Newport Beach Film Festival
TODAY
* EDWARDS BIG NEWPORT CINEMA
Opening Night
7:30 p.m.
50th anniversary “Sunset Boulevard”
United States
FRIDAY
FEATURE FILMS
* EDWARDS ISLAND CINEMAS
11:30 a.m.
“Love Happens”
United States, 1999
Dir.: Tony Cookson
Prod.: Bent Morris
Cast: Jenica Bergere, Ken Marino, Megyn Price
Running time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release scheduled in May
Attended by director
Woman constantly switches boyfriends, obsesses over their flaws
1:15 p.m.
“You Can Thank Me Later”
United States/Canada, 1999
Dir.: Shimon Dotan
Prod.: Shimon Dotan, Netaya Anbar
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Mary McDonnell, Amanda Plummer
Running time: 110 minutes
Sibling rivalries and hard-hitting comedic look at narcissism in the ‘90s
3:30 p.m.
“Yesterday’s Children”
Philippines, 1999
West Coast premiere
Dir.: Carlos Siguion-Reyna
Prod.: Carlos Siguion-Reyna
Cast: Carlo Aquino, Pen Medina, Ara Mina, Patricia Ann Roque, Jennifer
Sevilla Ray Ventura
Running time: 89 minutes
It’s El Nino time, a season ruled by superstition and fear. Villagers go
hungry. And a boy dies from a snakebite.
5:45 p.m.
“Broken”
United States, 1999
Dir.: Elle Travis-Peterson
Running time: 29 minutes
True tale of couple arrested while on surf trip in Mexico; lives are
changed forever and an unlikely hero is born
6:15 p.m.
“Bajo, California -- The Limit of Time”
Mexico, 1999
Dir.: Carlos Bolado
Prod.: Imcine Sincronia Productions
Cast: Damian Alcazar, Jesus Ochoa, Fernando Torre Laphan
Running time: 96 minutes
Screened at the Sundance Film Festival. Winner for Best Feature Film at
recent L.A. Latino Film Festival.
Spiritual and physical odyssey of man traversing sand-ravaged coastline,
searching for his indigenous grandmother’s grave and a reckoning with his
soul
8 p.m.
“Americanos: Latino Life in the U.S.”
West Coast premiere
United States, 2000
Dir.: 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.
Attended by producers
Contests myth of monolithic Latino culture and explores the country’s
diverse people who are designated Latino
10 p.m.
“Crashing Eden”
United States, 1999
Dir.: Dean Alioto
Prod.: Dean Alioto, Trish Moreno
Cast: Paul Ghiringhelli, Jodi Verdu, Rick Williams, Alecia Derwin
Running time: 80 minutes
Winner of the Audience Choice Award at both the Santa Barbara
International Film Festival and World Fest/Flagstaff
o7 * Post-premiere gala
When: 9:45 p.m.
Where: Francoli’s Gourmet Imporio, Newport Beach
Cost: Movie and gala, $15f7
* ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
SHORT FILMS
o7 10 a.m. to noon
Filmmakers breakfastf7
Comedies
Noon to 2 p.m.
o7 Seven side-splitting shorts, followed by Q&A; with filmmakers and the
Little People; hosted by Scott Forrest of “Smash Cuts!”f7
“Tex, The Passive-Agressive Gunslinger”
United States
Dir.: Brian Sawyer
Running time: 11 minutes
In 1804, a new form of aggression came upon the land... so powerful, yet
so undetected, it would change the nature of conflict forever...
“Queen for a Day”
United States
Dir.: Gregg Coolidge
“The Honkworm Series”
United States
Dir.: Johan Liedgren and Noah Tannen
Not for the easily offended.
“Super Fans”
United States
Dir.: Tom Brunelle
Fanatics unite.
“Revenge of the Red Balloon”
United States
Dir.: Gregg Rossen
The balloon is back ... and he’s angry.
“Every Night and Twice on Sundays”
United States
Dir.: James Michael Hughes
The true story of Dorothy McHugh, the actress who appeared in the “I’ve
Fallen and I Can’t Get Up” commercial.
“Johnny Bagpipes”
United States
Dir.: Todd Korgan
Johnny Bagpipes knew he was destined to rock.
“The Small World”
United States
Dir.: Dean Biagg and Mark Efman
A parody of MTV’s “The Real World” done with little people.
Documentaries
2 to 4 p.m.
“Gray Matter”
United States
Dir.: Anthony Dominici
A medical examiner in Los Angeles conducts a tour of his profession,
complete with its emotional and philosophical underpinnings.
