Mar 01, 2007

Calabasas, Calif., March 1, 2007 - The 9th annual Method Fest moved toward its opening later this month by presenting Michael Madsen the 2007 Maverick Award and announcing the feature and short film selections that will be screened this year.

A complete list of the films and shorts selected to be screened during the Festival from March 29-April 5 appears on the Festival's Film Page. Schedules will be released shortly, so please check back.

Madsen, meanwhile, was honored for his outstanding contribution to cinema, his commitment to independent film, and his versatility as an actor, producer, and writer. The award was presented at the festival's Sneak Preview Party at Pierce College 's Performing Arts Center (Main Stage Theater) in a moving ceremony highlighted by Academy Awards nominee Virginia Madsen, Madsen's sister.

One of the busiest actors in Hollywood, Madsen has appeared in over 100 films, including over 30 this decade, from big budget major studio releases to independent films, but he reached instant iconic status by playing a sadistic ex-con and jewel thief, Mr. Blonde, in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 indie classic Reservoir Dogs. Madsen's portrayal made Mr. Blonde one of film's quintessential villains. (Maxim Magazine named Mr. Blonde the second greatest villain of all time, and the character was was one of the 200 nominees on the American Film Institute's list of 100 years of the best Heroes and Villains.)

The Method Fest is presented by the City of Calabasas and presenting media partners, Charter Communications, Daily News and Time Warner Cable. Lead sponsors include Corona, Standard Pacific Homes (Golden Reel Sponsors), Prudential California Realty (Silver Reel Sponsor), LA Auto Gallery, Trillium Capital Group (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), the Motion Picture & Television Fund, Viewpoint School, Laemmle Theaters, Leonis Adobe, Pierce College, indieprinting.com, withoutabox.com, Foxen Winery, Pepsi, Ice Age, the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley / Valley of the Stars, Purple Pacific Pictures, Creative Handbook, MoneyMailer, Sagebrush Cantina, Maggiano's, Native Café, Friends of Film, CineForm, and the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce (Festival Supporters).