HOW OUR FESTIVAL BEGAN

Playhouse West is a training ground for actors, writers and directors founded by Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum in 1981.  As an adjunct to our on-going acting classes, we produce plays in repertory, using exclusively our current students, which are directed and often written by Playhouse West staff members and students.  Modeled upon the Group Theatre of the thirties, and owing much to its founders, Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, Harold Clurman, and Elia Kazan, Playhouse West has been dedicated to keeping alive and promulgating a passion for realistic acting and the presentation of ensemble productions that address the current social moment.

This idea of an ensemble of actors who train and do plays together has grown to include films productions.  In 1995, our long-time staff member, Jeff Goldblum, directed a film for Showtime, Little Surprises, which starred an ensemble of Playhouse West actors along with such notables as Rod Steiger and Julie Harris.  This short film went on to garner an Academy Award® nomination for Best Motion Picture Short.

Progressively over the years, more and more film projects have been initiated, written, produced, directed and acted almost exclusively by our members.  This eventually prompted, in 1997, the conception of the Annual Playhouse West Film Festival.  Every year since then we have held a film festival dedicated to showing the best films that have either been written, produced, directed or are starring our current or former students.

Since its inception, the Playhouse West Film Festival has exclusively been dedicated to screening the best films that have either been written, produced, directed or acted in by one or more of our current or former students.

Though the practice of screening films associated with Playhouse West members largely still holds true, in a continued effort to bring together and introduce our members and outside filmmakers to each other, in 2007 we began accepting entries from non-Playhouse West members.  This change to our program has been a positive addition, as we have been able to screen many wonderful films such as  Rocco DeVillier’s feature debut, The Flyboys, a film that took home most of our major awards at the 2008 PWFF.  In 2009 we were proud to screen Logan and Noah Miller’s wonderful feature debut, Touching Home, starring Ed Harris.  So, once again, we look forward to receiving films from all over the country.

Last year we screened a record number forty-two films, presenting many promising writers, directors, actors and filmmakers of the future.  This year’s Playhouse West Film Festival promises to continue in this proud tradition.

The 15th Annual Festival takes place June 10-12, 2011.  For the seventh year in a row we will be holding our Festival at the beautiful El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, California.  It has proved to be a wonderful venue and we are grateful for their wonderful hospitality.

MORE FESTIVAL HISTORY & INFORMATION

Over the years, many of the films which have debuted or screened our festival have gone on to gain notoriety and acclaim.

Playhouse West member Henry Barrial’s film, Some Body, which premiered at our 4th Annual Film Festival, broke ground by becoming the first ever digital feature chosen as a finalist at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001.  In 2002, our Festival had the distinction of premiering the TNT original movie, “James Dean”, starring long-time Playhouse West member James Franco, which went on to receive rave reviews and a Golden Globe Award for James’ performance.  In 2003, a film written, directed and starring PW member Scott Caan, Dallas 362, garnered the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the CineVegas International Film Festival.  The film also played as an Official Selection at Toronto, London and Denver Film Festivals, and opened in theaters in April 2005.  In 2004, Marty Sader’s gripping feature, Most High, took home awards at three major film festivals, winning Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Screenplay at Chicago’s IndieFest, the “Golden Starfish Award” for Best Feature Film at The Hamptons International Film Festival, and most recently Best Picture at Atlanta Film Festival.  In 2009, Scott Caan’s feature, Mercy, debuted at Toronto, and went on to win  awards at several festivals before being release into theaters in 2010.  In 2011 we expect to host other films which will make a mark in the independent film community.

Over 100 films which have debuted at our Film Festivals have gone on to win over 250 awards at other festivals around the world, including Los Angeles, Chicago, The Hamptons, San Diego, Cleveland, New York Independent, Miami, Cinequest, Toronto, Montreal, Berlin, Las Vegas, London, San Jose, Atlanta, Venice, and many more.

In addition to screening films, each year our Film Festival includes seminars on the various aspects of filmmaking, and features different special guest speakers; professionals of great accomplishment in the film industry.  Past special guests include directors Sydney Pollack, John Landis, Garry Marshall, Mark Rydell, James Gray, Chuck Russell and Joe Carnahan, as well as actors James Caan, Jeff Goldblum, James Franco, Ashley Judd, Scott Caan and Giovanni Ribisi.

As a result of the Playhouse West Film Festival, dozen of production companies have been developed, and partnerships have been struck with other outside production companies and facilities.  This has helped provide, and will continue to provide, opportunities for many filmmakers to act, write, direct and produce their own motion pictures for years to come.

The Playhouse West Film Festival is headed by Tony Savant, who will be serving as Festival Director for the thirteenth consecutive year.