The Independent Spirit Awards has been the backdrop for some memorable scenes in the last few years, from Mickey Rourke’s best-acceptance-speech-of-all-time for The Wrestler, to Seth Rogen’s 15-minute roast monolog, to this Bad Lip Reading video. But every year, they hold their ceremony the night before the Oscars, ensuring that come Monday, everyone’s talking about the Oscars and no one’s talking about the Independent Spirit Awards. They’re not scheduling any more intelligently this year, but at least they chose their host wisely, a guy I rip off at least three times a day, Patton Oswalt.
Oswalt will host the 29th annual Independent Spirit Awards ceremony on the beach in Santa Monica Saturday March 1, Josh Welsh, president of Film Independent said Tuesday.
Patton stars in Ben Stiller’s The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, which had its World Premiere at the 51st New York Film Festival as the Centerpiece Gala.
“Patton has been a long supporter of our organization, he has participated in several Film Independent Live Reads at LACMA and is also a card holding member of the organization,” said Film Independent president Josh Welsh. “I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us at the Awards show in March.”
IFC will broadcast the 29th annual Independent Spirit Awards at 10pm ET/PT March 1. [FilmLinc]
Not only is Patton Oswalt super funny, I’d wager that he’ll be the most film-literate host they’ve ever had. Between being in front of his perfect target audience and the knowledge that the mainstream won’t be paying any attention, I’m expecting Patton to be on his A game, with at least three obscure Samuel Fuller references that two people in the audience will get. I can’t wait.
