Spirit Awards
Going Green for 2008 Ceremony

As part of a company-wide greening initiative, Film Independent plans to produce a zero-waste, eco-friendly 2008 Spirit Awards show. The alterations will impact the voting process, power sources, and food served at the ceremony, according to a statement released Wednesday.

"Our goal in implementing these changes is to show that it is possible to move toward a greener way of doing things without completely changing your life," ceremony producer Diana Zahn-Storey said in the statement. "In the same way that we've worked toward raising the public's awareness of independent film, we want to now take a leadership position in demonstrating how some simple changes can impact everyone's world for the better."

To eliminate paper and waste, Film Independent is working with indie film discovery and distribution company B-Side to offer online streaming of nominated films as an option to voting members.

Biodiesel-fueled generators and recycled food scraps, Astroturf, wood, and plastic will power the show. Paper will be printed on 100% postconsumer recycled material with soy-based inks. The catering, provided by Along Came Mary, will use only organically grown produce purchased from farms within a 150-mile radius of Los Angeles.

The 2008 Spirit Awards will take place Saturday, February 23, in Santa Monica, Calif. (The Advocate)