By Cielestia Calbay
The 10th annual Newport Beach Film Festival opened with racy
acrobat performances, red carpet arrivals and a lavish atmosphere
Thursday night.
The festival opened with a screening of the film, “Lymelife,” a
drama set in the 1970s starring Alec Baldwin.
Hundreds of people lined the sidewalks of the theatre waiting
for entry as special guests and celebrities walked a red
carpet.
Among those in attendance were Adam Gregory, star of “90210” and
“17 again.”More than 40,000 are expected to attend the Festival,
which until Thursday will showcase more than 400 films from some 30
countries, along with nightly soirees, post-screening receptions
and discussions with filmmakers.
The festival will also be presenting “The Art of Filmmaking”
seminars, which are a series of free interactive panels.
The films will be screened at the Edwards Big Newport Theatre,
the Lido Theatre and Edwards Island Theatre.
After the screening, an exclusive night gala took place at the
Bloomingdale’s Courtyard at Fashion Island, where nearly 1,000
guests mingled and enjoyed an intricate and highly sensual
acrobatic show from Cirque du Soleil’s “Zumanity.”
The gala featured food from more than 20 premium Newport Beach
area restaurants, including Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cusine, a hosted
bar with Absolut, Karl Strauss beer and other drinks, along with a
fashion show highlighting Bloomingdale’s newest lines.
“Charlie’s Angels” and “Terminator Salvation” film director McG
is the honorary chairperson of the 10th anniversary gathering.
The festival has a significant meaning for McG.
“I’m standing here in front of this theatre where I used to come
here seven times a week just to watch ‘Tootsie’ just so I can be
part of the magic of movies. So it’s great to come back here and
become a part of it again,” said McG.
Jackson Kuehn, star of “Made in China,” says the festival is a
great opportunity for independent filmmakers and actors to learn
from each others’ films.
“[The festival] allows us to get to know one another’s craft,
and the assortment of concepts and ideas that are conveyed through
each filmmakers films. I’ll guarantee there are no two films alike
here,” said Kuehn.
“Made in China,” which screens Wednesday, is a comedy about
novelty inventors. Leigh Steinberg, the festival’s title sponsor,
has been greatly involved with the festival since he founded it in
1999.
“I’m thrilled to become part of a celebration that highlights
the art of cinema [and] allows those in the industry to showcase
their art to the rest of the world,” said Steinberg.
Steinberg is notably known for his years as one of the country’s
leading sports agents, having represented athletes in the NFL, NBA
and MLB.
Brandon Tan/Poly Post
Newport Beach Film Fest turns 10
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