Method Fest fetes indies

Independent spirits were honored Friday at The Method Fest, where Hunter Parrish took home best actor honors for "Steal Me" and Emily Stiles won best actress kudo for "East of Sunset."

Best feature film went to the Japanese film "Runin--Banished," directed by Eiji Okuda and starring Keiko Matsuzaka and Kazuhiro Nishijima. The fest's Lifetime Achievement Award went to Martin Landau.

During the fest, which began April 1, there were nine world premieres the 26-film lineup.

"Steal Me" opened the fest, while "Brothers" from Danish helmer Susanne Bier closed the fest. "Whirlygirls" served as the centerpiece film.

The Method Fest is the only major film festival in America to focus on acting, particularly breakout performances in independent films.

The 7th annual event was hosted by Sean Astin and KNBC-TV weatherman Fritz Coleman in Calabasas.

The 2005 Method Fest winners are...

PacifiCare Geraldine Page Award for Best Actress in a Feature Film:
Emily Stiles (East of Sunset)

Standard Pacific Homes John Garfield Award for Best Actor in a Feature Film:
Hunter Parrish (Steal Me)

Charter Communications Award for Best Feature Film:
Runin β€" Banished (Japan), dir. Ejiji Okuda, starring Keiko Matsuzaka, Kazuhiro Nishijima

Valley of the Stars Breakout Acting Performance in a Feature Film:
Tamara Hope (Nickel Children)

City of Calabasas Audience Award for Best feature:
Waterborne, dir. Ben Rekhi, starring Shabana Azmi, Jon Gries, Christopher Masterson, Ajay Naidu

New Millennium Homes Award for Best Director:
Melissa Painter (Steal Me)

The Daily News Award for Best Screenplay:
David L. Paterson, Love, Ludlow

JetBlue Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film:
Craig Lachman (Pee Stains and Other Disasters)

Bob Smith BMW Award for Best Supporting Actress in a feature Film:
Tovah Feldshuh (The Tollbooth)

LA.com Award for Best Ensemble Cast:
Waterborne, dir. Ben Rekhi, starring Shabana Azmi, Jon Gries, Christopher Masterson, Ajay Naidu

Corona Maverick Award for Quality in a Low Budget Film:
East of Sunset, dir. Brian McNelis, starring Emily Stiles, Jimmy Wayne Farley, Dikla Marshall

Calabasas Motorcars Award for Best Short Film:
Sugar Mountain, dir. Aaron Himelstein

The Auto Gallery Audience Award for Best Short Film:
Jihad, dir. Michael Shapiro

Country Inn & Suites Award for Best Actor in a Short Film:
Luke Ebrel (Sugar Mountain)

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Award for Best Actress in a Short Film:
Ann Devaney (Ugly)

Adelphia Award for Best Student Short Film:
The Break, dir. Geri Ulrey

SAGIndie Festival Director's Award for Excellence in Film:
Brothers, dir. Susan Bier

Festival's Director Award for Excellence in Acting:
Keiko Matsuzaka (Runin Banished)

Festival Director's Award for Excellence in Short Filmmaking:
The Clown, dir. Karl Hirsch

The Method Fest 2005 Special Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Martin Landau

Bridges to Cinema's Family Legacy Award:
The Bridges Family, Jeff, Beau, and their late father Lloyd;

Maverick Actor Award:
Crispin Glover

Rising Star Award:
Monet Mazur

Method Fest Actor Competition winners:

Judges winner:
David Lloyd Smith

People's Choice Winner:
Bob Bledsoe