Comedian Patton 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. The organization also said that longtime executive producer Diana Zahn-Storey will return for her 19th Spirit Awards show.

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 comedic work includes four TV specials and four critically acclaimed albums, in addition to his latest Finest Hour which received a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album, as well as a Showtime one-hour special of the same name. In 2009, Patton received his first Grammy nomination for his album My Weakness Is Strong which Warner Brothers Records released.

In 2009, Patton appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s feature film The Informant, and Observe and Report with Seth Rogen. Patton provided the voice for ‘Remy’, the rat, in Pixar’s Oscar winning Ratatouille.  He also voiced characters on Word Girl and Neighbors from Hell. Patton has also appeared in more then 20 films, including Magnolia and Starsky and Hutch. He starred in The Comedians of Comedy, which was shot as an independent feature film, a TV series and a long running tour.


In addition to his guest roles this past year on Parks and Recreation, Justified, Two and a Half Men, Portlandia, Burn Notice, Patton also voiced characters on The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers.  He was a series regular on Showtime’s United States of Tara, appeared as a guest star on Bored To Death and Flight of the Conchords on HBO and The Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central. He also recurred on the SyFy series Caprica.  Patton was also a regular contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Real Time with Bill Maher and Lewis Black’s Root Of All Evil.

“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.”

In addition to the annual Spirit Awards, L.A.-based Film Independent produces the annual Los Angeles Film Festival as well as year-round filmmaker programs. IFC will broadcast the 29th annual Independent Spirit Awards at 10pm ET/PT March 1.