The 20th Youth in Film Awards ceremony (now known as the Young Artist Awards), presented by the Youth in Film Association, honored outstanding youth performers under the age of 21 in the fields of film and television for the 1997–1998 season, and took place on March 6, 1999, at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City, California. The hosts for the ceremony that evening were Jena Malone, R.J. Arnett, Roland Thomson, Justin Thomsom, Selwyn Ward and Tracy Lynn Cruz.
Established in 1978 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press Association member, Maureen Dragone, the Youth in Film Association was the first organization to establish an awards ceremony specifically set to recognize and award the contributions of performers under the age of 21 in the fields of film, television, theater and music.
Categories ★ Bold indicates the winner in each category.
Best Young Performer in a Feature Film Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actor ★ Miko Hughes – Mercury Rising – Universal as Simon Lynch Michael Caloz – Little Men – Warner Bros. as Nat Blake Joseph Cross – Wide Awake – Miramax as Joshua Beal Kieran Culkin – The Mighty – Miramax as Kevin Dillon/Freak Kyle Gibson – True Friends – 2nd Generation Films as Young Joey Joseph Mazzello – Simon Birch – Hollywood Pictures as Joe Wenteworth Eamonn Owens – The Butcher Boy – Warner Bros. as Francie Brady Ian Michael Smith – Simon Birch – Hollywood Pictures as Simon Birch Gregory Smith – Small Soldiers – DreamWorks as Alan Abernathy Kevin Zegers – Air Bud: Golden Receiver – Keystone Entertainment as Josh Framm
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actress ★ (tie) Lindsay Lohan – The Parent Trap – Walt Disney Pictures as Hallie Parker/Annie James ★ (tie) Jena Malone – Stepmom – Columbia Pictures as Anna Harrison Kirsten Dunst – Small Soldiers – DreamWorks as Christy Fimple Jennifer Love Hewitt – Can't Hardly Wait – Columbia Pictures as Amanda Beckett Scarlett Johansson – The Horse Whisperer – Touchstone Pictures as Grace MacLean Emily Lipoma – Frog and Wombat – Pigtail Productions as Jane 'Wombat' Walker Leelee Sobieski – A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries – October Films as Charlotte Anne "Channe" Willis Katie Stuart – Frog and Wombat – Pigtail Productions as Allison 'Frog' Parker
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Supporting Young Actor ★ Michael Welch – Star Trek: Insurrection – Paramount as Artim Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Halloween H20: 20 Years Later – Miramax as Jimmy Howell Michael Cambridge – True Friends – 2nd Generation Films Kristian De La Osa – Madeline – Tristar as Pepito Edward Furlong – American History X – New Line Cinema as Danny Vinyard Mason Gamble – Rushmore – Touchstone Pictures as Dirk Calloway Jack Johnson – Lost in Space – New Line Cinema as Will Robinson Cody Lightning – Smoke Signals – Miramax as Young Victor Joseph Miles Marsico – Rhapsody in Bloom – Becker Films as Randy Bloom
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Supporting Young Actress ★ Brigid Tierney – Affliction – Lions Gate Films as Jill Whitehouse Camilla Belle – Practical Magic – Warner Bros. as Young Sally Owens Lacey Chabert – Lost in Space – New Line Cinema as Penny Robinson Auriol Evans – Hilary and Jackie – October Films as Young Jackie Keeley Flanders – Hilary and Jackie – October Films as Young Hilary Kyla Pratt – Dr. Dolittle – 20th Century Fox as Maya Dolittle Michelle Williams – Halloween H20: 20 Years Later – Miramax as Molly Cartwell Evan Rachel Wood – Practical Magic – Warner Bros. as Kylie Owens
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Young Actor Age Ten or Under ★ Liam Aiken – Stepmom – Columbia Pictures as Ben Harrison Cameron Finley – Hope Floats – 20th Century Fox as Travis Jason Fuchs – Mafia! – Touchstone as Vincenzo Cortino as Boy Darrell Johnston – Dancing at Lughnasa – Sony as Michael Mundy Robby Seager – Splitsville – Cineville Productions as Billy
