A Salute to Method Fest Short Features Talented and mostly young filmmakers have been busy at the Method Fest, screening four dozen short features. Above, filmmakers from Session 5 on March 30 pose after a question and answer period with the audience. See a larger version of this photo, as well as other short feature photos in today's March 31 Photo Gallery. (Photo by Derek Horne)

Calabasas, Calif., March 31, 2008 - True Love brought to the Louis B. Mayer Theatre screen the type of low-budget filmmaking close to the core of The Method Fest. That the film was married to the improvisational directing style of Henry Barrial made for a unique world premiere screening of a movie that examined the struggles couples face in relationships.

True Love was one of three films to screen on International Spotlight night at the 10th annual The Method Fest. Brazilian drama Corpo followed at the Mayer Theatre, while Canadian film Portage screened at the Viewpoint Theatre, followed by a program of short features.

Presented by the City of Calabasas, the Method Fest continues today with the spotlight on American Independents. Two films will screen at the Mayer Theatre - Chain Link at 7 p.m. followed by Eduart at 9:30. At Viewpoint, Chronic Town screens at 7 p.m., followed by a program of shorts at 9:30. The Festival screens its Closing Night film on Wednesday when Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, and Virginia Masden head an all-star cast in Diminished Capacity at the Mayer Theatre. (See the Screening Schedule for more details, trailers, and directions).

The Method Fest closes with its annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday evening at the Viewpoint Theatre.

Two of last night's films - True Love and Portage - not only revealed different approaches to acting styles and the use of the script, but also to an issue close to the heart of independent filmmakers - distribution.

True Love relied on the directing abilities of Barrial, an alumnus of the Method Fest who directed a short that screened in the early years of the festival. Barrial worked for months with an experienced cast featuring Andrea Helene, Mercedes Brito, Randall Batinkoff, Suzy Cote and Val Lauren to create a film whose strength was rooted in the improvisational spontaneity of three couples struggling with different crisis in their relationships.

Portage, meanwhile, followed the adventures of four teenage girls who become lost in the wilderness after the death of their guide.

With their distinctly different styles and themes, it is not surprising that True Love and Portage also differ in outlook on distribution.

True Love was born at the No Budget Film School, where producers Mark Stolaroff and Ron Judkins offer a unique series of classes specifically designed to help no-budget filmmakers like Barrial. Asked about distribution in an audience question and answer session following the screening yesterday, Barrial and Stolaroff said the focus was on another film the group is developing, with direction again by Barrial.

Taking a different approach, Portage has played in several film festivals, including one near its home base in Vancouver.

"The reaction to the film at the festivals in general has been very good," said Frederic Demey, Vice President of International Sales for NeoClassics Films, Ltd., "The fact that Portage involves girls -rather than boys - in a survival struggle in the wilderness helps the film stand out and people react well to it."

At NeoClasics, Demey is part of a team that has come together to be an independent distributor of feature-length motion pictures intended for initial theatrical release. Portage is one of the first of many independent films they hope to bring to wide theatrical distribution.

"With Portage, our goal is to be in three to four cities (Los Angels and New York among them) in 20-25 theaters by late August or early September," said Demey.

Beyond that, Demey's group, which has more than 100 years of combined experience in film distribution, has a goal of distributing six to eight independent films for wide release annually.

It is a goal that many filmmakers screening films at the Method Fest hope NeoClassics Films can reach.

The 2008 Method Fest is well on its way to screening some 25 features and 48 short films in its 10th year. Tickets for individual films and shorts 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).

Award Winners at the 2008 Method Fest
Richard Jenkins, left, receives Method Fest a career achievement award from USA Today film critic Claudia Puig on March 29, as Festival Executive Director Don Franken looks on. A day later, Melissa Leo, center in right photo, received the 2008 Method Fest Maverick Award from Jenelle Riley of Back Stage. Relive these and other memorable 2008 Festival moments by accessing the daily Home Pages of methodfest.com via links in the top of the left-hand column on this page.