LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Tom Cruise will serve as Honorary Chair for the 2004 IFP Independent Spirit Awards, organizers in Los Angeles said Wednesday.
IFP/Los Angeles Executive Director Dawn Hudson said Cruise, one of Hollywood's top international box-office stars, was chosen because of his commitment to independent film.
"He has used his position in the industry to help finance, produce, and distribute important new work," she said, "including this year's nominee, 'Shattered Glass.'"
The star of such hit movies as "Rain Man," "The Color of Money," "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Jerry Maguire," Cruise is also a producer. His credits include "Mission: Impossible," "Jerry Maguire" and "Narc" -- which received three IFP Independent Spirit Award nominations last year.
"Shattered Glass" is nominated this year for Best First Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Male.
The Spirit Awards will be presented Saturday, Feb. 28, in Santa Monica, Calif., in ceremonies to be televised live over the IFC cable channel. The awards will be rebroadcast the same night on cable's Bravo channel.
John Waters was scheduled to return as master of ceremonies.
