"So we are discovering a lot of people that we might not have noticed before."

And according to Trevor Groth, senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival and artistic director of the CineVegas Film Festival, these relative newcomers don't stay new for long.

"I think with the selling of young actors as commodities in magazines, on television shows and online, they're becoming household names in a much shorter time," which in turn adds to their award cachet, he said.

At film festivals, he added, "you see independent films made by young people telling their stories and, inevitably, there's some brand new faces telling these fresh stories, so we see a plethora of really great performances by young actors."

As a result, he's known about Page's talent for years.

"We showed a film last year at Sundance called 'American Crime' -- an incredibly challenging film, so much so that it got a mixed reaction, but her performance was fantastic in that," said Groth. "The shift over to 'Juno' really shows her range; she's one of the most exciting new actresses to come along in a long time."

Groth also touted Reece Thompson (22), star of "Rocket Science."

"We just saw him in another film that we're going to be showing at Sundance this year, called 'Assassination of a High School President' -- that performance will show that he's really got the goods."

A talented family

HE noted that any talk of young talent would need to mention the Fanning family, citing Dakota Fanning (13) and her work in last year's Sundance film "Hounddog."

"The subject matter pushed a lot of buttons," he said, "but if you really look at that performance, what she was able to do, it's almost freakish how talented she is, and at that age."

Her sister Elle (9) is in an upcoming Sundance film, "Phoebe in Wonderland," and, Groth said, "she shows equally impressive range and talent."

Perhaps the Fanning children merit a trend piece all on their own.

And if history is any indication, the Fanning sisters have something else in their favor.

This year's Globes nominations pointed up one trend that is incontrovertible: When it comes to notice for the young ones, girls beat the boys hands down.

Actresses younger than 25 have garnered seven supporting role Oscar wins (other than special Oscars), the youngest being Tatum O'Neal, at age 10, for "Paper Moon."

The only man under 25 to win in that category was Timothy Hutton, at 20, for "Ordinary People."

In the leading category, the score is women, four, men, zip. The youngest man to win was Adrien Brody, at age 29, for "The Pianist." The youngest woman? Marlee Matlin, at 21, for "Children of a Lesser God." The academy voters just love their ingénues.

Ah, to be young and beautiful on-screen.