“The Wildest Show in the South: The Angola Prison Rodeo,” United States
Oscar-nominated this year
Dir.: Simeon Soffer
“Conspiracy Rock”
United States
Dir.: Scott Rosann
Saturday morning cartoon lesson about earthly power and corruption
“Drunk in Public”
United States
World premiere
Dir.: David J. Sperling
Running time: 18 minutes
Story follows the tragic struggles of a young alcoholic who has been
arrested 190 times for being drunk in public
“Beyond the Screams”
United States
Dir.: Martin Sorrondeguy
Running time: 30 minutes
A look at Latino punk scene in the U.S. and how it is systematically
overlooked by much of the public
Off-beat films
4 to 6 p.m.
o7 These eight films tie into the theme of “G,” in one way or another
f7
“G”
United States
Dir.: Rolf Gibbs
Short but lyrical piece of cinema described as a thriller, horror film,
comedy, religious epic, tragedy, action flick OR a motion poem -- about a
camera dropped from 35,000 feet.
“This Guy is Falling”
United States
Dir.: Michael Horowitz and Gareth Smith
World’s gravity turns off accidentally and a nice guy saves the day.
“Officer Down”
United States
Dir.: Dan and Matt O’Donnell
One tense afternoon in the careers of rookie beat cop and a veteran
detective who cuts him a lethal amount of slack.
“Lost Cause”
United States
Orange County premiere
Dir.: Glenn Gaylord
A man with AIDS gets bumped and shuffled through the phone system of his
local health services organization in this seriocomic, split-screen
nightmare.
“Looking for Bobby D”
United States
World premiere
Dir.: Peymon MaskanTwo Damon Affleck wannabes have written “Taxi Driver
II” and must find Robert DeNiro to star.
“Der Rabe”
Germany
Dir.: Hannes Rall
Freely adapted from Edgar Allen Poe
“Big Canyon”
United States
Dir.: David Agosto
Rules of the road for young lovers: always keep moving, always move fast,
always think of the worst case scenario.
“Falling”
United States
Dir.: Aaron Rhodes
Extraordinary and comic story of filmmaker Rolf Gibbs attempting to
capture feeling of falling from heavens
Women in film
6 to 8 p.m.
o7 Dramatic, comedic and animated shorts, celebrating women filmmakers.
Q&A; follows with the filmmakers and a panel from Women in Film
f7
“Jack and Jill”
United States
Dir.: Chase Carter
Mutation of classic nursery rhyme
“That Strange Person”
United States
Dir.: Eileen O’Meara
What happens when you catch your face in the mirror and wonder: Who is
the strange person looking at me?
“The Hat”
United States
Dir.: Julia Jordan and Terry StaceyLonely young woman opens an
elaborately wrapped hat box left in her care by a handsome gentleman
“The Velvet Club”
United States
Dir.: Hana C. Ogawa
Running time: 13 minutes
Musical drama about a night in a swanky, timeless cabaret
“Graham’s Diner”
United States
Dir.: Courtney ByrdA cynical, bitter photographer who has essentially
given up on life
“This is for Betsy Hall”
United States
Dir.: Hope E. Hall
Lovingly constructed portrayal of the filmmaker’s anorexic and bulimic
mother
“Pigeon Within”
United States
Dir.: Emily Hubley
Young woman’s unexpected encounter with her guardian angel -- or was it?
“Pharaoh’s Heart”
United States
Dir.: Sara Pratter
Based on D.H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
“Smash Cuts!” comedy fest
8 to 10 p.m.
o7 Hilarious, dramatic and twisted ride through award-winning series
from festivals throughout the world; Q&A; follows with filmmakersf7
“Burning Passion”
United States
Dir.: Brian Belefant
Boy, 14, discovers he suffers from a bizarre sexual dysfunction: he
ejaculates fire.
“Sour Death Balls”
United States
Dir.: Jessica Yu
Careful what you put in your mouth
“Airtime,” United States
Dir.: Rolf Kestermann
An ambitious young woman interferes with a televised execution
“Negative Forces, Witchcraft and Idolatry”
United StatesDir.: James Sommerville
Unpredictable documentary about solitude, real life, fear and excitement
“Gas Huffin’ Bad Gals!”
United States
Dir.: Harry McCoy
A “Faster Pussycat” noir-a-gogo style romp
“Spider in Love: An Arachnogasmic Musical”
United States
Dir.: Martha Colburn
Flat-puppet animation of wickedly webbed She Spider; outstanding dance
numbers
“How to Land a Man”
United States
Dir.: Donovan Cook
Violence is sweet revenge fantasy
“Spiral”
United States
World premiere
Dir.: Jeffrey NicholsonDavid has a real bad day
10 p.m. to midnight
“Candyflipping,” United States
World premiere
Dir.: Paul Minor
Young man’s hyper-kinetic trip through consciousness
“The Cannabis Conspiracy”
Amsterdam
West Coast premiere
Dir.: Kenya Winchell
Hemp TV Rockumentary takes you behind the scenes of Koffieshops of
Amsterdam.
