Hot Topics:

Netflix, IFP link on screeners

Logistics to be finalized in the coming weeks

BT bows showbiz unit with Marks in charge

Sports helps kidvidder EM.TV in Q3

U.K. exhibs keep reeling them in

'New Moon' wins Thanksgiving box office(3854 views)

Invictus(1889 views)

Hollywood sea of change(1833 views)

Paramount lands 'Area 51'(1638 views)

'New Moon' crosses $200 million(1410 views)

Christopher Eccleston plays Lennon(1160 views)

HOLLYWOOD -- In order to make films accessible to its voting members, IFP/Los Angeles has teamed with Netflix to create an official online viewing site for pics nominated for this year's Independent Spirit Awards.

Partnership is the first Netflix has made with an awards show, and Netflix hopes it will give it an advantage in attracting more sophisticated, high-end consumers to its DVD rental service.

Netflix will host the special viewing site to provide all 9,000 IFP members free access to all nominated pics. Logistics are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

Netflix will pay for the manufacture and mailing of DVDs for pics without distribution.

While the discs will not be watermarked to prevent piracy, Netflix will keep track of which members request which titles and will require all copies to be returned after viewing.

Netflix provides 'solution'

"We have wanted for years to find a way to get screeners into the hands of our members since many of the Spirit Award films have been shown only in festivals or in limited release," said Dawn Hudson, exec director of IFP/Los Angeles. "Netflix, in their generous support of independent filmmakers, has provided us with the solution."

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos added: "Netflix can make screening nominated films easier and more convenient for IFP members by leveraging our unique technology and distribution systems."