MAR 28: MERCEDES BENZ OF CALABASAS TO HOST GLAMOROUS PREMIERE PARTY FOR METHODFEST, WITH STELLAR CELEB LINEUP EXPECTED TO ATTEND

Event Preview - posted by Don Rose

Mercedes Benz of Calabasas has signed on as the exclusive automotive sponsor (Platinum Sponsor) of The Method Fest Film Festival, and will host a glamorous Premiere Party at its newly designed facility on Saturday, March 28th, 2009 following the screening of a top premiere film, festival organizers recently announced.

“This is going to be the most spectacular and lavish extravaganza in the Festival history,” stated Don Franken, Executive Director of The Method Fest. “It's Hollywood coming to Calabasas!”

The Premiere Party is expected to be a gathering of the “who's who” of the region, with many celebrities from the film and entertainment industry invited and expected to attend. They will not have to travel far, as many live in Calabasas, Hidden Hills and the surrounding communities. Also attending will be top filmmakers and stars from the 2009 Method Fest Film Festival.

“Mercedes-Benz, always a ‘star' with the entertainment industry, is proud to support a prestigious festival like The Method Fest, whose honorees receive Oscar nominations,” said Mike Rich, General Manager of Mercedes Benz of Calabasas. “Our dealership is proud to support the community. We are under new ownership, and this event, is also a wonderful way to showcase our beautiful facility," stated Rich.

The Premiere Party will be produced by Calabasas-based Sacks Productions, which puts on parties following major entertainment industry events (Oscars, Grammy's), corporate events, and private events for major celebrities. Sacks Productions worked with Mercedes corporate on the Grammy Jam, when Mercedes released its R-Class car and sponsored the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

The list of celebrities expected to attend include: Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Michael Chiklis (The Wire) Patrick Kilpatrick (Minority Report, Under Siege 2), Teresa Russell (16 To Life, Spiderman 3, Wild Things) Sean Young (Bladerunner, Reno 911, Signal Lost) Adrienne Janic (TLC’s “OverHaulin’”), Tony Todd (Dockweiller, 24, Candyman) Evan Handler (Sex And The City) Deniece Williams (Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, Producer "Let's Hear It for the Boy," "It's Gonna Take a Miracle”) John Saxon (Old Dogs, Nightmare on Elmstreet, From Dusk Til Dawn) Khloe Kardashian, Jaime Gomez (16 to Life, Training Day) Blu Cantrell (Grammy nominated R&B singer), Keyshawn Johnson (New York Jets, ESPN Announcer), Lev Gorn (The Wire) Carmen Perez, Eddie Reasoner (Award Winning Singer / Songwriter from Nashville) Chad Lindberg (Supernatural, Push), Stewart Hayden Butler (16 To Life), Shauna Sands Lamas (Playboy Playmate) Hallee Hirsh (16 To Life,You Got Mail, Grey’s Anatomy), Heather Locklear, Anya Monzikova (Deal or No Deal), Julia Kurbatova (“Face of Chopard”) Evelyn Victoria (Singer), Bobbi Sue Luther (“Curb Your Enthusiam”) Leyla Milani (Deal or No Deal), Isabella Grosso (House Bunny), Ron Jeremy (Finding Bliss) Jenilee Harrison (Three’s Company, Dallas) Guillermo Huesca, Latin TV Host (Trato Hecho), Paul BenVictor (Anytown), Frank Kramer (Heidi, Frosty & Frank), Larry Eudene (Metropolitan, Crank), Sofia Milos (CSI Miami), Zee James (Epic Movie), Jeff Riggs, and Kat Kramer.

About Methodfest

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.

About Mercedes Benz of Calabasas

Located at 24181 Calabasas Road, the renovated and expanded Mercedes Benz of Calabasas facility is, at 155,000 square feet, one of the largest authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership across the entire United States.