On April 24th, the Newport Beach Festival started up and runs through May 1st, 2008.By all accounts, the films on schedule have all been well-received to date.
But, if your missed the early screenings, you have the opportunity to catch the tail end. Over the next couple of days as the Festival winds down, there are still a handful of important insightful and innovative films to take in.
For instance, the documentary "Beautiful Losers".
During the course of the much-anticipated event this year, the Newport Beach Film Festival showcased more than 350 entries from around the world and in the process managed to offer up an ambitious international selection of features, shorts, documentaries, and animated shorts that compete for both the Jury and Audience awards.
The 9th Annual Festival focuses on World and U.S. premieres, Academy Award entries, Sundance Selections, a Spotlight Series, and Children's Festival projects from both the independents and the majors alike.
Submissions are far-flung too - from Asia, Europe, South & Central America, and Africa - for instance.
The celluloid pieces are both classic and contemporary in nature and amount to a unique mix of genres influenced by a myriad of cultures.
In their "mission statement", the Festival organizers note that it is their intention to bring to Orange County the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world.
Newport Fest is also committed to delivering up not only a first-class international film program, but also a forum for cultural understanding, backed by enriching educational opportunities.
And, they've met that challenge in an exciting diverse way.
The Festival supports the creation and advancement of innovative and artistic cinematic works of both emerging and seasoned filmmakers and proudly embraces their passion, independent spirit, and vision.
With the integration of the local community and educational institutions into all aspects of the Festival, the celebrated annual event has stimulated an interest in the study and appreciation of film and - likewise - encouraged people of all ages and backgrounds to participate, according to their press release.
Over the past decade, the Festival has unveiled many acclaimed feature films such as - "Crash", "Layer Cake", "Dust to Glory", "Sexy Beast", "Spellbound", "Dogtown and Z Boys", "Joint Security Area", and "Castle in the Sky".
In addition, the organizers have taken a look back in time with classics such as - "The French Connection", "Sunset Boulevard", the "50th anniversary of Jim Henson Company", and "The Outsiders".
Because of this unique approach to the film-going experience, the Newport Beach Film Festival has garnered acclaim from audiences and distributors alike.
Record numbers - about 40,000 strong - are expected to take the sojourn to Newport this year.
In fact, the numbers are growing each year.
In addition to the films, the founders have scheduled question and answer periods, so that filmgoers and industry-insiders have the rare opportunity to meet up-close and personal with filmmakers, directors, screenwriters and cinematographers eager to share their work with a captive public.
So, if you haven't savored the experience yet, head down to the tony enclave for the last two days of the Festival.
You'll be glad you didn't pass on the opportunity.
As Stanley Kubrick once opined:
"A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet."
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