Editor

Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent, announced today the eighth-annual Director Series will be held February 20 – March 26, 2008 at The Landmark West Los Angeles, giving attendees access to some of the most innovative names in independent filmmaking.
Oscar® nominated writer José Rivera (“The Motorcycle Diaries”) will serve as moderator for the first time.

“The Director Series is a unique event which provides film lovers with a rare opportunity to hear and learn from today's most influential independent directors and their collaborators,” said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent. “It’s a must, not only for filmmakers, but anyone who is interested in film, and we are proud to offer them such diverse and distinguished panels.”
The Director Series kicks off on February 20 with The Independent Spirit: A Directors Roundtable, featuring 2008 Spirit Award nominees including Tamara Jenkins (“The Savages”), Jason Reitman (“Juno”) and Julian Schnabel (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”). Additional Series panelists include Callie Khouri (“Thelma & Louise,” “Mad Money”), Zach Helm (“Stranger Than Fiction,” “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”), Diana Ossana (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Comanche Moon”), and Scott Frank (“Out of Sight,” “The Lookout”).
Past panelists have included Allison Anders, Don Cheadle, Bill Condon, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Marc Forster, Paul Haggis, Nicole Holofcener, Miranda July, Alexander Payne, Elizabeth Peña, Walter Salles, and Kevin Smith.
This year’s panels include “The Storytellers: Writers and Directors,” “The Actors: Getting Great Performances,” “The Creative Team: Executing the Vision,” “Music and Sound Design,” and for the first time in the Series, a documentary roundtable entitled “A Different Kind of Fiction?”
All panels will take place in Theater 12 at The Landmark West Los Angeles (10850 West Pico Boulevard at Westwood Boulevard) on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – between February 20-March 26, 2008. Each panel will be followed by a reception.
To purchase a pass for the 2008 Director Series or individual tickets, please phone Film Independent’s reservation line at 310.432.1222 or send an email to Reservations@FilmIndependent.org.
For more information about this year’s Director Series or to register, please visit FilmIndependent.org/directorseries.