(3 February 2010 7:45 pm)

MUMBAI: Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, has announced a partnership that brings a curated selection from the 24-year archive of the Spirit Awards to a global audience via Babelgum's online video platform and its free application for Apple's iPhone & iPod Touch and Google's Android devices.

This also marks the first time that a premier awards show will be making archival content and red-carpet footage available exclusively through mobile smartphone devices.

Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson says, "We are so excited that Babelgum has taken on the enormous task of helping us share these funny and touching moments with film lovers all over the world. There are countless hours of footage that no one has seen, as well as clips that will stir up fun Spirit Award memories for those in the independent film community."

The 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards take place on 5 March in downtown Los Angeles.

Over 140 clips dating back to 1986 are available through the Spirit Awards channel at www.spiritawards.com and at www.babelgum.com/spiritawards and via the Babelgum mobile phone apps www.babelgum.com/mobile. The historical footage is divided into entertaining categories so that fans and press can easily find and share their favourite moments.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards was the first event to honour independent film exclusively.