IFP Gotham Awards Submission Deadline Is September 14

New York, NY (August 2, 2012) 'Independent Filmmaker Project®, the nation's oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers, today announced that the 22nd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards' will take place this year again at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, on Monday, November 26th.

The first award show of the season, the Gotham Independent Film Awards' honor independently distributed American feature films made with an economy of means. Established in 1991, the Gotham Independent Film Awards' celebrate the authentic voices behind and in front of the camera in the year's best independent films.

The Gothams provide critical early recognition to worthy independent films. Past winners include BEGINNERS (2011), THE TREE OF LIFE (2011), WINTER'S BONE (2010), THE HURT LOCKER (2009), FROZEN RIVER (2008), INTO THE WILD (2007) and HALF NELSON (2006), all of which went on to numerous awards and Oscar' nominations for ' Christopher Plummer, Terrence Malick, Debra Granik, Kathryn Bigelow, Melissa Leo, Sean Penn, and Ryan Gosling, respectively.

Each year IFP chooses a jury of 25 innovators and icons in documentary and feature directing, producing, cinematography, and acting to bestow six competitive awards, Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Ensemble Performance, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Actor and Best Film Not Playing At a Theatre Near You® on some of the best emerging and iconic filmmakers and actors working today. All nominees for these honors are determined by a selection committee of critics and programmers. Additionally the IFP' Audience Award, now given for the third consecutive year, allows film enthusiasts around the globe to vote online for the winner.

'We are always proud to present the Gotham Awards as a showcase of the year's best in independent film. As the true home of indie film, it is our goal to shine a light on these projects and all the hard work behind each film,' said Joana Vicente, IFP Executive Director. 'And the Gothams are always an exciting opportunity to get a glimpse of the nominees to come throughout award season.'

In addition to seven competitive categories, the Gotham Independent Film Awards' also recognizes those who have made significant contributions to independent filmmaking by selecting individuals to tribute. Last year the organization feted David Cronenberg, Gary Oldman, 20th Century Fox's Tom Rothman, and Charlize Theron. The 2012 Tributes will be announced in the Fall.

For the eighth year, IFP will partner with the Museum of Modern Art to present the Best Film Not Playing At a Theatre Near You® public screening series in November 2012. The Best Film Not Playing At A Theatre Near You® series features films which are nominated in this category that have achieved critical acclaim from the festival circuit, but have not yet been acquired theatrically by a distributor. A grant will be given to the winning filmmaker through Royal Bank of Canada's Emerging Artists Project.

Submissions are now being accepted in five of the competitive categories, including: Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Actor, Breakthrough Director and Best Ensemble Performance. Applications, along with full criteria, are available at http://gotham.ifp.org.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm EST on September 14, 2012.

Nominees will be announced on October 18, 2012, and winners will be honored at a star-studded ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on November 26th.