More than 300 films from 50 countries will screen across Newport Beach starting Thursday, Oct. 15, when the Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) launches its 27th year, according to festival organizers.
The eight-day festival runs through Thursday, Oct. 22, and drew more than 4,000 submissions, according to festival President and CEO Gregg Schwenk. Screenings will take place at The Lot, Big Newport, the Triangle, the Lido Theater and Regal University Town Center in Irvine.
Opening night features "Frampton," a documentary tracing musician Peter Frampton's rise, fall and comeback. After the screening, the party moves to Fashion Island, where roughly 30 restaurants will offer signature tastings with a hosted bar.
"…for 95 percent of the things here at the Newport Beach Film Festival, it's all about just buying a ticket and enjoying our community and our celebration of cinema," Schwenk told the Newport Beach Independent.
Marquee guests dot the schedule. Saxophonist Dave Koz is set to attend the screening of "Smooth World." Kenny Loggins will appear for the West Coast premiere of "Conviction of the Heart," directed by Dori Berinstein. Lily Tomlin, an original cast member of "Laugh In," plans to attend the screening of "Sock It to Me: The Legend of George Schlatter," a documentary about the show's creator.
Centerpiece films include James Gray's "Paper Tiger" starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller; Danny Boyle's "Ink" with Jack O'Connell and Guy Pearce; and Martin McDonagh's "Wild Horse Nine" featuring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell and Steve Buscemi, according to Visit Newport Beach.
The closing-night film on Thursday, Oct. 22, is "Behemoth!" starring Pedro Pascal as a cellist returning to Los Angeles after 20 years. The film was partly shot at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
A five-film culinary series highlights "California Roll: The Rise of American Sushi," screening Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1:30 p.m. The documentary traces sushi's journey from post-World War II Los Angeles to mainstream American cuisine, with a chapter set at California Beach Rock N Sushi, a Newport Beach restaurant that served as the after-hours hangout for surf and skate industry founders in the late 1980s, the Independent reported.
International delegations from Ireland, Poland, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are attending. Schwenk called the Polish group a first-time delegation. The International Spotlight section features films from 16 countries, including Italy, Spain, Mexico and Sweden.
Nightly events run at Time Nightclub throughout the week. An Irish showcase on Sunday, Oct. 18, brings three premieres followed by a post-party at Muldoon's Irish Pub.
Tickets and the full schedule are available at NewportBeachFilmFest.com.
