2004 Review

The Method Fest Executive Director Don Franken (left) presents the 2004 Director's Award to Rita Pietropinto, Mark Giordano and Johnny Giacalone for the film Little Kings.

The Method Fest bestows 2004 awards
See complete list of 2004 award winners

BURBANK, Calif. (April 9, 2004) - The Canadian 'Seven times Lucky' and American 'Beautiful Kid,' were the big award winners at The 6th Annual Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award Ceremony Friday, April 9.

Following a week that featured screenings of 25 feature and 45 short films at AMC's Media City Center 8 Theatres in Downtown Burbank, and attracted over 15,000 attendees, NBC-TV anchor Fritz Coleman emceed the Award dinner gala for over 300 guests at The Castaway Restaurant. 

In accepting the best feature and best screenplay awards for "Seven Times Lucky," Director Gary B.Yates said, "This is the most fun I have had since Sundance!" Dan Brennan, accepted the best actor award for his performance in "Beautiful Kid" by exclaiming,  "This is the most amazing moment in my life."

At the podium, Method Fest Executive Director Don Franken also thanked his programmers Tiffany Naiman, Phil Scanlon and Elaine Wood for bringing more depth to the festival's slate of films than achieved in the past.

The Method Fest, dedicated to acting in breakout independent films, screened some 70 films during its April 2-9 run in Downtown Burbank. The Festival began with "I Love Your Work," directed by Adam Goldberg and starring Giovanni Ribisi and Christina Ricci. The British thriller, "Close Your Eyes," starring Goran Visnjic and Miranda Otto closed the Method Fest screenings on April 8th.

Between those two filrms were highlights that included "Seven Times Lucky." A favorite at Sundance, it served as Method Fest's Centerpiece film, and was screened on April 6th following a special tribute ceremony honoring Martha Coolidge with The Method Fest 2004 Forerunner Award for her ground-breaking work.

Three new American independents, "Intoxicating," "Landers" and "Beat Angel," made their World Premieres at Method Fest. 

"Beat Angel," a drama about a homeless bum who is reincarnated as Jack Kerouac, was supported by a mobile museum, "On the Road with the Beats," that traveled to Burbank from San Francisco. "Intoxicating," is a story of drug and alcohol addition directed by Mark David and starring Kirk Harris, Eric Roberts and John Savage.  "Landers" is a gripping psychological thriller directed and produced by recent Art Center graduates.

The Method Fest also featured industry panels, youth and adult acting workshops, and the Method Fest Acting Competition Finals.  An Indie Music Night, April 6th, featured acoustic acts and bands. 

The 2004 Method Fest Award recipients are:

• Charter Communications' Geraldine Page Award, Best Actress Feature Film - DEBORAH KARA UNGER in "EMILE."
• Tarantula Azul, John Garfield Award Best Actor Feature Film Best Actor (Feature) - DAN BRENNAN in "BEAUTIFUL KID" 
• Downtown Burbank Best Feature Film Award, "SEVEN TIMES LUCKY"
• SAG Indie Award for Best Director (Feature) - WIKTOR GRODECKI for "INSATIABILITY"
• Gordon Biersch Award for Best Screenplay (Feature) - "SEVEN TIMES LUCKY"
• Media City Center Audience Award for Best Feature - "THE SNOW WALKER"
• Reels on Wheels Award, for Best Supporting Actor (Feature) - JOHN CARTY in "BEAUTIFUL KID"
• Metrolink Award for Best Supporting Actress (Feature) - ANITA BARONE in "ONE LAST RIDE"
• Southwest Airlines Award for Best Ensemble Cast (Feature) - "NOON BLUE APPLES"
• FilmFinders Maverick Award for Quality in Low Budget Film - "LANDERS," directed by Sean Findley.
• Corona Festival Director Award - "LITTLE KINGS" and "ARAM"
• Aarmadillo Award for Best Short - "THE OLD MAN AND THE STUDIO," directed by Eric Champnella
• Marquee Productions Award for Best Actor (Short) - MICHAEL CAVANAUGH in "CHANCE"
• Sony Award for Best Student Short - "SHUI HEN," directed by Maximilian Jezo-Porowsky
• Christie Digital Audience Award for Best Short - "RENT A PERSON"
• PacifiCare Method Fest Actor Competition Award, winner, Germaine DeLeon.  Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Acting Studio hosts the competition.

Special Awards:

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car "Indie Hero" - Chazz Palminteri
• Fuji Film/"Lifetime Achievement" - Dennis Hopper
• KRTH "Forerunner" - Martha Coolidge

The winners of two Festival-hosted competitions, "Future Filmmakers Screenwriting Competition," sponsored by Cusumano Realty Group, and "Method Fest Acting Competition," sponsored by PacifiCare, were also announced. Junior high school students, Bryce Alley of Jordan Middle School and Ryan Williams of Luther Middle School, both in Burbank, received screenwriting honors while 19-year Germaine DeLeon of Venice, CA, proved victorious over 100 other aspiring actors.  Additionally, the Casting Society of America (CSA) bestowed the Festival's "Heart of Performance Award" to Casting Director Ronnie Yeskel. 

Sponsors of the Method Fest and the aforementioned awards include presenting sponsors Downtown Burbank, Tarantula Azul, and Charter Communications.  Golden Reel sponsors included PacifiCare, Media City Center, Crown Realty, Reels on Wheels, and Southwest Airlines.  Silver Reel Sponsors included Corona, Cusumano Real Estate Group, Gordon Biersch, Metrolink, SAG Indie, Entertainment Today, Sony, Christie Digital, Armadillo Productions, Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Acting Studio, FilmFinders, and Marquee Productions.  Bronze Reel Sponsors include Gosch Productions, Laemmle Theatres, Foxen Winery, KRTH, Wild Horse Winery, Pepsi, The Colony Theatre Company, Shakespeare at Play Theatre, Ice Age, and IndiePrinting.com.

BURBANK, Calif. (March 3, 2004)) - The 6th annual Method Fest independent film festival honored Dennis Hopper with its 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award at a “Sneak Preview Party” on March 3.

ABOUT DENNIS HOPPER
Dennis Hopper has starred in over 150 films, including “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Giant,” “Easy Rider,” “Apocalypse Now,” “Blue Velvet,” “Hoosiers,” “Speed” and “Waterworld.” The classic “Easy Rider” won him “Best New Director” at the Cannes Film Festival, and he received the prestigious CIDALC award at the Venice Film Festival for “The Last Movie” (1971). He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Frank Booth in “Blue Velvet.” He stars in two upcoming independent films, “The Night We Called It A Day,” which casts him as Frank Sinatra, and “Leo,” in which he shares the screen with Joseph Fiennes, Sam Shepherd and Debra Unger. In addition to acting and directing, Hopper is a noted photographer and painter.