Method Fest winners announced

Photo courtesy of Phil Berkner, The Method Fest TOP PRIZE- Jim Loftus, left, director, accepts the award for Best Foreign Film for his feature "Trade Routes" at the ninth annual Method Fest awards ceremony. The film festival concluded Thursday night in Calabasas. Presenting the award is Al Hart of Modern VideoFilm.

The ninth annual Method Fest independent film festival announced its winners at an awards ceremony held Thursday at Viewpoint School's Carlson Family Theatre in Calabasas.

A pair of Calabasas High School students, Kevin Horowitz and Jacob Schwartz, won the Future Filmmakers Award for their 18-minute animation movie, "Mission Space 2."

The budget for the movie, which was produced using a web cam and personal computer, cost less than $200, according to Howard Horowitz, Kevin's father.

He's very creative," the father said. "He did it as a hobby for fun."

Kevin and Jacob are high school juniors.

"Mission Space 2" also won the Grand Fest Award at the 2006 Berkeley Video & Film Festival.

Other winners at this year's Method Fest include Michael Angarano, who claimed the Time Warner Cable John Garfierld Best Actor Award for his performance in "Black Irish."

Scout TaylorCompton received the Charter Communications Geraldine Page Award for Best Actress for her role in "Tomorrow is Today."

"This year we had so many great performances that the judges really had a tough time deciding the award winners," said Don Franken, the festival's executive director. "A large number of high quality films with outstanding acting made it the most competitive acting competition ever. What defined this year's festival was the emergence of so many talented young actors and filmmakers."

Following is a complete list of award winners:

+The city of Calabasas Best Picture Award: "Black Irish."

+The Christie Digital Audience Award for Best Picture: "Destiny."

+The Daily Variety Award for Best Supporting Actress Award in a feature film: Dagmara Dominczyk, "Mentor."

+The Standard Pacific Homes Award for Best Supporting Actor: Tom Guiry, "Black Irish."

+The Modern VideoFilm Best Director Award: Jim Loftus, "Trade Routes."

+The Daily News Best Screenplay Award: David Gow, "Steel Toes."

+The Prudential California Realty Best Ensemble Cast Award: the cast of "Man in the Chair," starring Christopher Plummer, Michael Angarano, M. Emmet Walsh and Robert Wagner.

+The Corona Maverick Award for high quality in low budget filmmaking and unique vision: "Plum Role," written, directed and helmed by Zak Hilditch.

+The jetBlue Award for Best Short: "Across the Hall."

+The International Bonded Couriers Award for Best Foreign Film: "Trade Routes."

+The Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a Short: Jai Koutrae, "Death's Requiem."

+The Wexler TV Award for Best Actress in a Short: Sharon Lawrence, "Fool Me Once."

+The Enterprise Rent-a Car Award for Best Student Short: "Deface."

+The Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Audience Award, Short Film: "Rushers."

+The LA Auto Gallery Ferrari Maserati Festival Director's Award for Excellence: "Man in the Chair."

+D2 Homes Festival Director's Breakthrough Acting Award: Laura Henderson, "Plum Role."

+Lifetime Achievement Award: Christopher Plummer.

+Maverick Award: Michael Madsen.

+Final Draft Future Filmmakers Award for Best Screenplay: Mae Catt, Goth Boy and Uber Emo in "The Half-Off Sale."