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SATURDAY
FEATURE FILMS
* EDWARDS ISLAND CINEMAS
11 a.m.
“The Basket”
United States, 1999
Dir.: Rich Cowan
Prod.: Rich Cowan
Cast: Karen Allen, Robert Karl Burke, Peter Coyote, Amber Willenborg
Running time: 105 minutes
A picturesque Pacific Northwest community, still reeling from World War
I, turns into a social battleground when new school teacher introduces a
new game called basketball.
1 p.m.
“Comanche”
Dir.: Burt Kennedy
Running time: 29 minutes
True story of gallant 7th Cavalry horse that was the lone survivor of
Little Big Horn battle. Attended by director and cast
“Harrington’s Notes”
Huntington Beach, 2000
World premiere
Dir.: John Mark Maio
Prod.: William Malkin
Cast: Melissa Lewis, Jeffrey Vandenburgh
Running time: 101 minutes
Naturalist and environmental activist turns against the tradition of his
ancestors to become a successful strip-mining entrepreneur
3:15 p.m.
“Turn the Page”
Sweden, 2000
Dir.: Johan Sandberg
Running Time: 12 minutes
A middle-age stripper with young daughter to support gets desperate
“Under the Sun”
Sweden, 1998
Dir.: Colin Nutley
Prod.: Colin Nutley
Cast: Helena Bergstrom, Rolf Lassgard, Johan Widerberg
Running time: 118 minutes
Oscar-nominated this year for best foreign film
5:30 p.m.
“Starry Night”
United States/Britain,1999
Dir.: Paul Davids
Prod.: Hollace and Paul Davids, Felicity Newman, Anil Urmil
Cast: Abbott Alexander, Sally Kirkland, Lou Wagner, Lisa Waltz
Running time: 102 minutes
Modern fable begins in 1885, as Vincent van Gogh paints “The Potato
Eaters” in Holland.
7:45 p.m.
“Great Expectations”
United Kingdom, 1946
Dir.: David Lean
Prod.: Anthony Havelock-Allan, Ronald Neame
Cast: Alec Guinness, Valerie Hobson, John Mills, Jean Simmons, Anthony
Wager
Running time: 118 minutes
Attended by cinematographer Guy Green and other cast and crew members.
Ranked fifth on the British Film Institute’s list of Best 100 British
Films; called the greatest of all films of Dickens stories.
o7 Gala
When: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Land Rover, Newport Beach
(Ride to Land Rover via double-decker bus from Edwards Island Cinema)
How much: Movie and gala, $30f7
10 p.m.
“The Intern”
United States, 1999
West Coast premiere
Dir.: Michael Lange
Prod.: Galt Neiderhoffer, Daniela Soto-Taplin, Etchie Stroh
Cast: Kathy Griffin, Peggy Lipton, Ben Pullen, Joan Rivers, Dominique
Swain
Running time: 90 minutes
Screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Attended by director.
Story of Jocelyn Bennett, overworked and underpaid intern, and her
Cinderella-like ascent from the mailroom to the boardroom at ultra-hip
fashion magazine, Skirts.
* ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
SHORT FILMS
10 a.m. to noon
“In God We Trust”
United States
Dir.: Jason Reitman
Robert reads the words In God We Trust on a quarter when he gets hit by a
truck
“Exo-Skeleton”
United States
Dir.: Greg Pyros
Time to put some meat on those bones
“Who’s Dancin’ Now?”
United States
Dir.: Judy KinbergSchoolchildren enrolled in the National Dance Institute
ANIMATION
Noon to 1 p.m.
“The Making of Interplay’s ‘Messiah’ ”
Creator: David Perry
Video-game developer Perry discusses his latest game, as well as the
industry’s growth and crossover into films.
1 to 2:30 p.m.
SOUND AND VISION
o7 An international restrospective of seven decades of works that fuse
animation with music.f7
“Sound and Vision Opening”
England, 1980
Creator: Ian Emes
Animation based on the art of M.C. Escher
“Spiritual Constructions”
Germany, 1927
Creator: Oskar Fischinger
Wildly bizarre film originally played the silent movie theater circuit to
piano accompaniment
“What’s Opera, Doc?”
United States, 1957
Creator: Chuck Jones
Reduction of Wagner’s 14-hour “Ring of Nibelung” to six minutes, with new
lyrics.
“Pas de Deux”
Canada, 1967
Creator: Norman McLaren
Study of grace between two ballet dancers
“French Windows”
England, 1974
Creator: Ian Emes
Surreal tour de force set to Pink Floyd’s instrumental “One of These
Days”
“Bolero”
Italy, 1976 Creator: Bruno Bozzetto
Whimsical fantasy on evolution of life, set to Ravel’s compositions
“Furies”
United States, 1978
Creator: Sara Petty
Pet Cubist abstractionism cats run and play in rhythm to music.
