Festival Director Don Franken, right, with actor Paul Dooley at the film announcement party on Feb. 28 at Pierce College.

11th Method Fest Seeks 2009 Submissions Submit Online at withoutabox.com | Get Printable 2009 Form

The 11th annual The Method Fest independent film festival, scheduled for March 26 - April 2, 2009 in Calabasas, is looking for character and story-driven films featuring strong acting performances.

The Method Fest features American and foreign feature films and short films and is named after "The Method" school of acting, which revolutionized the approach in acting, particularly in film.

Deadlines for film submissions for the 11th annual The Method Fest are:

• Early Bird: October 1, 2008;
• Early Deadline: December 1, 2008;
• Late Entry: January 31, 2009 (all postmarked).

Entry fees are: $40 Early Bird entry; $50 Regular entry; $60 Late entry, for features; $30 Early Bird entry; $35 Regular entry; $45 Late entry for short films; student entries are $20 Early Bird entry; $25 Regular and Late Entry. Screen formats accepted are 35 mm, DigiBetaCam and HDCam. For film submission information call (310) 535-9230. Filmmakers are encouraged to register through www.withoutabox.com.

The Method Fest takes great pride in being a discovery festival, looking to help launch the works of young fresh filmmakers and to discover breakthrough performances by young, bold new actors. More than 100 films that have premiered or played at The Method Fest have received 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. "We've prided ourselves on not just following other festivals' lineups.  We screen world premieres and true discoveries, mixed with a few larger films, " said Don Franken, executive director of the Method Fest.

A variety of other activities will complement the Method Fest screenings - filmmaking seminars, daily/nightly parties and receptions, industry events, a variety of Indie Music events, Lifetime Achievement Tribute, and the Awards Ceremony. The Method fest's Youth Outreach program include a short film and screenplay competition for middle school and high school students.