Close To 750 Submissions Set Record
For Entries for The Method Fest Film Festival

Jamin Winans (front) wrote, directed and edited "11:59." Joe Sekiya the producer of the film is behind him.

Calabasas, Calif., March 4, 2006 - An all time record of 742 films from American and international filmmakers were submitted for the 8th annual The Method Fest independent festival.

“Film submissions have increased spectacularly every year of the festival,” said Don Franken, The Method Fest executive director. “We reached a significant milestone when we topped 500 entries for the first time in 2004. Last year we had 571 films, and this year we added 150 more. The new record of submissions shows our festival is growing every year and independent filmmakers look for The Method Fest as a premier festival to showcase their new work.”

Films submitted to the Method Fest by American filmmakers came from 30 states – many from strong film centers like California and New York, but also from Kansas, Utah, Alabama, Georgia, Vermont, and Virginia. From abroad, films came from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and Russia. A large number of entries are student projects from prestigious film schools like USC, UCLA, The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Florida State, Columbia University, and the American Film Institute.

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. The festival 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.

Film stars who have participated in The Method Fest include Oscar winning actor Maximilian Schell, Dennis Hopper, Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges, Martin Landau, Jeremy Sisto, James Earl Jones, Peter Falk, Jena Malone, Rod Steiger, Michael Madsen, Jennifer Tilly, Rae Dawn Chong, Crispin Glover, Mark Rydell, Billy Dee Williams, Jason London, Fran Dresher, Karen Black, William DeVane, Jon Cryer, Marla Gibbs, Bryan Cranston, Clifton Collins, Jr., Robert Forster, Kirk Harris, Joe Mantegna, Jon Jacobs, Shirley Knight, Julie Harris, Hill Harper, Kim Hunter, Robert Carlyle, Eric Palladino, Matthew Lillard, Jr., Devon Gummersal, and many others.

Other stars in Method Fest films have included Sir Ian McKellen, Faye Dunaway, Naomi Watts, Lisa Kudrow, Kiefer Sutherland, Joseph Fiennes, Portia de Rossi, Gary Busey, John Ritter, Brendan Fletcher, Meatloaf, Harry Hamlin Jr., Jaime Pressley, Elizabeth Shue, Douglas Spain, Deborah Cara Unger, Taye Diggs, Brad Renfro, Jeff Daniels, Judy Marte, Coolio, Miranda Otto.