FESTIVAL HONORS AND AWARDS

Ruby Dee and Julie Harris plus  Kevin Pollak, Kelli Garner, Agnes Bruckers to be Honored

Kevin Pollack, known for his many character-driven roles in television and features including a memorable role in The Usual Suspects, will receive a Career Achievement Award from the Method Fest on Tuesday, April 4.   Kevin appears in Niagara Motel, screening on Monday April 3.

METHOD FEST ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE
 

World and U.S. Premieres, Awards, Tributes, Galas, Workshops, Panels,  Filmmakers and Stars Come To Calabasas for “The Actors Film Festival”

The 8th annual Method Fest Independent Film Festival, presented by the City of Calabasas,  unveiled its schedule of films and activities for the week of the festival, which runs March 31 to April 7 in Calabasas, CA.  The Method Fest, which offers numerous screenings and events for the industry and the public, is the only festival dedicated to the actor. 

Friday March 31^{st –} Opening Night

Method Fest opens with the Los Angeles premiere of Jason Matzner’s “Dreamland,” starring Agnes Bruckner, Kelli Garner, John Corbett, Justin Long, and Gina Gershon at The Motion Picture and Television Fund’s Louis B. Mayer Theater in Calabasas.  “Dreamland” is a poignant coming of age story with stunning performances by its young and by its veteran cast.   The Rising Star Award will be presented at the opening night film and a red carpet, Hollywood- style opening night party will follow at the scenic Valley Crest location, high on the hill in Calabasas overlooking the entire region.

Saturday, April 1^st

The festival kicks in with seminars, workshops, shorts, premieres and screenings including world premiers of  “Push” starring Chad Lindberg, Chazz Palmintieri and Michael Rappaport; the south-east Asian adventure “Bangkok”;  and the West Coast Premiere of  “Confess”, a spy-cam spy thriller.  “Debating Robert Lee” is an engrossing  and surprising tale of what happens when one of the best debating teachers in the world steps into a troubled school in idyllic Palos Verdes, California. “Debating Robert Lee” stars Beau Bridges, Kaley Cuoco and Billy Kay.  The terrifying  “Nightmare” finishes up the feature offerings on Saturday.

Sunday, April 2^nd

Method Fest continues it’s tradition of giving festival goers opportunities to meet and interact with filmmakers at the Filmmaker Brunch and panel discussion where major stars and filmmakers participate.  Throughout the day, audiences will be treated to a variety of independently minded features including “Oh, Mr. Faulkner Do You Write”, which brings John Maxwell’s critically-acclaimed,  one-man show to the screen;  the sexy “These Girls”, based on Vivienne Laxdall’s edgy play to life, starring “Angel” David Boreanz “ from “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, “Angel” and “Bones” fame; 
Halfway Decent” with Ernie Hudson;  and the Julie Harris, Ruby Dee starrer,  “The Way Back Home”.  The Lifetime Award Ceremony will be held prior to the film screening.   The Centerpiece Film, the drama  “December Ends”, is the critically acclaimed  directorial debut of Lee Toland Krieger  and a Centerpiece Gala will follow the event.  The evening continues to rock at Indie Music Night at the Sagebrush Cantina, beginning at 9:00 p.m. until closing.  Bands and acoustic acts, including some from festival films fill the stage at the well known Cantina.

Monday, April 3

The International Showcase offers a wide variety of entertaining and thought provoking entries including s special not-in-competition screening of the post apocalyptic tale of “Ever Since the World Ended”; the one-day tale of ”In a Day” from the UK;  “Niagara Motel” featuring Kevin Pollack;  Australia’s very sexy contribution of “The Actress” and “The Cabin Movie” a darkly comic look at relationships.  Highlighting the evening, a private reception for the filmmakers and stars Monday evening at Mi Piace will follow the 7 p.m. screenings.

Tuesday, April 4

Diversity Days begins on Tuesday at Method Fest, featuring the fear-of-death quirky comedy, “Expiration Date” unspooling with a well-known Native American cast;  the dark relationship drama “Tre”; “Eve of Understanding” a female road trip adventure; and “Turntable”, by acclaimed filmmaker Robert Patton-Sprull, the story of an emotionally dead DJ who seeks release through his music.  Diversity Days films screen Tuesday, April 4th.  The evening reception, hosted by Native Café, includes top acoustic entertainment.

Wednesday, April 5

The American Independents Showcase opens on Wednesday with the Centerpiece film “The Gold Bracelet”, an India/US co-production.  “The Gold Bracelet” is a provocative look at an Indian family and their hopes for a better life in America; the audience watches as their hopes are dashed and how hope is regained.  Also unveiling at Method Fest in The American Independents Showcase is “11:59” a amnesiac’s tale;

from Mexico, “Adam y Eva” and “Dark Heart”, a post-Iraq tale of a soldier’s return home.  King's Fish House will be the site of the Co-Centerpiece Gala.

Thursday, April 6

“Dirt Nap,” closes Method Fest’s screenings and premieres in the evening.  Directed by DB Sweeney and starring Ed Harris, John C. McGinley, Paul Hipp, DB Sweeney, and Janet Jones, “Dirt Nap” follows three regular guys through a comical road trip.  This is a hilarious and heartwarming comedy of lost dreams and unappreciated treasures.

Friday, April 7

Friday evening, a gala awards ceremony at the Carlson Family Theatre at Viewpoint will close out the festival.

Shorts Program

Throughout the course of the Festival, Method Fest will screen a number of promising shorts in programs dedicated to the art and talent of short films and filmmakers.   The Turning the Tables Program features the shorts “Noise”, “Intelligence”, “Serving  Santino”,” Cold Comfort”, and “The Importance of Blind Dating”.  The Family Matters Shorts Program includes “Big Girl”, ”Crossing”, “Dry Whiskey”, “Guilt”, “I Love You More”, and “In Order of Appearance.”  The Rest In Peace Shorts Programs include “Little Lise”, “Purple Bins”, “6 Feet in 7 Minutes”, “Return to Sender”, “Hibernation”, “End of a Dog”, and “Window”. The Locals Gone Loco screenings include  shorts “Livewire”, “An Enterprising Caper”, “The Big Empty”, “Take My Advice”, “Christopher Brennan Saves The World,” “The Method,” Shaolin Delivery Boy”, “Queer Eye For The Homeless Guy,” and “Stanley Marshall’s Myth”.  In the  Strange Days Shorts Program, “K-7,”, “Smart Card”, “Paradox,”, “Lucid”, “Cost of Living”, and “Turn” will be screened.   Student Shorts at 5 Program includes “The Savior”(AFTRS), “Queen of Cactus Cove”(AFI),  “Wentworth” (USC), “Lucky” (LONDON), “Hotspurs” (NYU), “Love Thy Neighbor” (Chapman), “My Mother’s Hairdo (UCLA), and “Woodrow Wilson” (North Carolina).   A number of shorts will also be shown before features, including: Oedipus/The Cabin Movie, Shank 101/Halfway Decent, The Christmas Tree/Eve of Understanding, The Knock/Nightmare, Affair Game/Oh, Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write?

As always at Method Fest, there are numerous opportunities to meet stars, filmmakers, and join workshops and discussions.  Check www.methodfest.com for complete screening details, descriptions, times and locations.  Screenings and events are held at venues throughout the West Valley, including the  Louis B Mayer Theatre of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, at 23388 Mulholland Drive  and at The Carlson Family Theatre, Viewpoint School 23620 Mulholland Hwy.  For tickets call 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com.