Opening night crowd fills MPTF.

“The overall quality of the films, jump in attendance, noted honorees, and the increased support from our sponsors, made this year's festival feel superior to anything we have accomplished before,” said Festival Director Don Franken. “More world premieres, and many new films still without distribution, added great excitement to the screenings this year.”

After moving to Calabasas a year ago, the Festival was “discovered” by the local community during its eight-day run from March 31-April 7. For the first time in Festival history, three screenings sold out at the Louis B. Mayer Theatre on the campus of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

“Selling out the Opening night film (Dreamland), Saturday's Premiere (Push), and Sunday evening's Centerpiece (The Way Back Home) screenings at the Louis B. Mayer Theatre, and adding the wonderful Carlson Theatre at Viewpoint School as a festival venue, really grew the excitement of the festival and shows the increased interest in the community in The Method Fest,” Franken said.

As in previous years, numerous actors in this year's Festival said that a screening here was important to their careers because The Method Fest has become known for its focus on quality acting performances. Plus, it is held in Hollywood 's backyard. This year's performances clearly upheld the Festival's acting tradition. Notable roles were delivered by John C. McGinley (Scrubs) in Dirt Nap, Rebecca Lowman in Eve of Understanding, and Festival acting award winners Josh Janowicz of December Ends and Agnes Bruckner and Kelli Garner of Dreamland, among many others.

“In looking for a niche in the crowded film festival scene, we decided to show good films with quality acting, looking for the breakout performance from the yet unknown next star,” said Franken. “Actors, filmmakers, the public and the industry have embraced the concept. In turn, we're reciprocated by launching over 65 new independent films to the marketplace in the first seven years of the festival and bringing names like Naomi Watts, Jeremy Sisto, Jena Malone, Tamara Hope, and many others to the forefront.”

As The Method Fest grows in prestige, it also is charting a steady increase in significant areas such as film submissions, paid attendance, and web site traffic (see the accompanying chart). Media coverage also increased significantly in 2006.

So, it was a record-setting year for The Method Fest. Now, you're invited to put the 9th annual The Method Fest on your calendar for 2007 (March 30 – April 6). There will be more great films, superb acting performances, and dazzling parties you won't want to miss.