Method Fest Independent Film Festival

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Los Angeles, United States March 26 - April 02, 2009
Call for Entry Deadline: January 31, 2009
Early Deadline: December 1, 2008
Festival Data:
- Established: 1999
- Genre: General
- Attendance: 20000
- Media Attendance: 50
- Accredited Industry Attendance: 100
- Total Number of Films Submitted: 600
- Total Number of Films Screened: 60
- Total Screenings: 52
- # of Shorts Screened: 32
- # of Features Screened: 28
- Competitive
- Has Panels
Festival Website:
http:/ / www.methodfest.com/
Festival Description:

The Method Fest is named for the "Stanislavski Method' which brought truth and realism to the world of acting, The Method Fest is the only major film festival in the U.S. that pays homage to the actor. The Method Fest is truly The Actor's Film Festival, a festival of Discovery, seeking breakout acting performances of emerging stars and established actors in story-driven independent films.

The festival has also taken great delight in sharing career-defining performances of established performers and in showcasing outstanding independent projects of well-known directors to screen at the festival.

The 10th Method Fest will feature tributes to actors and top filmmakers, acting and filmmaking seminars, workshops and panels, daily/nightly parties and receptions, industry events, a variety of Indie Music events, Lifetime Achievement Tribute, and the Awards Ceremony. The Method Fest's traditional Youth Outreach Program includes a short film and screenplay competition for middle school and high school students.

In its first nine years The Method Fest has launched more than 85 films into the marketplace (theatrical distribution, DVD/video release, TV deals), and brought to attention actors like Naomi Watts, Jeremy Sisto, Jena Malone, Tamara Hope and Eugene Byrd. Method Fest gems include The Waitress, Black Irish, Man in the Chair, Jindabyne, Dreamland, Brothers, Lonely Hearts, Julie Walking Home, The Navigators, Steal Me, It's All Gone Pete Tong, Seven Times Lucky, December Ends, I Love Your Work, Three Days of Rain, Close Your Eyes, Finder's Fee, Flickering Lights, The Visit, To End All Wars, Way Off Broadway, Jump Tomorrow, Man of the Year, Sobrevivire, ABCD, The Restless, Hard Luck, I Love Budapest, Lucinda's Spell, Poor White Trash, My Sweet Killer, Sweet Thing, Dumbarton Bridge, The Corndog Man, Jimmy Zip, Night Orchid, and The Scottish Tale.
Film Submissions:
- Submission formats: Beta-SP, Digi-Beta, 35mm, Other
- Call for Entry: http:/ / www.methodfest.com/ 07pages/ overview/ wabentry.htm
Email: don(at)methodfest.com

Phone: (1) 310 535-9230

Fax: (1) 310535-9128

Mailing Address: 880 Apollo St., Suite 337
Los Angeles, California 90245
USA

Email:	don(at)methodfest.com
Phone:	(1) 310 535-9230
Fax:	(1) 310535-9128
Mailing Address:	880 Apollo St., Suite 337 Los Angeles, California 90245 USA

APR 22 03:26PM FFW Festival Editor writes:

2008 Method Fest Award Winners Announced

Melissa Leo won the Time Warner Cable Geraldine Page Award for Best Actress for her performance in "Lullaby," and Richard Jenkins took home the Charter Communications John Garfield Award for Best Actor for his role in "The Visitor," as the 10th annual The Method Fest independent film festival announced its winners at the Awards Ceremony at Viewpoint School 's Carlson Family Theatre in Calabasas.

“The performances this year in film at the festival exceeded anything we had seen before at The Method Fest. The overall quality of the films was also higher and some awards were almost impossible for the judges to determine," Don Franken, the festival's executive director, said. “More top quality films with breakout performances as well as career-defining performances by other actors made it the fiercest competition yet for awards. There are so many emerging new stars this year at The Method Fest and this really brought more energy and excitement at the festival".

The City of Calabasas Jury Award for Best Picture was presented to "Unfinished Sky," directed by Peter Duncan and starring William McInnes, Monic Hendrickx, Milo, Bille Brown, Christopher Sommers, and David Field.

The Christie Digital Audience Award for Best Picture was presented to "Chain Link," directed by Dylan Reynolds.

The LA.com Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film went to Danai Gurira, ("The Visitor"), and the Stockholm Krystal Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film went to John Saxon, ("God's Ears").

Tom McCarthy, who directed "The Visitor," was awarded the Modern VideoFilm Award for Best Director of a Feature Film.

The Daily News Award for Best Screenplay went to Rick Bieber, for "Crazy." Bieber also directed and produced the film.

The Prudential California Realty Award for Best Ensemble Cast was presented to the cast of "Familiar Strangers," directed by Zachary Adler, written by John Bell, and starring Shawn Hatosy, DJ Qualls, Cameron Richardson, Ann Dowd, Nikki Reed, and Tom Bower.

Special Recognition: Eduart. "Greece," directed by Angeliki Antoniou.

The Corona Maverick Award for High Quality in Low Budget Filmmaking went to "Harrison Montgomery," directed by Daniel Dávila.

Other winners included:

The jetBlue Airways Award for Best Short – "Indecent" directed by Matt Cavanaugh

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Award for Best Foreign Film – "Corpo" (Body), Brazil,
directed by Rubens Rewald and Rosanna Foglia, produced by Rubens Rewald.

