Catherine Davila, April Davila and Karim Ahmad - producers of Harrison Montgomery - check out Crazy at the Viewpoint Theatre. Harrison Montgomery screens today at 7:30 p.m. at the Viewpoint Theatre. See more March 28 photos in the daily 2008 Method Fest Photo Gallery.

Calabasas, Calif., March 28, 2008 - In the opening scenes of the film Crazy, Stacy Earl sings Honky Tonk Blues at the Grand Old Opry, as composer Hank Williams advises a young, nervous guitarist about to make his debut to "play fast." That young guitair player, Hank Garland, would indeed play fast and go on to become one of the greatest ever. But his life of struggles against racial prejudice directed at some of his band members and against the unfairness of the Nashville business system were captured with striking artistry in Crazy, which screened Friday night at the Viewpoint Theatre.

Joining Crazy in Friday screenings were features Unfinished Sky and This Beautiful City, as well as the Festival's first Shorts Program.

Presented by the City of Calabasas, the 10th annual Method Fest continues today with a packed slate of screenings beginning at noon and lasting until almost midnight. One of the Festival's Centerpiece films, The Visitor, screens at 7 p.m. at the Louie B. Mayer Theatre. Another highly anticpated screening is Harrison Montgomery, with former Festival lifetime honoree Martin Landau. Harrison Montgomery screens at 7:30 p.m. at the Viewpont Theatre. (See the Screening Schedule for more details, trailers, and links to directions).

Crazy was produced, written and directed by Rick Bieber, who documented the story of a musical genius. Bringing to life the story of a man whose career reached legendary heights despite ending tragically at the young age of 31 is Waylon Payne. Payne's performance is one of a too-consuming passion that eventually destroys his relationship with his beautiful wife, played by Ali Larter. And, eventually destroys him as well for all intents and purposes.

"We do have fall distribution for the film," said Bieber, "and we hope that many more people get a chance to see the film."

Crazy, and the other features that have screened to this point, seem to back up a point made early in the week by Don Franken, Executive Director of the festival, who believes this year's lineup of films is even better than a much-heralded 2007 crop.

“This is the strongest lineup in our festival's history,” he said.

Indie gems still to be showcased include The Visitor, actor and filmmaker Tom McCarthy's follow-up to his award winning directorial debut The Station Agent. Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) stars as a disillusioned Connecticut economics professor whose life is transformed by a chance encounter in New York City.

Academy Award winner Helen Hunt makes her feature directing debut with Then She Found Me, a touching story of schoolteacher April Epner (Hunt) and her very unlikely path towards personal fulfillment, adapted from Elinor Lipman's novel of the same name. The film also stars Colin Firth, Academy Award nominee Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Lynne Cohen, and Ben Shenkman.

Crew and fans party at the post-screening gala at Channel 8 on Friday night.

Another thespian turned helmer, Mary Stuart Masterson, debuts with The Cake Eaters, a quirky, small-town, ensemble drama that explores the lives of two interconnected families coming to terms with love in the face of loss. The film features a strong cast anchored by Bruce Dern and Melissa Leo, and featuring Kristen Stewart, Aaron Stanford, Elizabeth Ashley, Jayce Bartok, Talia Balsam, and Jesse L. Martin. It screens today at 2:30 p.m. at the Louie B. Mayer Theatre.

Other marquee selections on this year's Method Fest feature lineup include: The Stone Angel with Ellen Burstyn, Christine Horne, Cole Hauser, Ellen Page, and Sheila McCarthy; Chronic Town, directed by Tom Hines and starring JR Bourne, Emily Wagner, Jeffrey Scott Jensen, Alice Drummond, Dan Butler and Paul Dooley, and Diminished Capacity with Matthew Broderick, Virginia Madsen, Alan Alda and Dylan Baker. Also, The Blue Hour by Eric Nazarian and starring Alyssa Milano, Clarence Williams III, Derrick O'Connor, Yorick van Wageningen and Emily Rios.

World premieres yet to screen include:

• Country-Western themed film, Crazy, based on the life of legendary guitar player Hank Garland, directed by Rick Bieber and starring Waylon Payne, Ali Larter, and Lane Garrison;
• The South African film, Lullaby, directed by renowned director, Darrell Roodt ("Yesterday,"" Sarafina,""Cry the Beloved Country" );
• Chain Link, directed by Dylan Reynolds and starring Mark Irvingsen and Jim Storm;
• Falling, directed and starring Richard Dutcher and Virginia Reece;
• Harrison Montgomery, directed by Daniel Davila and starring Martin Landau and Octavio Gomez Berrios;
• True Love, directed by Henry Barrial, a Sundance alum with his first film, Some Body.

There will be a total of 25 features and 48 short films, also from across the U.S. and the globe, screened at this year's The Method Fest.  Access the screening schedule or call (310) 535-9230 for more information.

Festival Package are available for purchase online, and tickets for individual films and shorts also may be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com, 800-838-3006.  Ticket prices range from $10 for most individual screenings (excluding opening, centerpiece films, and closing night films), with a festival pass for all screenings, parties, receptions, and tributes only $195.  A limited amount of special industry passes are available at only $125 each.