“Seaside Woman”
England, 1980
Creator: Oscar Grillo
Charming Caribbean fantasy set to upbeat reggae-influenced song Linda
McCartney recorded with Wings.
“Lakme”
France, 1993
Creator: Pascal Roulin
Two computer-animated hands with long fingers symbolize variety of
animals
“1001 Nights”
Japan, 1998 Creator: Amano Yoshitaka
Love story from ancient Arabian folk tales
2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
“Computer Animation Showcase”
Roundup of the very best computer animation art in the world and a sneak
peek into the future, including never-seen footage from upcoming
releases.
3:30 to 5 p.m.
o7 “Academy Award Live Action Short Films,” with three of this year’s
Oscar nominees.
f7
“My Mother Dreams the Satan’s Disciples in New York”
Dir.: Barbara Schock and Tamara Tiehel
Mother/daughter/biker comedy about a Midwestern housewife who travels to
Manhattan for the first time.
“Kleingeld” (“Small Change”)
German language, English subtitles
Dir.: Marc-Andreas Bochert, Gabriele Lins
Tragicomedy of businessman and panhandler
“Killing Joe,”
Dir.: Mehdi Norowzian
Assassination of JFK brings family’s anger and desire to a boil
5 to 7 p.m.
“It’s a Family Thing”
Dramatic shorts, comedies and suspense films, peeling back truth of
family life
“Every Day Here”
United States
Dir.: Fraser Bradshaw
In aftermath of a hateful fight, a woman and her son are confronted by
their hate and fear
“Allerd Fishbeins in Love”
United States
Dir.: Danny Greenfield
Lack of coordination, nausea, bar mitzvahs -- comedy about the first big
crush
“Paradosis”
United States
West Coast premiere
Dir.: Trevor Jenkins
Old man’s nutcracker becomes center of story about love, charity and
tradition
“David Proshker”
United States
Dir.: Larry Eisenberg
Young boy’s obsession with his father’s past
“Babie”
United States
Dir.: Jonathan Michals
Fired from an “incredibly exciting” job, the filmmaker takes a trip to
Pittsburgh to catch up with an old friend
“Something Close to Heaven”
United States
Dir.: Dustin Lance Black
Boy’s struggle with sexual awakening in small Texas neighborhood during
1986 Kadafi crisis
“Vigilance”
United States
Dir.: Daniel Lawrence
Man tries to catch angel of death who has come for his dying father
7 to 9 p.m.
o7 “Hollywood Shorts Film Festival”Special presentation of L.A.’s
emerging directors and their productions, with short subject, film, video
and animation works. Q&A; follows with the filmmakers hosted by Kimberley
Browning.
f7
“Luz,” United States
Dir.: Jose Javier Martinez
Young girl’s animated adventure leads her through her village streets, to
another dimension
“Crickets and Potatoes”
United States
Dir.: Graham Streeter
Existentialism and intellect collide over dreaded Christmas dinner
“Frank in Five”
United States
Dir.: Graham Streeter
Frank becomes a star in groovy disco world.
“Chuck”
United States
Dir.: Alex Turner
Dark comic psychological tale set in mid-’60s of door-to-door salesman
and his mysterious obsession
“A Short Wait Between Tains”
United States
Dir.: Rick Wilkinson
Four World War II Negro soldiers return home to discover their battle is
not ended
“Absence,” United States
Dir.: David Rosenthal
Lonely man meets enchanting apparition in the forest
“Angel’s Baby”
United States
Dir.: Jeff Fisher and Cornelia Ryan
Two lonely people. Two angels who need a vacation. Could love be just
around the corner?
“L.A. dies Room LA”
United States
Dir.: Eric Simonson
Brief encounter in ladies’ room becomes obsession for two women in L.A.
restaurant
“Stalker Guilt Syndrome”
United States
Dir.: Jonah Kaplan
Man’s walk home from New York subway shows what guys are really thinking
“True”
United States
Dir.: Charles Stone III
Interpersonal communication is centerpoint of special moment between
close friends.
9 to 11 p.m.
“Super, Super 8, 2000”Southern California premiere
Eclectic selection of handcrafted Super 8 wonders; portions with live
musical accompaniment
Untitled Animation
By Mark Fox
A puppet’s voyage into a mystical world; live music
“Spring Flavor”
By Ken Paul Rosenthal
Hand-processed visual poem.
