Newport Beach Film Festival

Opening Night Gala

The Opening Night Gala salutes 50 years of outstanding filmmaking. The

evening is the official start of the festival and an industry-packed

birthday party for the legendary film, “Sunset Boulevard.”

“Sunset Boulevard”

United States, 1950

Dir: Billy Wilder

Prod: Charles Beckett

Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich Von Stroheim

Running time: 110 minutes

An aging silent-film queen refuses to allow the sun to set on her career

and hires a young screenwriter to help her make a comeback.

Hosted by Paramount Studios producer A.C. Lyles

Post-premiere gala

Where: Newport Beach Marriott

When: Thursday

How much: $50

Phone: (949) 640-4000

“Americanos: Latino Life in the United States”

United States, 2000

West Coast premiere

Directors: Susan Todd, Andrew Young

Prod: Nick Athas, Edward James Olmos

Cast: Documentary featuring Aida Alvarez, Tito Puente, Carlos Santana

Running time: 89 minutes

Winner of Best Cinematography at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Weaving a rich tapestry of media images, personal stories and artistic

expression, it contests the myth of a monolithic Latino culture and

explores the diverse group of people in this country designated Latino.

Attended by the production company of the film.

Movie

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema

Post-premiere gala

When: 9:45 p.m.

Where: Francoli’s Gourmet Imporio, Newport Beach

How much: Movie and gala, $15

“Great Expectations”

United Kingdom, 1946

Dir: David Lean

Prod: Anthony Havelock-Allan Ronald Neame

Cast: John Mills, Anthony Wager, Valerie Hobson, Jean Simmons, Alec

Guinness

Running time: 118 minutes

“Great Expectations,” ranked fifth on the British Film Institute’s list

of “The Best 100 British Films,” has been called the greatest of all

Dickens films. Resembling a classic horror film, many scenes are composed

and directed in that style, most strikingly the early graveyard scene

between young Pip and the convict Magwitch.

Attended by cinematographer Guy Green and other members of the cast and

crew.

Movie

When: 7:45 p.m. Saturday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema

Pre-premiere gala

When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Land Rover, Newport Beach

(transportation to Land Rover via double-decker bus from Edwards Island

Cinema)

How much: Movie and gala, $30

“Sweet Smell of Success”

United States, 1957

Dir: Alexander Mackendrick

Prod: James Hill II

Cast: Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Susan Harrison

Running time: 96 minutes

Based on the story “Tell Me About It Tomorrow” “Sweet Smell of Success”

is a vicious, no-holds-barred portrait of the world of Manhattan gossip

columnists.

Attended by Tony Curtis and other members of the cast and crew.

Movie

Date: 5:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Edwards Island Cinemas

Post-premiere gala

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Daily Grill, 957 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach

How much: Movie and gala, $30

Phone: (949) 644-2223

“Ice Speed”

China, 1999 U.S. premiere

Dir: Hu Xueyang

Prod: Hu Xueyang Chen Liang

Cast: Chen Xi, Yang Liu, Lei Xin Guan Chengxue, Zhang Chunhui, Zhao

Jinping

Running Time: 97 minutes

A woman speed skater with strong personality tries to beat her teammate

in major competitions but her chances are slim because of leg pain and an

unfair judge.

Attended by filmmakers.

Date: 3:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema

“Once Upon a Time in Shanghai”

China, 1999 U.S. premiere

Dir: Peng Xiaolian

Prod: Zhu Yongde

Cast: Wang Yanan, Yuan Quan, Wei Li, Dai Zhaoan, Chen Hongmei, Xia Liqi,

Liu Qiong

Running time: 104 minutes

A U.S. freelance reporter comes to Shanghai to take his fiancee back to

the States. Centering on their love story, the film is based on the

reporter’s experiences in Shanghai in 1949.

Date: 5:45 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema

“Long Night’s Journey into Day”

United States/South Africa, 2000

West Coast premiere

Dir: Frances Reid & Deborah Hoffmann

Prod: Frances Reid

Cast: Documentary

Running time: 95 minutes

The Grand Jury Award Winner at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

“Long Night’s Journey into Day” shows South Africa’s quest for

restorative justice as it follows four dramatically different cases that

come before the commission over the course of two-and-a-half years. In

two examples, the parents of Newport Beach exchange student Amy Biehl

meet their daughter’s black murderer and his family, and the wives of the

slain activists known as the Cradock Four confront the white policeman

who admits he killed their husbands.

Attended by directors. The consul general of South Africa will host the

film and post-event. Amy Beihl’s parents along with the filmmakers will

be attending the screening.

Date: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema

Gala Awards Ceremony

Date: April 6, 2000

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente, Newport Beach

How much: $40Phone: (949) 759-1122