andaz Wall Street. Additionally, the awards will be promoted nationally in an eight-page special advertising section in The New York Times on November 22nd, 2013.

About IFP
The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) is the premier advocacy organization for independent filmmakers, championing the future of storytelling in the digital age by fostering a vibrant and sustainable independent filmmaking community. IFP has supported over 7,000 films and offered resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers over its 34-year history, developing 350 new feature and documentary films each year. IFP represents a growing network of 10,000 filmmakers in New York City and around the world.

IFP guides filmmakers in the art, technology, and business of independent filmmaking through its year-round programming and with the introduction of the state-of-the-art Made in NY Media Center by IFP, a new incubator space developed with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, where storytellers from multiple disciplines, industries, and platforms create, collaborate, and connect.

In addition to its workshops, seminars, conferences, mentorships, and Filmmaker Magazine, IFP’s annual programs include Independent Film WeekTM, EnvisionTM, The Gotham Independent Film AwardsTM, and the Independent Filmmaker LabsTM.

Founded in 1979, IFP is the largest and oldest not-for-profit dedicated to independent film.  More info at www.ifp.org

About the Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP
The Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP, selected by distinguished juries and presented in New York City, the home of independent film, are the first honors of the film awards season. This public showcase honors the filmmaking community, expands the audience for independent films, and supports the work that IFP does behind the scenes throughout the year to bring such films to fruition.

For information on attending: http://gotham.ifp.org

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