“After Morning”By Kelly O’Brien
Struggle a woman faces “the morning after”
“Degree Zero”
By Te-Shun Tseng
Accompanied by live music
“No Time for Shopping”By Reed O’Beirne
Documentary of the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle; live
music
“The Diggins”
By Christian Bruno, Natalija Vekic
Pure beauty of couple in love
“Pervert in the Pool”
By Martha Colburn
An animated film composed of paper cutouts
“Tabernacle”
By Tony Gault
Man’s reconciliation with world around him
“Take me home”
By Matt Hulse
Frenetic journey seen through filmmakers’ eyes
Untitled
By Patrick Nguyen
A love story
10 p.m.
o7 Shorts Party Bash!
f7
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SUNDAY
FEATURE FILMS
* EDWARDS ISLAND CINEMAS
11 a.m.
“Tom’s Midnight Garden”
United States/United Kingdom, 1998
Dir.: Willard Carroll
Prod.: Charles Salmon, Adam Shapiro, Tom Wilhite
Cast: Joan Plowright, Greta Scacchi, James Wilby
Running time: 107 minutes
Attended by director
Boy goes back to childhood home
1 p.m.
“Manuelita”
Argentina, 1999
U.S. premiere
Dir.: Manuel Garcia Ferre
Prod.: Carlos Mentasti
Cast: Rosario Sanchez Almada, Pelusa Suero
Running time: 86 minutes
Woman gives up glamorous life abroad, returns home to love of family and
friends
3:15 p.m.
“Ave Maria”
Mexico-Spain, 1999
Dir.: Eduardo Rossoff
Prod.: Andrea Kreuzhage, Eduardo Rossoff
Cast: Damian Alcazar, Demian Bichir, Juan Diego Botto, Ana Ofelia
Murguia, Alfredo Sevilla, Tere Lopez Tarin, Ana Torrent
Running time: 102 minutes
Attended by director
Inspiring fable of faith, love and freedom, with hero in the tradition of
Joan of Arc.
5:30 p.m.
“Sweet Smell of Success”
United States, 1957
Dir.: Alexander Mackendrick
Prod.: James Hill II
Cast: Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Burt Lancaster
Running time: 96 minutes
Attended by Tony Curtis and other cast and crew members
Vicious, no-holds-barred portrait of Manhattan gossip columnists’ world,
based on “Tell Me About It Tomorrow”
o7 Post-premiere gala
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Daily Grill, 957 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
How much: Movie and gala, $30
Phone: (949) 644-2223
f7
7:45 p.m.
“Catfish and Black Bean Sauce”
United States, 1999
West Coast premiere
Dir.: Dhi Muoi Lo
Prod.: Chi Myoi Lo
Cast: Mary Alice, Kieu Chinh, Lauren Tom, Paul Winfield
Running Time: 107 minutes
Grand Prize for Best Feature Film and Audience Choice Award at 1999
Florida Film Festival and 32nd annual Worldfest Houston International
Film Festival
Theatrical release scheduled June 2.
10 p.m.
“Shi Ri”
Korea, 1999 U.S. premiere
Dir.: Kang, Jegyu
Prod.: Jackie Kwak, Kang Jegyu
Special agents of South Korea’s top intelligence service investigate
death of arms smuggler
* ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
SHORT FILMS
10 a.m. to noon
“Dreamer”
“Coming to Light”
Noon to 2 p.m.
“The Asian Cinema Series”
“The Best of NYU”
Selection of award winners
“Sky Above, Heaven Below”
United States
Dir.: Chi Chi Chang
With a dream, you can fly
“Rosewater”
United States
Dir.: Kimi Takesue
Man struggles to cultivate beauty in surreal urban world
“The Water Ghost”
United States
Dir.: Elizabeth Sung
Mystical encounter with spirit trapped under waters of forbidden lake
“Ice Fishing”
United StatesDir.: Alexandra Kondracke
While dealing with his mother’s attempts to find a husband, lonely boy
finds reality
“Secret Asian Man”
United States
Dir.: Mike Sakamoto
Fame, success and self-determination -- a street musician realizes
American dream
“Sound Asleep”
United States
Dir.: Pagan Harleman
Intimate portrait of love and loss
INDEPENDENTS
2 to 4 p.m.
o7 “Dances With Films”
If you’re at all famous, take heed of Festival of the Unknowns’ creed:
“No Stars! No Politics! No Sh*t!”; Q&A; follows, hosted by Leslee Scallon
and Michael Trent f7
“Annie Paul”
United states
World premiere
Dir.: Michael Levine
Man, 30, achieves his dream audition as Annie
“Clown Car”
United States
World premiereDir.: David Garrett
Two clowns breakdown in desert with nothing to live on but cream pies and
seltzer water
“Cream Puff”
United States
Dir.: Jared Seide
Exploration of craving for power of intimacy and grace of love beyond
affliction
“Requiem”
United States
Southwest premiere
Dir.: Roy Unger
In dark future where love is a crime, man rages against machine
“A Hollow Place”
United States
Dir.: Joseph Anaya
Working as maid, nurse and cook to bed-ridden, wealthy old man, woman
struggles to escape from oppression
“The Light of Darkness”
United States
World premiere
Dir.: Michael Cargile
Pretty white woman runs out of gas in middle of nowhere, is confronted by
a homeless black man. Neither will forget encounter.
