MAR 26 - APR 2: METHODFEST 2009 RETURNS TO CALABASAS; 11th ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL FOCUSES ON THE ACTOR, FEATURES SCREENINGS, PARTIES AND INDIE MUSIC

Featured Event Listing - Posted by Don Rose

The 11th annual Method Fest independent film festival, the only major U.S. film festival focusing on acting, runs from March 26 to April 2, 2009. Named after the famous "Method" school of acting, which revolutionized the approach in acting, particularly in film, The Method Fest ( www.methodfest.com ) is a festival of discovery, showcasing breakout acting performances by emerging actors in character and story-driven films.

The Method Fest's mission is to launch the works of young, fresh filmmakers and discover breakthrough performances by bold, new actors. More than 120 films that have premiered or played at The Method Fest, including recent box office hits Waitress and The Visitor, have received theatrical, TV or video distribution.

The Method Fest has also taken great delight in sharing career-defining performances of established performers and in showcasing a few chosen well-known directors to screen at the festival. Richard Jenkins and Melissa Leo, who recently were nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Leading Role won special career awards as well as Best Actor / Best Actress Awards at the 2008 Method Fest. They are the latest names on the list of festival honorees that also includes: Christopher Plummer, Michael Madsen (2007); Julie Harris, Ruby Dee, Kevin Pollak, David Carradine, Martin Landau, Crispin Glover (2005); Dennis Hopper, Martha Coolidge, Chazz Palminteri, Ronnie Yeskell (2004); Peter Falk, Lainie Kazan, Diane Ladd, Henry Jaglom, Mark Rydell, Agnieszka Holland (2003); Rod Steiger, Mali Finn (2002); James Earl Jones, Jon Jacobs (2001); Karen Black (2000); Maximilian Schell (1999).

The Method Fest is sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Calabasas and the City of Calabasas. Presenting media sponsors include Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, LA.Com and the L.A. Daily News. Major sponsors include Sony, Christie, Modern VideoFilm, and Country Inn & Suites. Festival supporters include Final Draft, Stella Artois, Barefoot Winery, San Fernando Valley Economic Alliance / Valley of the Stars, Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, MasterSource, FilmFinders, Leonis Adobe, Fleming's, Sagebrush Cantina, Arnie Morton's Famous Steakhouse, Chapter 8 Steakhouse and Lounge, Toni Koch Productions, Songs Alive, Pepsi, Creative Handbook, Withoutabox, Friends of Film, Ice Age, MoneyMailer and IZZE.