A Brief History of Playhouse West's Annual Film Festival

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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 two major film festivals, winning Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Screenplay at Chicago's IndieFest, and also the "Golden Starfish Award" for Best Feature Film at The Hamptons International Film Festival. In 2005 we expect to host other groundbreaking films, including two features, The Ape and Fool's Gold. Written, directed and starring James Franco, both of these films originated as plays which were developed and produced as part of the Playhouse West Theater Company.
Over twenty films which have debuted at our Film Festivals have gone on to win more than two dozen awards at other festivals around the world, including Los Angeles, Chicago, The Hamptons, San Diego, Cleveland, New York Independent, Toronto, Las Vegas, London, San Jose, Venice, Big Bear, Showtime and Lincolnshire. In the past three years alone, current and former Playhouse West members played an intricate role in the creation of over 200 films.
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