“Sway”
United States
World premiere
Dir.: Mickael Kreuzriegler
The Amazon, 1938: Jungle fantasy of danger, romance, and seduction
“Titler”
United States
World premiere
Running time: 5 minutes
Everything nobody wants to see all at once
SHORT FILMS
4 to 6 p.m.
o7 Kimberley Browning, executive director of the “Hollywood Shorts Film
Festival,” hosts a lineup of eight comedic, dramatic and animated
award-winning short films.
f7
“Oil and Vinegar”
United StatesDir.: Mike Blum
A bottle each of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and their culinary tragic
love story
“The King and Me”
United States
Dir.: Pamela Dresser
If you were the illegitimate child of Elvis Presley, would you really
want to know?
“Living Forever”
United States
Dir.: Gary Goldberger, Peter Reynolds
Young boy meets a man and gives him the secret to longer life
“The Unique Oneness of a Christian Savage”
South Africa
Dir.: Jennifer Uzzi
Two boys and their interracial friendship against the backdrop South
African civil unrest
“Boing”
United States
Dir.: Jeff Daly
Young boy discovers a beautiful animated world with the stroke of a
crayon
“La Femme Balloon”
United States
Dir.: Dan Lopez
Tribute to French cinema; the wonders and horrors of being in love.
“Still Revolutionaries”
United States
Dir.: Sienna McLean
Award-winning documentary examines roles of women in Black Panther civil
rights organization during 1970s uprisings
“The Deep”
France
Dir.: Olivier Klein
Eleven men and women miners and three children are stuck after an
explosion with no rescue in sight
FEATURE SPECIALS
6 to 8 p.m.
“Impala”
“Backroads”
8 to 9 p.m.
“Awakening”
“Five Feet High and Rising”
United States
Dir.: Peter Sollett
Sexual awakening of 12-year-old boy in New York City’s Lower East Side
“Araby”
United States
Dir.: Dennis J. Courtney
Boy’s romantic quest through Dublin streets becomes religious
pilgrimage; based on James Joyce short story
9 to 11 p.m.
o7 Two hours of totally twisted hits; Q&A; follows with fellow twistoid,
Scott Forrest of “Smash Cuts!”
f7
“Shock Asylum”
United States
Dir.: Dan Dinello and Paul Dinello
Black comic tale of routine psychological evaluation gone horribly awry
“Life History of a Star”
United States
Dir.: Jennifer Gentile
Fun in the desert
“Crime Scene Cleaners: The New Entrepeneurs”
United States
World premiere
Dir.: David J. Sperling
Dark comedic look at company that specializes in cleanup of homicides,
suicides and accidental deaths
“Dig a Hole, Find a Finger”
United States
Dir.: Evan Bergman
Emmy and Obie award-winning writer John Ford Noonan’s study of two women:
poetic yet harsh examination of personal courage and mental illness
“What’s Up?”
United States
Dir.: Maria Bowen, Chris Clements, Michelle Giancola and Julie Goldman
Not all the struggles in life are glorious
“Night Deposit”
United States
Dir.: Monica Mitchell
Because you can’t always get to the bank
“Das Clown”
United States
Dir.: Tom E. Brown
Sparkles, 2-foot-tall antique clown doll comes to life one story night
but is not the loving son owner wanted
‘Martha Colburn’s Twisted Animated Series Bonus”
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MONDAY
FEATURE FILMS
* EDWARDS ISLAND CINEMAS
11:30 a.m.
“Clandestine Marriage”
United Kingdom, 1999
Dir.: Christopher Miles
Prod.: Tim Buxton, Steve Clark-Hall, Rod Gunner, Jonathan Stables
Cast: Joan Collins, Nigel Hawthorne, Natasha Little, Paul Nicholls,
Timothy Spall
Running time: 90 minutes
1776 England is setting for exuberant, sexy, relevant comedy
1:15 p.m.
“Stonebrook”
United States, 1998
Dir.: Byron W. Thompson
Prod.: Matthew P. Garcia, Byron W. Thompson
Cast: Seth Green, Zoe McLellan, Brad Rowe
Running time: 90 minutes
Green and Rowe form a hip tag team in fast-paced college con thriller
5:45 p.m.
“A Reasonable Man”
South Africa, 1998
Dir.: Gavin Hood
Prod.: Paul Raleigh, Gavin Hood
Cast: Janine Eser, Ken Gampu, Gavin Hood, Graham Hopkins, Loyiso Gxwala,
Nigel Hawthorne, Vusi Kunene, Nandi Nyembe, Ian Roberts
Running time: 103 minutes
Lawyer and his photojournalist wife on African wilderness sojourn come
across tragic incident at a Zulu village
8 p.m.
