Awards

Independent Spirit Award:

Karen Black

Karen Black began her prolific and critically acclaimed screen career with the roadtrip classic EASY RIDER (1969), starring opposite Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, & Jack Nicholson. She starred opposite Nicholson again the next year in FIVE EASY PIECES (1970), which garnered an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe for Karen. Later she received Golden Globes for her work in THE GREAT GATSBY (1974) and THE DAY OF THE LOCUST (1975). Her songwriting in Robert Altman's NASHVILLE (1976) was part of an ensemble Grammy nomination. She starred in Alfred Hitchcock's final film, THE FMILY PLOT, the same year. Other roles she is remembered for include AIRPORT 1975 (1975), TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975), BURNT OFFERINGS (1976), CAPRICORN ONE (1978), THE SQUEEZE (1978), COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN (1982), INVADERS FROM MARS (1986), GYPSY 83 (2001), HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003), FIRECRACKER (2005), and Henry Jaglom's HOLLYWOOD DREAMS (2006) and IRENE IN TIME (2008).

We are proud to award Karen Black with this year's INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD. A viewing of a montage of her diverse work -- on Saturday, September 6th, 9 PM, at the Eureka Theatre -- will remind us all of what an incredible artist she is and what an indelible roll she holds in the history of independent cinema. Followed by her short film HELP, and her latest feature film THE BLUE TOOTH VIRGIN.

Chrysalis Award:

Tanna Frederick

TANNA FREDERICK made her screen debut starring in Henry Jaglom's latest film, HOLLYWOOD DREAMS, which premiered at the LA/AFI 2006 Film Festival. In the widely acclaimed role of Margie, a young girl from Iowa heading to Hollywood to pursue her dreams of stardom, Ms. Frederick's performance has been heralded as "towering" and "magical" with "go-for-broke zaniness." Ms. Frederick has also recently completed principal photography on Jaglom's next film, IRENE IN TIME, a film about the relationships of fathers and daughters, in which she again stars in the title role, and is in pre-production on her third film with Jaglom, QUEEN OF THE LOT scheduled to begin filming fall 2007. Ms. Frederick will star opposite David Proval in Charlie Matthau's MICKEY AND DELORES scheduled to begin filming in April 2007.

Youth Champion Award:

Julio Medina

Also known as Dr. Jules, Medina is an HSU alumni and a filmmaker who has worked worked in Korea. He is now living in Los Angeles. His films YEM IN THE CITY OF ANGELS, a documentary portrait of an urban Los Angeles artist, PERVASIVE PERSUASION, a one-hour documentary on Japanese artist Takashi Murakami's influence on L.A. art, and THE LONGEST WHISPER, excerpts from a conceptual personal work in progress, will be shown August 29, 7 PM, at the Eureka Theatre.

Global Vision Award:

Joaquin Alvarado

For moving beyond geographic boundaries and bringing media makers and communicators together - through his work with the Institute for Next Generation Internet, SFSU, the digital sister cities program, and so much more.

Lynn Hershman Leeson Digital Vision Award:

Ron Vignone

Ron Vignone is a filmmaker who has worked in all areas of filmmaking; from audio, to acting, writing, directing, editing, and producing, using his almost twenty years of expertise in film production and post production, and digital media, to create works of cinematic art, breaking through boundaries and experimenting with techniques availed by new media. We are honored to bestow this prestigious award on such a talented artist.