-== ARTICLES ==-

Variety
April 3-9, 1995
By Leonard Klaty

Hollywood
"Pulp Fiction," the flamboyant omnibus crime meller, emerged the big winner at the 10th Independent Spirit Awards on March 25.  The Miramax release took home trophies for picture, direction, screenplay and a best male lead for Samuel L. Jackson.   "This is the studio of independent films," producer Lawrence Bender said in his acceptance speech, citing "Pulp's" $8 million budget as lavish by sector standards.  Others agreed, noting that
it was developed by TriStar-based Jersey Films and financed and released by a division of Walt Disney.
 
"There's never been a time where the definition of independent was more unclear," observed one producer.  "If this were a contest between true indies, you'd have a battle between Goldwyn and Strand Releasing."
 
Instead, in addition to the "Pulp" quartet, Miramax releases racked up four other prizes, and titles from Fine Line, a division of Turner Entertainment's New Line, were winners in three categories.  The remaining member-voted award went to Linda Fiorentino for her performance in "The Last Seduction," released by October Films.   In presenting the filmmakers of "Hoop Dreams" the Special Distinction prize, Roger Ebert referred to its Academy exclusion as "a scandal that must not be repeated."  Other presenters and recipients attempted to explain unsuccessfully the salient differences between the indie and studio pix.   IFP/West president Barbara Boyle announced that the organization has begun the preliminary groundwork for fundraising efforts to establish an Independent Film Center.  Though the full scope of the project has yet to be determined, key elements will include a meeting and screening facility and basic post-production facilities.  Several sites already have been discussed and a kickoff event will be announced shortly.
Lodge Kerrigan, writer and director of "Clean Shaven," was presented with the first Someone to Watch juried prize, which comes with a $20,000 cash award.

Feature - "Pulp Fiction," Miramax; producer, Lawrence Bender
First Feature  - "Spanking The Monkey," Fine Line; director David Russell
Female Lead - Linda Fiorentino, "The Last Seduction"
Male Lead - Samuel L. Jackson, "Pulp Fiction"
Supporting Female - Dianne Wiest, "Bullets Over Broadway"
Supporting Male - Chazz Palminteri, "Bullets Over Broadway"
Debut Performance - Sean Nelson, "Fresh"
Director - Quentin Tarantino, "Pulp Fiction"
Screenplay - Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, "Pulp Fiction"
First Screenplay - David Russell, "Spanking The Monkey"
Cinematography  - John Thomas, "Barcelona"
Foreign Film - "Red," producers, Marin Karmitz, Gerard Ruey