“Oriundi”
Brazil, 1999
Dir.: Ricardo Bravo
Prod.: R.A. Gennaro, Virginia W. Moraes
Cast: Paulo Autran, Paulo Betti, Anthony Quinn, Leticia Spiller
Running time: 97 minutes
Attended by director
Quinn gives brilliant performance as patriarch and Italian immigrant
nearing the end of his life
10 p.m.
“Fallen Arches”
United States, 2000
Dir.: Ron Cosentino
Prod.: Ron Cosentino, Libby Osborn
Cast: Karen Black, Carmine Giovinazzo, Justin Louis, Peter Onorati,
Richard Portnow
Running time: 100 minutes
Attended by director
Two brothers from New York live in rundown L.A. apartment with their
alcoholic mother
* ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
NONCOMPETITION
1:30-3 p.m.
o7 Locals only: free admission
This is the place for local film buffs to show off their wares. Q&A;
follows with the filmmakers.
f7
“Welcome to Heck”
United States
Dir.: Jim Call
Empty, broken down, lonely place exists deep inside all of us -- called
Heck
“Retreat”
United States
Dir.: Todd Portugal
Music video on domestic violence awareness
“Mariela’s Kitchen”
United States
Dir.: Lorette Bayle
Set in a small village in South America, this is an emotionally powerful
and visually stunning narrative about a young fisherman who loves two
women.
3 p.m.
Feature Specials
“Scottsboro: An American Tragedy”
United States, 2000
West Coast Premiere
Dir.: Barak Goodman, Daniel Anker
Prod.: Barak Goodman, Daniel Anker
Running time: 96 minutesRecently screened at the Sundance Film Festival.
A potent film, exposing another sample of this country’s appalling
injustices to black Americans.
SHORT FILMS
3:30 p.m.
“This Guy is Falling”
United StatesDir.: Michael Horowitz, Gareth Smith
World’s gravity turns off accidentally and nice guy saves the day
“Swap Meet”
United States
West Coast premiere
Dir.: David Schweizer
Young woman at flea market, where objects transport her to other times
and places
“Maid of Honor”
United States
Dir.: Jennifer Arnold
Two liberated lesbians find commitment to nonmonogamy tested when one
participates in ex-girlfriend’s straight wedding
“Flight of the Stone”
Germany
Dir.: Susanne Horizon-Franzel
Witty pixilation follows stone, thrown in anger, in flight around the
world
“Genesis”
Spain
Dir.: Nacho Cerda
Unnamed sculptor is unable to cope with wife’s death,creates series of
poignant statues in her image
------------
TUESDAY
FEATURE FILMS
* EDWARDS ISLAND CINEMAS
11:30 a.m.
“Four Faces”
Orange, 1999
Dir.: Ted Post
Cast: Eugene Butler, Gabriel Dell, Lane Garrison, Julie Janney, Mehemiah
Persoff, Orien and Peter MarkRichman
Running time: 102 minutes
Attended by director
Four distinctly different people and the crisis each one confronts; how
each handles relationship with God
1:15 p.m.
“Never Be Apart”
China 1999
3:30 p.m.
“Ice Speed”
China, 1999 U.S. premiere
Dir.: Hu Xueyang
Prod.: Chen Liang, Hu Xueyang
Cast: Yang Liu, Guan Chengxue, Zhang Chunhui, Zhao Jinping, Chen Xi, Lei
Xin
Running time: 97 minutes
Attended by filmmakers
Woman speed skater tries to beat teammate in major competitions, but her
chances are slim
5:45 p.m.
“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
U.S. freelance reporter is in Shanghai to take his fiancee back to
States; based on reporter’s experiences in 1949
8 p.m.
“Beyond the Ocean”
United States/Russia, 2000
West Coast premiere
Dir.: Tony Pemberton
Prod.: Tony Pemberton, Isen Robbins, Ursula Wolschlager
Cast: Tatiana Kamina, Tatiana Kuznetsova, Richard Nagel, Sage, Dasha
Volga
Running time: 89 minutes
Screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Young, pregnant Russian woman unearths wealth of stories, unresolved
issues from her past
10 p.m.
“Seducing Mariya”
Canada, 1999
West Coast premiere
Writer/Dir.: Hunt Hoe
Prod.: Foreign Ghosts Productions, Hunt Hoe
Cast: Cas Anvar, Ryan Hollyman, Vijay Mehta, Nandana Sen
Running time: 107 minutes
Native Indian widower findsthe “perfect” girl for his Canadian-born
musician son
-------------
WEDNESDAY
FEATURE FILMS
* EDWARDS ISLAND CINEMAS
11:30 a.m.
