Noted Film Critic John Anderson Named
Programming Director for 2007 Festival

Calabasas, Calif., Nov. 15, 2006 - Renowned film critic John Anderson has been named Programming Director for the 2007 Method Fest. Anderson's reviews and features appear regularly in Newsday, Variety, Screen International and the New York Times. He has also contributed to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Nation, the Christian Science Monitor, as well as Film Comment, LA Weekly, Artforum, Interview, Out, Ms. and the Washington Post.

Anderson is a past member of the selection committee of the New York Film Festival and the author of "Sundancing" (Avon, 2000), "Edward Yang" (University of Illinois Press, 2004) and, with Laura Kim, "I Wake Up Screening" (Billboard, April, 2006). He is a member and two-time past chair of the New York Film Critics Circle, a member of the National Society of Film Critics and a member of the National Book Critics Circle.

"We are delighted to have John as our head programmer," said Don Franken, executive director of The Method Fest. "His encyclopedic knowledge and tremendous insight on independent film are great
additions to our team."

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 showcased career-defining performances of established actors and independent projects of well-known directors. "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 Franken.

The 9th Method Fest will feature tributes to top actors and filmmakers. Also, acting workshops, panels and seminars. The workshops will involve different schools of acting.  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 includes a short film and screenplay competition for middle school and high school students.

In its first eight years The Method Fest has launched more than 80 films into the marketplace (theatrical distribution, DVD/video release, TV deals), and brought to attention actors like Naomi Watts, Jeremy
Sisto, Jena Malone, Tamara Hope and Eugene Byrd. Method Fest gems include Dreamland, Brothers, Steal Me, It's All Gone Pete Tong, Seven Times Lucky, December Ends, I Love Your Work, Intoxicating, Three Days of Rain, Close Your Eyes, Finder's Fee, Flickering Lights, The Visit, To End All Wars, Way Off Broadway, Jump Tomorrow, Man of the Year, Sobrevivire, ABCD, The Restless, Hard Luck, I Love Budapest, Lucinda's Spell, Poor White Trash, and My Sweet Killer, Sweet Thing, Dumbarton Bridge, The Corndog Man, Jimmy Zip, Night Orchid, and The Scottish Tale.

The Method Fest is presented by the City of Calabasas and presenting media partners, Charter Communications and the L.A. Daily News. Lead sponsors include Corona, Standard Pacific Homes and Time Warner Cable (Golden Reel Sponsors), Prudential California Realty (Silver Reel Sponsor), LA Auto Gallery (Spinning Reel Sponsor), Variety, SAG Indie, Indie 103.1,  Sony, Christie Digital, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Modern VideoFilm, Wexler, FilmFinders, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, International Bonded Couriers, (Bronze Reel Sponsors), Laemmle Theaters, Leonis Adobe, Pierce College, indieprinting.com,
withoutabox.com, Foxen Winery, Rodnik Vodka, Ice Age, the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley / Valley of the Stars and Calabasas Chamber of Commerce (Festival Supporters).