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Young Actress Age Ten or Under ★ Mae Whitman – Hope Floats – 20th Century Fox as Bernice Pruitt Rachel Chamberlain – Faith – Alynne Entertainment Alana De Roma – Amy – Cascade Films as Amy Enker Hallie Kate Eisenberg – Paulie – DreamWorks as Young Marie Allweather Kulani Hassen – Down in the Delta – Miramax as Tracy Sinclair Hatty Jones – Madeline – Tristar as Madeline
Best Young Performer in a TV Movie, Pilot or Mini-Series Best Performance in a TV Movie / Pilot / Mini-Series: Leading Young Actor ★ Ryan Merriman – Everything That Rises – TNT as Nathan Clay Zachery Ty Bryan - Principal Takes a Holiday – ABC as John Scaduto Carlo Alban – Thicker Than Blood – TNT as Lee Cortez Brendan Ryan Barrett – Logan's War: Bound by Honor – ABC as Logan Fallon (Age 10) Trevor Blumas – Stranger in Town – Showtime as Aaron Jordan Kiziuk – The Island on Bird Street – Showtime as Alex
Best Performance in a TV Movie / Pilot / Mini-Series: Leading Young Actress ★ Dominique Swain – Lolita – Showtime as Dolores "Lolita" Haze Kimberly J. Brown – Halloweentown – Disney Channel as Marnie Piper Kristin Fairlie – The Sweetest Gift – Showtime as Kate Martin Kashmir Jones – World Upon Her Shoulder – Lifetime Brittany Murphy – David and Lisa – ABC as Lisa
Best Performance in a TV Movie / Pilot / Mini-Series: Supporting Young Actor ★ Courtland Mead – Emma's Wish – NBC as Danny Bookman Cody Jones – Running Wild – Showtime as Nicholas Robinson Eric Lloyd – Chameleon – UPN as Ghen Shawn Pyfrom – A Wing and a Prayer – USA Network as Justin Kenny Vadas – Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants – Family Channel as Prince Cosimo Daniel Williams – Always Outnumbered – HBO as Darryl
Best Performance in a TV Movie / Pilot / Mini-Series: Supporting Young Actress ★ Haylie Duff – Addams Family Reunion – HBO as Gina Adams Courtney Red-Horse Mohl – Naturally Native – Independent Feature / Project West as Vickie Lewis Bighawk's daughter Brooke Nevin – Running Wild – Showtime as Angela Robinson
Best Young Performer in a Television Series Best Performance in a TV Drama or Comedy Series: Leading Young Actor ★ Zachery Ty Bryan – Home Improvement – ABC Thomas Dekker – Honey, I Shrunk the Kids – Disney David Lago – Hollywood Safari – Animal Planet Channel Robert Ri'chard – Cousin Skeeter – Nickelodeon Taran Noah Smith – Home Improvement – ABC Shawn Toovey – Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman – CBS Lee Thompson Young – The Famous Jett Jackson – The Disney Channel
Best Performance in a TV Drama or Comedy Series: Leading Young Actress ★ Lacey Chabert – Party of Five – FOX Sarah Michelle Gellar – Buffy the Vampire Slayer – FOX Brandy Norwood – Moesha – UPN Larisa Oleynik – The Secret World of Alex Mack – Nickelodeon
Best Performance in a TV Drama Series: Supporting Young Actor ★ Ryan Merriman – The Pretender – NBC Joseph Ashton – L.A. Doctors – CBS Corey Sevier – Little Men – PAX Myles Jeffrey – Early Edition – CBS Trevor Morgan – ER – NBC Shane Sweet – The Journey of Allen Strange – Nickelodeon Oren Williams – Chicago Hope – CBS
Best Performance in a TV Drama Series: Supporting Young Actress ★ Scarlett Pomers – Star Trek: Voyager – UPN Erica & Vanessa Jimenez-Alvarado – L.A. Doctors – CBS Mae Middleton – Any Day Now – Lifetime Sarah Rayne – Legacy – UPN Shari Dyon Perry – Any Day Now – Lifetime Brittany Tiplady – Millennium – FOX Caitlin Wachs – Profiler – CBS
Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Supporting Young Actor ★ Eric Lloyd – Jesse – NBC Justin Berfield – Unhappily Ever After – UPN Justin Cooper – Brother's Keeper – ABC Dee Jay Daniels – The Hughleys – ABC Trevor Einhorn – Brother's Keeper – ABC Maestro Harrell – Guys Like Us – UPN Deon Richmond – Sister, Sister – WB Jeffrey Schoeny – Oh Baby – Lifetime
Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Supporting Young Actress ★ Ashley Monique Clark – The Hughleys – ABC Kaitlin Cullum – Grace Under Fire – ABC Brittany & Brianna McConnell – Maggie Winters – CBS Courtney Mun – Guys Like Us – UPN Natasha Slayton – Brother's Keeper – ABC Madylin Sweeten – Everybody Loves Raymond – CBS Karle Warren – DiResta – UPN
