IFP/NEW YORK, IN COLLABORATION WITH FONDAZIONE PRADA, ANNOUNCE GOTHAM
AWARD NOMINEES
FOR OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

* * *

Open Palm Award to be presented at a ceremony to be held
September 26 in New York City and broadcast on Bravo September 29

New York, NY (10 July 2002) - Michelle Byrd, Executive Director of
IFP/New York and actor Alan Cumming announced last night the six nominees for
the Open Palm Award for outstanding directorial debut, one of the honors to
be presented at the 2002 Gotham Awards. The nominations were announced
in collaboration with Fondazione Prada and were held at Prada Broadway
in SoHo, New York. This first event launches a collaborative program
between the IFP/New York and Fondazione Prada.

The 12th Annual Gotham Awards, a benefit dinner and awards ceremony
celebrating outstanding achievement in New York's filmmaking community,
will be held on Thursday, September 26, 2002 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea
Piers, New York. The event will be aired on the Bravo Network, September 29, 2002.

The nominees for the 2002 Open Palm Award are Bertha Bay-Sa Pan (Face),
Eric Eason (Manito), Ethan Hawke (Chelsea Walls), Moises Kaufman (The
Laramie Project), Peter Mattei (Love in the Time of Money) and Fisher
Stevens (Just a Kiss). It has previously been announced that Ang Lee
will receive the Bravo Lifetime Achievement Award, Bingham Ray will receive
the Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, and Julianne Moore will receive the
IFP Gotham Actor Award.

"The Open Palm Award is presented to first time director in recognition
of an outstanding directorial achievement of a feature length film," says
Byrd. "This year we are thrilled that a cash prize of $10,000 will
accompany this award, providing assistance on the winner's next project.
The core mission of the IFP is to encourage and champion new artistic
voices in the filmmaking community, and the Gotham Awards help fulfill
this mission. It is a way to honor innovative artists who, through their
daring and their creativity, advance the art of filmmaking."
The winner will be announced live at the event in September. Past
recipients include: Henry Bean (The Believer); John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch); Karyn Kusama (Girlfight); Darren Aronofsky(?); and Jennie Livingston (Paris is Burning). The Gotham Awards serve as the annual gala for the IFP and were created to celebrate New York as a
vibrant filmmaking center.

With the Open Palm announcement, Fondazione Prada launches a
collaborative series of programs with IFP/New York to support emerging filmmakers.
Fondazione Prada is a non-profit organization established by Miuccia
Prada and Patrizio Bertelli designed to focus on the most important
manifestations of contemporary art and culture. Its objective is to
present exhibitions and cultural events and to develop publishing
activities that center around the production of monographs on the
individuals exhibited. Prada at 575 Broadway was conceived by OMA/Rem
Koolhaas (Rotterdam) as a space that could allow the public to transcend
the shopping experience and provide a forum for cultural activities.

The Gotham Awards, which kick off the annual IFP Market, are attended by
some 1,000 luminaries from the world of entertainment. With proceeds
from the past few years, the IFP has been able to launch a paid mentorship
program to support greater ethnic and gender diversity in the industry.
Funds raised at the Gotham Awards also enable the organization to
provide fellowships and a host of year-round services for filmmakers, and to
develop public programs that help promote independent film.

The Presenting Sponsors for the Gothams confirmed to date include: ABC,
Bravo Network, Focus Features, HBO, The Independent Film Channel, The
New York Times, Toyota Camry, United Artists and Variety.