EDITORIAL

When news broke last week that the Newport Beach International Film

Festival had gone bankrupt, it came as a shock to many in the community.

City officials, local filmmakers and even a volunteer with the event said

they had no idea it was plagued by financial troubles.

But when you look at it more closely, it shouldn’t have been surprising

that the festival went under. Although the city and the community talked

about getting behind the event, they never really did. City officials and

business leaders publicly touted the festival as one of Newport Beach’s

premiere events, but when it came right down to it, the dollars and the

dedication to the festival were lacking.

Perhaps they took for granted Jeffrey Conner’s unfaltered determination

to make the festival a reality. While he kept it afloat for four years,

the burden apparently became too much for just one person. Conner filed

for bankruptcy last month, and the lion’s share of the $200,000 he racked

up in debts were related to the festival.

It shouldn’t have happened that way. There should have been more

financial support.

But the festival has received no money from the city of Newport Beach

since the event’s inception, according to its administrative services

department. Other cities that host film festivals contribute

significantly to offset the costs of the events. Another problem was the

lack of affordable venues for the festival. With Newport’s two

independent theaters -- The Port and Balboa -- closed, all films had to

be shown at Edwards Theaters, which charged full price for every showing.

We don’t know what Conner’s plans are for the future of the festival,

because he has been missing in action since news of the bankruptcy hit.

His phone numbers have been changed and attempts to reach him through his

attorney have been unsuccessful.

But even if we never hear from him again, that is no reason to let a

worthwhile event just die. We believe that there is room for someone --

or some people -- to step in and pick up where Conner left off.

We’re not suggesting that the festival be exactly the same as it was

when Conner was running it because that apparently didn’t work. This

community, probably for a variety of reasons, simply doesn’t want to

become the next Sundance or Cannes.

But, as evidenced by the increasing number of entries each year, there

are enough aspiring filmmakers in Newport-Mesa and Orange County to

create a need for an independent film festival. What about a scaled-back

version with fewer galas, less fanfare and a shorter time frame? It could

still boast the same great, independent films.

Maybe it could be put on by the Balboa Performing Arts Theatre

Foundation once it gets the Balboa Theater fixed up and running. What

could be a better venue for a Newport Beach film festival than the city’s

oldest movie house?

One thing is certain: too much hard work has gone into establishing

the event’s roots here for it to fade away.

It’s time for the city to make the Newport Beach International Film

Festival just that -- not the Jeffrey Conner film festival that it’s been

the past four years.