Best Performance in a TV Drama Series: Guest Starring Young Actor ★ Seth Adkins – The Pretender – NBC Jeremy Foley – Touched by an Angel – CBS Craig Hauer – 7th Heaven – WB Zack Hopkins – Promised Land – CBS Nathan Lawrence – Touched by an Angel – CBS Joey Pardon – High Incident – ABC Billie Thomas – The Practice – ABC
Best Performance in a TV Drama Series: Guest Starring Young Actress ★ Chaz Monet – Any Day Now – Lifetime Camilla Belle – Walker, Texas Ranger – CBS Kimberly Cullum – Nothing Sacred – ABC Olivia Marisco – Hyperion Bay – WB Ashley Peldon – The Pretender – ABC Nicholle Tom – Welcome to Paradox – Sci-Fi Channel Danielle Wiener – Beverly Hills, 90210 – FOX
Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Guest Starring Young Actor ★ (tie) Robert Bailey Jr. – Becker – CBS ★ (tie) Bobby Brewer – Suddenly Susan – NBC ★ (tie) Bobby Edner – Step By Step – CBS ★ (tie) Sam Gifaldi – Suddenly Susan – NBC ★ (tie) Jarrett Lennon – Boy Meets World – ABC
Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Guest Starring Young Actress ★ (tie) Anna Chlumsky – Cupid – ABC ★ (tie) Ashley & Lindsey Trefger – Home Improvement – ABC Courtney Peldon – Home Improvement – ABC Caitlin Wachs – To Have & to Hold – CBS
Best Young Performer in a TV Daytime Series Best Performance in a Daytime Serial: Young Performer ★ Adrienne Frantz – The Bold and the Beautiful – CBS Kimberly J. Brown – Guiding Light – CBS Ashley Monique Clark – Sunset Beach – NBC Camryn Grimes – The Young and the Restless – CBS Steven Hartman – The Young and the Restless – CBS Jonathan Jackson – General Hospital – ABC Logan O'Brien – General Hospital – ABC Carly Schroeder – Port Charles – CBS
Best Young Performer Age 10 or Under Best Performance in a TV Movie / Pilot / Mini-Series / Series: Young Actor Age Ten or Under ★ (tie) Paul Robert Langdon – The Spiral Staircase – CBS ★ (tie) Connor Matheus – The Hughleys – ABC Brent Meyer – The Sweetest Gift – Showtime Lowell Raven – Naturally Native – Independent Feature / Project West Jacob Smith – Party of Five – FOX
Best Performance in a TV Movie / Pilot / Mini-Series / Series: Young Actress Age Ten or Under ★ Chaz Monet – Ruby Bridges – ABC Hilary Duff – Casper Meets Wendy – FOX Channel Britt McKillip – In the Dog House – Showtime Carly McKillip – Stranger in Town – Showtime Dara Perlmutter – Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story – USA
Best Young Performer in a Voice-Over Best Performance in a Voice-Over in a Feature or TV: Best Young Actor ★ Courtland Mead – Recess – ABC Jonathan Taylor Thomas – The Adventures of Pinocchio – New Line Cinema Miko Hughes – The Rugrats Movie – Paramount Myles Jeffrey – Babe: Pig in the City – Universal Mathew Valencia – The New Batman/Superman Adventures – WB Phillip Van Dyke – Hey Arnold! – Nickelodeon Michael Yarmush – Arthur – PBS
Best Performance in a Voice-Over in a Feature or TV: Best Young Actress ★ Aria Noelle Curzon – The Prince of Egypt – DreamWorks Ashley Johnson – Recess – ABC Julia McIlvaine – KaBlam! – Nickelodeon Hayden Panettiere – A Bug's Life – Walt Disney Sabrina Wiener – The Wild Thornberrys – Nickelodeon
Best Young Ensemble Performance Best Performance in a Feature Film: Young Ensemble ★ Slappy and the Stinkers – Columbia Joseph Ashton, Gary LeRoi Gray, Travis Tedford, Carl Michael Lindner, Scarlett Pomers 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain – Tristar Mathew Botuchis, Michael J. O'Laskey II, J.P. Roeske II The Borrowers – Polygram Bradley Pierce, Hugh Laurie, Mark Williams, Flora Newbigin
Best Performance in a TV Movie / Pilot / Made-for-Video: Young Ensemble ★ ''The Sweetest Gift – ShowtimeKristin Fairlie, Dylon Provencher, Marc DonatoRuby Bridges – ABC Chaz Monet, Kiara Tucker, Whitney Tucker, Christopher Stokes The Echo of Thunder – CBS Lauren Hewett, Emily Jane Browning, Chelsea Yates, Ben Hanson Bus 9 – Nickelodeon Jessica DiCicco, Keith Franklin, Peter Tombaki, Julianne Michelle
Best Performance in a TV Series: Young Ensemble