Special Recognition: "This Beautiful City"
directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly

The Viewpoint School Award for Best Actor in a Short – Colin Cunningham, ("Centigrade").

The Motion Picture and Television Fund Award for Best Actress in a Short – Vanessa Born, ("Sky").

The Bernards Award for Best Student Short – "A Day's Work"
directed by Rajeev Dassani from the University of Southern California.

The Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Audience Award for Best Short Film – "Psycho Hillbilly Cabin Massacre!" directed by Robert Cosnahan

Special Recognition Awards

The Valley of the Stars Festival Director's Award for Excellence – "Chronic Town"
directed by Tom Hines

The Barefoot Winery Festival Director's Award for Breakthrough Acting – Octavio Gomez Berrios "Harrison Montgomery"

The Award for the Best Ensemble Cast in a Short Film – "Last Day of Limbo" starring Ian Abercrombie, Roby Bessent, Johnny Holiday, Matt Malloy, Patrick Thomas O'Brien, Mark Pellegrino, Joseph Rigano, Rico Simonini, and Vinny Vella.

Special Awards presented before and during the festival:

Career Achievement Award: Richard Jenkins

Maverick Award: Melissa Leo

Future Filmmaker Audience Awards

Sony Future Filmmakers Award for Best Picture – Michael Fishbein for "Chope."

Final Draft Future Filmmakers Award for Best Screenplay – Mike Toomy and Kevin Murphy for "Chope."

Indieprinting.com Future Filmmakers Award for Best Acting – Aaron Moody for "Chope."

Special Recognition: "Winter's Hero" by Alexi Scuitto
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APR 16, 2007 06:35PM FFW Festival Editor writes:

The 9th annual Method Fest honored Michael Madsen with the 2007 Maverick Award

Madsen was honored for his outstanding contribution to cinema, his commitment to independent film, and his versatility as an actor, producer, and writer. The award was presented at the festival's Sneak Preview Party at Pierce College 's Performing Arts Center (Main Stage Theater) in a moving ceremony highlighted by Academy Awards nominee Virginia Madsen, Madsen's sister.

One of the busiest actors in Hollywood, Madsen has appeared in over 100 films, including over 30 this decade, from big budget major studio releases to independent films, but he reached instant iconic status by playing a sadistic ex-con and jewel thief, Mr. Blonde, in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 indie classic Reservoir Dogs. Madsen's portrayal made Mr. Blonde one of film's quintessential villains. (Maxim Magazine named Mr. Blonde the second greatest villain of all time, and the character was was one of the 200 nominees on the American Film Institute's list of 100 years of the best Heroes and Villains.)
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APR 12, 2007 03:53PM FFW Films Editor writes:

Awards for the 2007 Method Fest Independent Film Festival

Time Warner Cable John Garfierld Best Actor Award: Michael Angarano For “Black Irish”
Directed By: Brad Gann

Charter Communications Geraldine Page Award For Best Actress: Scout Taylor-Compton For “Tomorrow Is Today”

The City Of Calabasas Best Picture Award: “Black Irish”
Directed By: Brad Gann

The Christie Digital Audience Award For Best Picture: “Destiny” Directed By: Vage Khacatryan

The Daily Variety Award For Best Supporting Actress Award In A Feature Film: Dagmara Dominczyk For “Mentor”

Standard Pacific Homes Award For Best Supporting Actor: Tom Guiry For “Black Irish”
Directed By: Brad Gann

Modern Videofilm Best Director Award: Jim Loftus For “Trade Routes”

The Daily News Best Screenplay Award: David Gow For “Steel Toes”

The Prudential California Realty Best Ensemble Cast: The Cast Of “Man In The Chair”
Directed By: Michael Schroeder

The Corona Maverick Award For High Quality In Low Budget Filmmaking And Unique Vision “Plum Role”
Written, Directed And Helmed By: Zak Hilditch.

The Jetblue Award For Best Short: “Across The Hall”
Directed By: Alan Powell

The International Bonded Couriers Award For Best Foreign Film: “Trade Routes”
Directed By: Jim Loftus

The Screen Actors Guild Award For Best Actor In A Short: Jai Koutrae For “Death's Requiem”

The Wexler TV Award For Best Actress In A Short: Sharon Lawrence For “Fool Me Once”

The Enterprise Rent-A Car-Award For Best Student Short: “Deface” Directed By: John Arlotto

The Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Audience Award, Short Film: “Rushers “
Directed By: Joey Boukadakis

The LA Auto Gallery Ferrari Maserati Festival Director's Award For Excellence: “Man In The Chair”
Directed By: Michael Schroeder

D2 Homes Festival Director's Breakthrough Acting Award: Laura Henderson For “Plum Role”

Lifetime Achievement Award: Christopher Plummer

Maverick Award: Michael Madsen

Future Filmmaker Audience Awards (Top Vote Recipients):

Sony Future Filmmakers Award For Best Picture: Mission Space 2

Final Draft Future Filmmakers Award For Best Screenplay: Mae Catt, Goth Boy And Uber Emo In The “Half-Off Sale”
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