“A Force More Powerful”
India/United States/South Africa, 1999
Dir.: Steve York
Prod.: Peter Ackerman, Steve York
Running time: 110 minutes
Documentary chronicling how nonviolent power overcame oppression and
authoritarian rule to become priceless weapon
3:30 p.m.
“Water, Mud & Factories”
United States/Cuba, 1999
Dir./Prod.: Joe Cardona, Mario De Varona
Cast: Karen Diaz, Emiliano Diez, Luis Garcia, Marcos Ramirez, Vivian Ruiz
Running time: 100 minutes
Coming-of-age of 11-year-old Cuban American boy living in Hialeah, Fla.
5:45 p.m.
“Six Days in Roswell”
United States, 1999
Dir.: Timothy B. Johnson
Prod.: Roger Nygard
Running time: 82 minutes
Attended by director
Documents hilarious pilgrimage of UFO enthusiast Richard Kronfeld to
Roswell, N.M., for 50th anniversary of infamous alleged UFO crash.
8 p.m.
“Long Night’s Journey Into Day”
United States/South Africa, 2000
West Coast premiere
Dir.: Deborah Hoffmann, Frances Reid
Prod.: Frances Reid
Running time: 95 minutes
Grand Jury Award winner at this year’s Sundance Film Festival
Attended by directors and Amy Beihl’s parents.
South Africa’s quest for restorative justice as it follows four
dramatically different cases over the course of two-and-a-half years,
including the parents of Newport Beach exchange student Amy Biehl meeting
their daughter’s black murderer and his family.
o7 Consulate General of South Africa will host the film and post
eventf7 .
10 p.m.
“A Lesser Evil”
United States, 1998
World premiere
Dir.: David Mackay
Prod.: Daniel Helberg, David Mackay
Cast: Colm Feore, Tony Goldwyn, Arliss Howard, David Paymer
Running time: 96 minutes
Attended by director
Four friends sat at the edge of a quarry in their hometown 22 years ago,
with a case of beer and a loaded handgun. By nightfall a stranger was
dead and another lay dying, the victims of mistaken identity
SHORT FILMS
* ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
1:15 p.m.
o7 Locals only; free admission
This is the place for local amateurs to show off their wares. Q&A; follows
with the filmmakersf7
“Welcome to Heck”
United States
Dir.: Jim Call
Empty, broken down, lonely place exists deep inside all of us -- called
Heck
“Retreat”
United States
Dir.: Todd Portugal
Music video on domestic violence awareness
“Mariela’s Kitchen”
United States
Dir.: Lorette Bayle
Emotionally powerful and stunning narrative set in South America about
young fisherman who loves two women
APRIL 6
FEATURE FILMS
* EDWARDS ISLAND CINEMAS
11:30 a.m.
“Spanish Judges”
United States, 2000
World premiere
Dir.: Oz Scott
Prod.: Betsy Chasse, Richard Mann
Cast: Vincent D’Onofrio, Matthew Lillard, Valeria GolinoRunning time: 94
minutes
Attended by director
Con artist with passion for medieval collectibles and his pickpocket
girlfriend meet fast-talking stranger
1:15 p.m.
“Other Voices”
United States, 2000
West Coast premiere
Dir.: Dan McCormack
Prod.: Ruth Charny, Shelly Strong
Cast: David Aaron Baker, Mary McCormack, Campbell Scott Stockard
Channing, Peter Gallagher
Running time: 104 minutes
Screened recently at The Sundance Film Festival
Couple whose relationship is in near turmoil
3:30 p.m.
“Same Rain, Same Love”
Argentina, 1999
Dir.: Juan Jose Campanella
Prod.: Ricardo Freixa, Jorge Estrada Mora
Cast: Ricardo Darin, Soledad Villamil
Running time: 115 minutes
Humor, emotion, hopes and illusions in romantic comedy with a touch of
irony
5:45 p.m.
“Just Melvin”
United States, 2000
West Coast Premiere
Dir.: James Ronald Whitney
Prod.: James Ronald Whitney
Cast: Ed McMahon, Soupy Sales, Tom Kennedy, Abby DaltonRunning time: 96
minutes
Screened to much critical acclaim at the recent Sundance Film Festival.
Attended by director
Individual whose path of destruction is so insidious and devastating it’s
almost impossible not to feel sympathy, rage and disgust
8 p.m.
“Love Happens”
United States, 1999
Theatrical release scheduled for May
Dir.: Tony Cookson
Prod.: Bent Morris
Cast: Jenica Bergere, Ken Marino, Megyn Price
Running time: 88 minutes
Attended by director
Woman constantly switches boyfriends, becomes obsessed with their flaws.
10 p.m.
Newport Beach Film Festival’s Award winners
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